Elizabeth Peña

Birth Name:

Elizabeth Peña

Birth Place:

Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States

Profession

Actress, Director

Won an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female for her part in "Lone Star" in 1997
Went to New York's High School of Performing Arts with several classmates she would later co-star with, including Ving Rhames and Esai Morales
Made her screen acting debut as Aurelita in the film "El Super" in 1979
Quote: "I love acting․ When I'm acting I feel like I'm on vacation․ I'm just having a wonderful time․ The nightmare is just getting the work to happen․"
Quote: "(On "Jacob's Ladder"): "I worked very hard to get [it]․․․Adrian [Lyne] and I were just taken with each other․ I auditioned for six months, twice a week․ The reason I kept going back was because Adrian was literally fighting for me to get the role․""
Best known for her role as Pilar in "Lone Star" and as Jezzie in "Jacob's Ladder․"
Has turned down parts because she feels they propagate Latin stereotypes
Helped found the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actresses
Got her role in "Down and Out in Beverly Hills" by bribing a security guard at Disney Studios to let her in to see the casting director after she was told by an agent that wasn't attractive enough for the part
Met artist Dale Chihuly in his Seattle loft in 2001
Was the voice of Mirage in the 2004 Pixar film "The Incredibles․"

1996NCLR Bravo Award - Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film:Winner
1997Independent Spirit Award - Best Supporting Female:Winner
1998ALMA Award - Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film:Nominated
1998ALMA Award - Outstanding Actress in a Made-for-Television Movie or Mini-Series:Winner
1999ALMA Award - Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film:Winner
1999ALMA Award - Outstanding Actress in Made-for Television Movie or Mini-Series:Nominated
1999Blockbuster Entertainment Award - Favorite Supporting Actress - Action/Adventure:Nominated
2001ALMA Award - Outstanding Actress in a New Television Series:Winner
2002ALMA Award - Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture:Winner
2009ALMA Award - Actress in Film:Nominated
2015Imagen Award - Best Supporting Actress - Feature Film:Nominated

Fast Facts