Liza Colón-Zayas

Liza Colón-Zayas (born July 15, 1972) is an American actor and playwright from the Bronx, New York City. Known for sharp, grounded character work, she has built a career across television, film, and stage, often bringing emotional precision and humor to working-class roles.

She reached a major breakthrough with her performance as Tina Marrero on the comedy-drama series The Bear. The role earned her the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2024, cementing her as one of the standout supporting performers of her generation.

Colón-Zayas’ screen credits span acclaimed features and contemporary indies, including United 93 (as Waleska Martinez), Margaret (as Nurse), Won't Back Down (as Yvonne), and Heights (as Ana). She has also appeared in projects such as Allswell in New York (as Ida), Cat Person (as Officer Elaine), IF (as Janet), Driven, and more.

Also credited as Liza Maria Colon, Liza Colon-Zayas, and Liza Maria Colón, she continues to balance high-profile screen work with her roots as a playwright, bringing a theater-honed authenticity to every performance.