Saundra Santiago Biography

Fast Facts

• Won an ALMA Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama for "Guiding Light" in 2001, and was nominated for another two
• Graduated from the University of Miami with a degree in psychology and earned her master's degree in theatre and arts from Southern Methodist University
• Made her screen acting debut in the TV series "¿Qué pasa, U․S․A․?" in 1979
• Started out as a stage actress with the summer stock company Timber Lake Playhouse
• Best known for her role as Detective Gina Calabrese in "Miami Vice" and as Carmen Santos in "Guiding Light․"
• Often takes on the role of characters who have a relationship with crime
• Was in contention to play the role of Gina in "Scarface․"
• Before becoming an actress, she studied psychology with the intention of becoming a special education teacher