Justina Machado
Biography
Justina Milagros Machado is an American actress born on September 6, 1972, in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Known in the acting field with eighty-six known credits, she has been recognized for several television roles. Her television work includes portraying Penelope Alvarez on the sitcom One Day at a Time, which aired on Netflix and Pop TV, and playing Darci Factor on the CW dramedy Jane the Virgin. Additionally, she appeared as Vanessa Diaz on the HBO drama Six Feet Under and as Brenda on the USA drama Queen of the South.
Career overview
Justina Milagros Machado is an American actress born on September 6, 1972, in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Her professional career encompasses television and film work, accumulating eighty-six known acting credits.
Machado is recognized for several prominent television roles. She played Penelope Alvarez on the sitcom One Day at a Time, which aired on Netflix and Pop TV. On television dramas, she portrayed Darci Factor on The CW dramedy Jane the Virgin, Vanessa Diaz on the HBO drama Six Feet Under, and Brenda on the USA drama Queen of the South.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
88 titles- Swapped (2026) as Calli (voice)
- PULSE (2025) as Natalie Cruz
- Matlock (2024) as Eva Muñoz
- Happy's Place (2024) as Maritza
- The Throwback (2024) as Kate
- The Horror of Dolores Roach (2023) as Dolores Roach
- The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild (2022) as Zee (or whatever her name is) (voice)
- Fernanda (2022) as Right Bob
- Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter (2022) as Self
- Dragons: The Nine Realms (2021) as Carla (voice)
- Muppets Haunted Mansion (2021) as Singing Bust
- Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It (2021) as Self
- Switched Before Birth (2021) as Anna Ramirez
- With/In Volume 1 (2021) as (segment "Coco & Gigi")
- Stars in the House (2020) as Self
- Scoob! (2020) as Jamie Rivera (voice)
- All Together Now (2020) as Becky
- Tamron Hall (2019) as Self - Guest
- Harley Quinn (2019) as Bethany (voice)
- Family Pictures (2019) as Sylvie
- Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times" (2019) as Teresa Betancourt
- Betty White: First Lady of Television (2018) as Self
- One Day at a Time (2017) as Penelope Alvarez
- Elena of Avalor (2016) as Carmen (voice)
- Queen of the South (2016) as Brenda
- The $100,000 Pyramid (2016) as Self
- De Puerto Rico para el mundo (2016) as Self
- Superstore (2015) as Maya (voice)
- Superstore (2015) as Maya
- Endgame (2015) as Karla
- Quit (2015) as Amanda
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self
- Jane the Virgin (2014) as Darcy Factor
- Jane the Virgin (2014) as Darci Factor
- The Purge: Anarchy (2014) as Tanya
- Finders Keepers (2014) as Prof. Elena Carranza
- The Fosters (2013) as Sofia Rivera
- Devious Maids (2013) as Reina
- The Call (2013) as Rachel
- Welcome to the Family (2013) as Lisette Hernandez
- The Last of Robin Hood (2013) as Madge
- Finding Your Roots (2012) as Self
- Switched at Birth (2011) as Nurse Munos
- Body of Proof (2011) as Emily Burrows
- Harry's Law (2011) as Counsel
- Three Rivers (2009) as Pam Acosta
- In the Electric Mist (2009) as Rosie Gomez
- Kath & Kim (2008) as Angel
- The Accidental Husband (2008) as Sofia
- Pedro (2008) as Mily
- Private Practice (2007) as Stephanie Kemp
- Burn Notice (2007) as Lauren
- Ugly Betty (2006) as Cousin Clara
- Little Fugitive (2006) as Natalia
- Fatal Contact: Bird Flu in America (2006) as Alma Ansen
- Grey's Anatomy (2005) as Anna Nyles
- Bones (2005) as Lupe Rojas
- Ghost Whisperer (2005) as Suzanne Richards
- Dancing with the Stars (2005) as Self - Contestant
- Torque (2004) as Henderson
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self - Guest
- Cold Case (2003) as Amelia Lopez
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003) as Self
- Missing (2003) as Sunny Estrada
- Final Destination 2 (2003) as Isabella Hudson
- Dragonfly (2002) as nurse
- Full Frontal (2002) as Linda's Friend in Kitchen
- Six Feet Under (2001) as Vanessa Diaz
- A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) as Assistant
- Strong Medicine (2000)
- Angel (1999) as Jo
- Swallows (1999)
- Oh Baby (1998) as Mona
- Sticks (1998) as Maria
- The Week That Girl Died (1998) as Marita
- She's So Lovely (1997) as Carmen Rodriguez - Lady Ticket Taker
- Early Edition (1996) as Laura
- Goode Behavior (1996) as Raquel DeLaRosa
- Second Noah (1996)
- No One Would Tell (1996) as Val Cho
- ER (1994) as Ms. Cruz
- ER (1994) as Claudia Diaz
- Touched by an Angel (1994) as Marisol
- NYPD Blue (1993) as Elsa
- Law & Order (1990) as Lauren Whitmer
- The Making of 'Jesus Diabetes'
- Alpha Moms
- Hurricane Seasons
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Justina Machado best known for?
Justina Machado is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Swapped (2026), PULSE (2025), Matlock (2024), Happy's Place (2024).
When and where was Justina Machado born?
Justina Machado was born on September 6, 1972 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
How many credits does Justina Machado have?
Justina Machado has accumulated over 88 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1990 to 2026.
What is Justina Machado's background in cinema and television?
Justina Milagros Machado is an American actress born on September 6, 1972, in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Known in the acting field with eighty-six known credits, she has been recognized for several television roles. Her television work includes portraying Penelope Alvarez on the sitcom One Day at a Time, which a...