# Maria Canals-Barrera

Maria Pilar Canals-Barrera (née Canals; born September 28, 1966) is an American actress. She is known for starring as Theresa Russo in the Disney Channel series Wizards of Waverly Place (2007–2012), Connie Torres in Camp Rock (2008) and Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam (2010), and Daniela in the ABC comedy series Cristela (2014–2015).
Canals-Barrera has voiced Shayera Hol/Hawkgirl in Justice League, Justice League Unlimited and Static Shock as part of the DC Animated Universe, Sunset Boulevardez in The Proud Family (2001–2005) and Paulina in Danny Phantom (2004–2007).

## Early life

Canals-Barrera was born to Cuban parents of Catalan descent. Canals-Barrera also speaks Spanish and took drama classes in junior high school.
Canals-Barrera graduated from Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High School before winning a theatrical scholarship to the University of Miami.

## Career

In her early years, Canals-Barrera worked extensively in theater in both Miami and Los Angeles. In 1990, she starred as Amanda in a production of The Glass Menagerie. In 1992, she starred in a production of Brian Michael Riley's A Cradle of Sparrows. The same year, she began starring on Telemundo Spanish-language telenovela Marielena. She later had the recurring role in the short-lived 1993 Fox comedy-drama series, Key West. During the 1990s, Canals-Barrera also guest starred in a number of television series, such as 21 Jump Street, Murder, She Wrote, Almost Perfect, and Caroline in the City. In 1996, she starred as the title character in a production of Hedda Gabler. The next year she played Digna in a production of Guillermo Reyes' Chilean Holiday.
Her first regular role was on the short-lived NBC sitcom The Tony Danza Show in 1997. In early 2000s, Canals-Barrera had supporting roles in films America's Sweethearts, The Master of Disguise and Imagining Argentina. She has gained much recognition with comic book fans in recent years for her role as Hawkgirl/Shayera Hol on Bruce Timm's Justice League animated series (2001–04) and Justice League Unlimited (2005–06). She also had a recurring role in Static Shock as news reporter Shelly Sandoval, and in Danny Phantom as Paulina, the title character's high school crush. She also performed the voice of Mercedes "Meche" Colomar in the 1998 video game Grim Fandango. Canals-Barrera also played incidental characters in two episodes on the TV series The Boondocks ("Grandad's Fight" and "Home Alone").
From 2007 to 2012, Canals-Barrera co-starred as Theresa Russo, the mother of lead character Alex Russo (played by Selena Gomez), in the Disney Channel family sitcom Wizards of Waverly Place. She also co-starred in Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie, a 2009 Disney Channel Original film based on the series. Canals-Barrera also appeared in the Disney Channel Original Movies Camp Rock (2008) and Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam (2010) as Connie Torres, the mother of Demi Lovato's character. In 2011, she appeared opposite Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts in the romantic comedy film Larry Crowne.
In 2014, Canals-Barrera was cast as Hilda in the ABC soap opera Members Only, created by Susannah Grant. However, it was cancelled by the network before its premiere. Later in that year she joined the cast of ABC comedy series Cristela, aas Daniela Gonzaler.
On August 27, 2018, Canals-Barrera was cast as the mother of Fernando Hernandez-Guerrero-Fernandez-Guerrero on the Netflix series Fuller House.

