# Constance Marie

Constance Marie Lopez is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Angelina "Angie" Lopez in George Lopez (2002–2007), and Marcela Quintanilla (mother of Selena) in the film Selena (1997). She portrayed Regina Vasquez in the ABC Family/Freeform drama series Switched at Birth (2011–2017). She also portrayed Camila Diaz in the Amazon Prime Video drama series Undone (2019–2022).

## Early life

Constance Marie was born and raised in East Los Angeles. At age 19, Marie appeared as a dancer in the musical Cosmopolis by composer Ryuichi Sakamoto in Japan. When she returned to Los Angeles, she was spotted at a club by Toni Basil, the dance choreographer for David Bowie, and she was hired for the Glass Spider Tour in 1987. She appeared on the 1988 concert video Glass Spider, which captured performances from that tour.

## Career

Marie began her acting career when she was in her teenage years. She landed a spot in the 1988 film Salsa. Other television and film credits include Early Edition, Dirty Dancing, Selena, Spin City, and Ally McBeal. Marie was chosen for the role of Angie Lopez in the ABC comedy series George Lopez. In 2001, Marie starred in the comedy-drama film Tortilla Soup alongside Héctor Elizondo, Jacqueline Obradors, and Elizabeth Peña. She also appeared in the PBS drama series American Family.
In October 2007, she launched her own clothing line, "The Constance Marie Collection". In the same year, she appeared in an ad for PETA, encouraging people to spay and neuter their pets.
From 2011 to 2017, Marie had a starring role in the ABC Family/Freeform drama series Switched at Birth, portraying Regina Vasquez, the birth mother of one of the girls and legal mother of the other.

## Personal life

Marie was in a 15-year relationship with yoga instructor Kent Katich, which ended in September 2015. They have a daughter born in 2009. Marie is a longtime vegetarian and raised her child as a vegetarian.

## Filmography

Film :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1988 | Glass Spider | Featured Dancer | |
| 1988 | Salsa | Featured Dancer | |
| 1995 | My Family | Toni | |
| 1997 | Selena | Marcella Quintanilla | |
| 1999 | The Last Marshal | Rosa | |
| 2000 | Dancing in September | Teresa Lopez | Television film (HBO) |
| 2001 | See Spot Run | The Neighbor | Uncredited |
| 2001 | Tortilla Soup | Yolanda | |
| 2006 | Puff, Puff, Pass | Montana | |
| 2011 | Puss in Boots | Imelda | Voice role |
| 2014 | Sweet Surrender | Sandra | |
Television :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1988–1989 | Dirty Dancing | Penny Rivera | 11 episodes |
| 1989–1990 | Santa Barbara | Nikki Alvarez | Daytime soap opera for NBC Daytime |
| 1991 | The Man in the Family | Jenny | Episode: "None for Sal" |
| 1991 | Jake and the Fatman | Bianca Alamán | Episode: "Where or When" (Parts 1 & 2) |
| 1991 | Sibs | | Episode: "Warren: The Final Days" |
| 1992 | Reasonable Doubts | Officer Petra Delgado | Episode: "Fish out of Water" |
| 1992 | The Hat Squad | | Episode: "The Widow Marker" |
| 1993 | 12:01 | Joan Zevo | Television film |
| 1994 | Island City | Connie Sealle | Television film |
| 1995 | Fast Company | Liz Shelby | Television film |
| 1996 | The Sentinel | Beverley Sanchez | Episode: "Killers" |
| 1997 | The Underworld | | Television film |
| 1997 | Spin City | Gabby Sanchez | Episode: "Gabby's Song" |
| 1997–1998 | Union Square | Gabriella Diaz | 13 episodes |
| 1998–2000 | Early Edition | Toni Brigatti | 6 episodes |
| 1999 | Two Guys and a Girl | Venita | Episodes: "Two Guys, a Girl and the Storm of the Century" and "Two Guys, a Girl and Ashley's Return" |
| 2000–2001 | For Your Love | Samantha | 6 episodes |
| 2001 | Ally McBeal | Inez Cortez | Episode: "Hats Off to Larry" |
| 2001 | That '70s Show | Little Drummer Boy | Episode: "An Eric Forman Christmas" |
| 2002 | American Family | Nina Gonzalez | 13 episodes |
| 2002–2007 | George Lopez | Angelina "Angie" Lopez | Main role; 120 episodes |
| 2008 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Det. Carolina Flores | Episode: "Two and a Half Deaths" |
| 2009 | The Secret Life of the American Teenager | Virginia Molina | Episode: "Whoomp! (There It Is)" |
| 2009 | According to Jim | Victoria | Episode: "The Ego Boost" |
| 2010 | Class | Victoria Corrales | Television film |
| 2011–2017 | Switched at Birth | Regina Vasquez | Main role; 103 episodes |
| 2015 | The Right Girl | Dee Walker | TV movie |
| 2016 | Angel from Hell | Linda | Recurring role; 5 episodes |
| 2016–2020 | Elena of Avalor | Doña Paloma | Recurring voice role; 13 episodes |
| 2017 | Lopez | Herself | Episode: "George Dates His Daughter" |
| 2017 | Law & Order True Crime | Anthology series; Marta Cano | 8 episodes |
| 2019-2022 | Undone | Camila Diaz | Main role; 16 episodes |
| 2019–2020 | Alexa & Katie | Dr. Corts | Recurring role; 4 episodes |
| 2020 | Connecting... | Maria | Episode: Day 135 |
| 2020 | Winter in Vail | Trish Simmons | TV movie |
| 2021–2023 | With Love | Beatriz Diaz | Main role season 1; recurring season 2 |
| 2022 | Lopez vs. Lopez | Connie | Episode: "Lopez vs. Christmas" |
| 2023 | How I Met Your Father | Raquel | Episode: "Ride or Die" |
| 2024 | Doctor Odyssey | Caroline | Episode: “Plastic Surgery Week” |

## Awards and nominations

* Soap Opera Digest Awards
** 1991: Outstanding Female Newcomer (Daytime) – Santa Barbara (Nominated)
* ALMA Awards
** 1998: Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series – Union Square (Nominated)
** 2007: Outstanding Actress (Television Series, Mini-Series or Television Movie) – George Lopez (Nominated)
** 2011: Favorite TV Actress - Supporting Role – Switched at Birth (Nominated)
** 2012: Favorite TV Actress - Supporting Role – Switched at Birth (Won)
* Young Artist Awards
** 2004: Most Popular Mom & Pop in a Television Series – George Lopez (Nominated) with George Lopez
* Imagen Awards
** 2004: Best Actress in Television Drama – American Family (Nominated)
** 2004: Best Actress in Television Comedy – George Lopez (Won)
** 2005: Best Actress (Television) – George Lopez (Nominated)
** 2006: Best Actress (Television) – George Lopez (Nominated)
** 2007: Best Actress (Television) – George Lopez (Nominated)