When I caught the first episode of the second season of Dexter, I exclaimed to myself, "Yay, Kim Fields is back on TV!" I rejoiced over this fact for the next three episodes. Imagine my shame when I discovered that Lt. Maria Laguerta is played by Lauren Velez, not Kim Fields.
Oh, the agony; oh, the shame! But seriously, were Velez and Fields separated at birth? Take a look for yourself.
I would have saved myself all this embarrassment had I just read the opening and closing credits, but leave it to me to just jump right in. I may have made a complete fool of myself, but at least I can go down claiming that "I Ain't Never Scared (to make a fool of me)."
But back to the subject at hand. Showtime's bio on Velez reads as follows:
LAUREN VÉLEZ first appeared in the 1994 feature film I Like It Like That, which centered [on] a Latino family struggling to stay together amidst the stresses of life, earning Vélez an Independent Spirit Award. She also starred in City Hall, opposite Al Pacino, and in Prince of the City, opposite Danny Aiello and Kathleen Turner. From 1997-2003, Vélez starred on Oz, winning an ALMA Award for her role as Dr. Gloria Nathan. However, she is perhaps best known for her role as Nina Moreno on the cop drama New York Undercover. She also starred in the pilot for Strong Medicine: First Response and has appeared in Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Medium and The Pretender, as well as Numb3rs on CBS. For Dexter, Lauren Vélez was recently nominated for another ALMA award.
And IMDb.com offers the following:
Born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens, New York among eight siblings including her twin sister Lorraine, Lauren Velez dreamed of becoming an actress ever since she played a groundhog in a school play in second grade. Immediately following high school, she received a scholarship from the Alvin Ailey Dance School, which led to her first job performing in the national touring company of the musical Dreamgirls. Later she became understudy for actress Phylicia Rashad in Broadway's Into the Woods. Her most visible role was that of Nina Moreno on the cop drama New York Undercover" (1994). With her varied performances and Afro-Latin background and appearance, Velez's success is considered — by fans and critics alike — a breakthrough for Latina actresses who do not fit the stereotypical "Europeanized Hollywood" version of Latin females. As a result, Velez deservedly has a large multi-ethnic following.
So, the conclusion is that not only is Velez gorgeous, but she's also intelligent, works hard and is good at what she does.
What say you: Are you a viewer of Dexter, and do you know of Velez?
Submitted by
on December 5, 2007 - 2:00pm.
I Love Dexter!
Without Giving Anything Away
Dexter...
She is beautiful. I'm a big
She is beautiful. I'm a big fan of Oz - I watched it mainly for Beecher and Keller - but it certainly didn't hurt that she was on it. If you listen to the audio commentary with Rita Moreno on the Season 4 DVD, you will hear her talk about how much she loves Lauren... and even that she would go lesbian for her :)
When I went to see Porgy and Bess in London last year, I was convinced it was Lauren onstage singing Summertime. In the interval, I checked my programme, and was a bit surprised to see her listed as 'Loraine Velez'... it seemed like they ought to be able to get the spelling of her name right... but still assumed it was her. It wasn't till I got home and googled 'Loraine Velez' that I realised she had a twin!
Lorraine Tidbit
Oz
I loved Lauren on Oz - such a great show. I was way excited when I started watching Dexter and saw she was included in the cast. But it still kind of freaks me out to see Angel (not sure of the actor's name...) as a good guy on Dexter - sometimes I get flashbacks to his character from Oz. And thanks for the tip on the commentary - that makes me love Rita Moreno even more! I'll have to bust out my dvd's and listen.
Dexter rocks!
I Agree
Dexter is a compelling show. There's no moving away from the television when it's on - just can't afford to miss so much as a moment.
Cheers!
Love Dexter
I effing LOVE Dexter. Best
I effing LOVE Dexter. Best show on television, right now, hands down.
-SMP-
I completely agree...
The reason to get Showtime is Dexter. It's one of the only shows out there where all of the characters are strong and multidimensional. Plus, it might be one of the only shows where I cannot predict what will happen next.
I've loved Lauren since Oz and was giddy when I saw her on Dexter. I'm glad people are taking notice,
Dexter rocks!
crushing on lauren velez
I've loved Lauren Velez since I saw her in I Like It Like That and then again in NY Undercover. Her twin Loraine is equally as hot and talented, I saw her in RENT. The Velez family has good genes.
http://onefootinonefootout.blogspot.com/
singing dexter's praises
oh yeah
(well, ok – I AM watching reruns of TDS and Colberrr, but I cry the whole time, so they don't count).
I had not noticed the resemblance
but now that you mention it, you are correct, she is a dead ringer for Kim Fields. How did I miss that?
I LOVE 'Dexter'. Michael C Hall is just an amazing talent and the show is so well written. I've read all three Dexter books and I have to say this is one of the rare occasions when the screen surpasses the page.
Just like I always say
All the pretty ones come from Brooklyn. I don't know about Queens....
Although I must say I like it like that sucked, as a kid I used to watch NY Undercover and O.Z. with a passion.
Love it!
So True
Every single point made by you all are tersely correct. The show is great because of it's unpredictability. There is absolutely no telling what's coming next. I'm a who-done-it freak and can usually correctly call the next move, villlain, plot twist, etc, but with Dexter - no such thing. I just gotta sit there on the edge of my seat, gripping onto the arms of the chair with heartpounding (at times) and wait for the next twist! The writers on that show - totally brilliant!
Echodiana, I'm totally with you on the Deb issue and I know I'm going out on a limb here, but I do find her somewhat annoying (ok, I confess, a bit more than somewhat). There's just something about the way she talks that reminds me of Cameron Diaz (this babyish type speech - going on). And the plot twist with LaGuetta and the new Lt's hubby - didn't see that coming - totally B-L-E-W me away! There's just so much to each character that there's no time to get bored or too caught up with any single one.
There's another charactor on the show that I would like to high-light as well. It may come as a surprise but in time (hopefully) we'll see.
Absolutely. The fact that
Absolutely. The fact that it's so surprising is what makes it so fascinatingly enjoyable! I'm totally on board with how annoyingly needy Deb is, although I'm sure that's Harry's fault. ;)
How about Lila? Talk about a twisted character....the cast is so complex, and the suspense this season is killing me! (no pun intended).
Love it too!
Just had to jump in and say that I agree with all the Dexter love. It is absolutely the best show on TV right now. Thank goodness all the scripts were in before the strike.
I recognized Lauren from OZ. She was great on that, and she's great in Dexter.
I'm a huge Oz fan
Pft.
They look nothing alike.
Nothing at all.
Hmph.