## Personal life

Barrera has been married to fellow actor David Barrera since 1999, and they have two daughters, Bridget and Madeleine.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1993 | Cop and a Half | Mrs. Bobo #2 | |
| 1995 | My Family | Young Irene | |
| 2001 | America's Sweethearts | Adinah | |
| 2002 | Bad Boy | Woman at bar | |
| 2002 | The Master of Disguise | Sophia | |
| 2003 | Imagining Argentina | Esme Palomares | |
| 2003 | Scooby-Doo! and the Monster of Mexico | Sofia Otero | Voice, direct-to-video |
| 2011 | Larry Crowne | Lala Pinedo | |
| 2012 | Batman: The Dark Knight Returns – Part 1 | Ellen Yindel | Voice, direct-to-video |
| 2013 | Batman: The Dark Knight Returns – Part 2 | Ellen Yindel | Voice, direct-to-video |
| 2013 | Night of the Hipsters | Barbara | Short film |
| 2016 | God's Not Dead 2 | Catherine Thawley | |
| 2017 | Teen Titans: The Judas Contract | Bianca Reyes | Voice, direct-to-video |
| 2019 | Sweet Inspirations | Bonnie | Voice, direct-to-video |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1990 | 21 Jump Street | Rosina | Episode: "La Bizca" |
| 1991 | Super Force | Lori Wechsler | 2 episodes |
| 1992–1993 | Corte Tropical | Adrianita | |
| 1992–1994 | Marielena | Nancy | Recurring role |
| 1993 | Harlan & Merleen | Carmen | Television film |
| 1993 | Key West | Fig | Recurring role, 5 episodes |
| 1994 | Viper | Carla | Episode: "Wheels of Fire" |
| 1994 | Murder, She Wrote | Carmen | Episode: "Wheel of Death" |
| 1995 | Almost Perfect | Carmen | Episode: "You Like Me, You Really Like Me" |
| 1996 | Goode Behavior | Denise | Episode: "Goode Feelings" |
| 1997–1998 | The Tony Danza Show | Carmen Cruz | Main role, 7 episodes |
| 1998 | Caroline in the City | Maria | Episode: "Caroline and the Toothbrush" |
| 1998 | Veronica's Closet | Dannie | Episode: "Veronica's a Partner Now" |
| 1999 | Beggars and Choosers | Yolanda | Recurring role |
| 2000–2003 | Static Shock | Shelly Sandoval, Hawkgirl | Voice, 14 episodes |
| 2000 | Pepper Ann | Señorita Vivas | Voice, episode: "The Spanish Imposition" |
| 2000 | That's Life | | Episode: "Bad Hair Week" |
| 2001 | Popular | Candy Box | Episode: "Fire in the Hole" |
| 2001 | The Brothers García | Ms. Azteca | Episode: "Love Is Very... Confusing" |
| 2001–2002 | Clifford the Big Red Dog | Teresa, Tonya | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2001–2005 | The Proud Family | Sunset Boulevardez | Voice, 19 episodes |
| 2001–2004 | Justice League | Hawkgirl, Livewire | Voice, main role |
| 2002 | American Family | Christy | Recurring role, 5 episodes |
| 2003 | Miss Match | Store Manager | Episode: "Santa, Baby" |
| 2004 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Dalilah the Hygienist | 2 episodes |
| 2004–2007 | Danny Phantom | Paulina, additional voices | Voice, 15 episodes |
| 2005–2006 | Justice League Unlimited | Hawkgirl | Voice, 11 episodes |
| 2005 | The Proud Family Movie | Sunset Boulevardez, Newscaster Peanut | Voice, television film |
| 2005–2007 | The Boondocks | Spanish TV Reporter, Costa Rican Woman | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2006 | George Lopez | Claudia | Episode: "A Funeral Brings George to His Niece" |
| 2006 | Handy Manny | Peggy Salazar | Voice, episode: "Supremoguy/Tool Talk" |
| 2007 | The Loop | Agent Denise | Episode: "Yeah, Presents" |
| 2007–2012 | Wizards of Waverly Place | Theresa Russo | Main role, 84 episodes |
| 2008 | Camp Rock | Connie Torres | Television film |
| 2009 | Special Agent Oso | Additional voices | Episode: "Octo-Puzzle/One Suitcase Is Now Enough" |
| 2009 | Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie | Theresa Russo | Television film |
| 2010 | Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam | Connie Torres | Television film |
| 2011 | Generator Rex | Valentina | Voice, episode: "Outpost" |
| 2012 | Pound Puppies | Dr. Trudy | Voice, 3 episodes |
| 2013 | The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex | Theresa Russo | Television special |
| 2014 | Baby Daddy | Carol Beltran | Episode: "Bonnie's Unreal Estate" |
| 2014 | Gang Related | Marciela Acosta | 2 episodes |
| 2014–15 | Cristela | Daniela | Main role, 22 episodes |
| 2015 | Members Only | Hilda | Main role; unaired television series |
| 2016 | Ultimate Spider-Man | Rio Morales | Voice, 3 episodes |
| 2016 | A Bronx Life | Angela | Television film |
| 2016 | Last Man Standing | Sheryl | Episode: "Where There's Smoke, There's Ire" |
| 2016 | The Big Bang Theory | Isabella | Episode: "The Brain Bowl Incubation" |
| 2017 | Vixen: The Movie | Dr. Vargas | Voice, television film |
| 2017 | Triangle | Alice | |
| 2018 | The Wedding Do Over | Irene Anderson | Television film |
| 2018 | Knight Squad | Saffron | Episode: "Parent Teacher Knight" |
| 2018 | Young & Hungry | Marisol | Episode: "Young & Mexico, Part 1" |
| 2018 | Fuller House | Nadia | Episode: "Perfect Sons" |
| 2022 | Madagascar: A Little Wild | Pilar | Voice, 4 episodes |
| 2022 | Kenan | Loretta | 2 episodes |
| 2022 | Side Hustle | Roxie Rockhart | Episode: "Return of Uncle Nedward" |
| 2022 | Lopez vs Lopez | Lily | Episode: "Lopez vs. Birthday" |
| 2022–present | The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder | Sunset Boulevardez | Voice |
| 2023 | The Morning Show | Mercedes | 2 episodes |
| 2024 | Dora | Abuela | Voice |
| 2025 | Wizards Beyond Waverly Place | Theresa Russo | Episode: "When You Wish Upon A Squonk" |

### Video games

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1998 | Grim Fandango | Mercedes 'Meche' Colomar | Voice |
| 2011 | Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds | She-Hulk | Voice |
| 2011 | Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 | She-Hulk | Voice |
| 2015 | Infinite Crisis | Hawkgirl | Voice |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
| 1998 | Ovation Award | Outstanding Actress | Changes of Heart | Nominated |
| 1998 | ALMA Award | Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series | The Tony Danza Show | Nominated |
| 2002 | ALMA Award | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Series | The Brothers Garcia | Won |
| 2008 | ALMA Award | Outstanding Female Performance in a Comedy Television Series | Wizards of Waverly Place | Nominated |
| 2008 | Imagen Award | Best Supporting Actress – Television | Wizards of Waverly Place | Nominated |
| 2009 | Imagen Award | Best Supporting Actress/Television | Wizards of Waverly Place | Nominated |
| 2009 | ALMA Award | Actress in Television – Comedy | Wizards of Waverly Place | Nominated |
| 2010 | Imagen Award | Best Supporting Actress – Television | Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie | Won |
| 2011 | Imagen Award | Best Supporting Actress – Television | Wizards of Waverly Place | Nominated |
| 2011 | ALMA Award | Favorite TV Actress – Supporting Role | Wizards of Waverly Place | Won |
| 2013 | Behind the Voice Actors Awards | Best Vocal Ensemble in a TV Special/Direct-to-DVD Title or Theatrical Short | Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 (Shared with cast) | Nominated |
| 2014 | Behind the Voice Actors Awards | Best Vocal Ensemble in a TV Special/Direct-to-DVD Title or Theatrical Short | Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 (Shared with cast) | Nominated |
| 2015 | Imagen Award | Best Supporting Actress – Television | Cristela | Nominated |