From a hit television drama to a medley of feature films, Roma Maffia
graces the entertainment mediums with her trademark sophistication and
charismatic appeal.
Roma portrays the smart, no-nonsense anesthesiologist, 'Dr. Liz Cruz,'
on the hit FX drama, "Nip/Tuck." 'Liz' has earned the respect of her
physician colleagues, plastic surgeons Dr. Sean McNamara (Dylan Walsh)
and Dr. Christian Troy (Julian McMahon). Often the voice of reason in
an otherwise unpredictable environment, 'Liz' is tough on the surface
yet shows warmth and concern for her patients as well as for 'Sean' and
'Christian.' An out-and-proud lesbian, 'Liz' is the only female seen as
a true equal in the life of 'Dr. Troy.'
The Warner Bros. Television-produced "Nip/Tuck" won the 2005 Golden
Globe for Outstanding Drama series and received an American Film
Institute Award. The show is now in its fifth season and has relocated
its setting from Miami to Los Angeles.
Most recently, Roma wrapped production on writer/director Robert
Celestino's feature film "Yonkers Joe," with Chazz Palminteri. She has
also completed production on the crime story "Kingshighway," due out in
2008. Also in the can is the psychological thriller, "Ghost Image" for
writer/director Jack Edward Snyder. In the later film, Roma plays the
lead investigator who probes the mysterious occurrences involving a
woman who begins to receive video messages from her deceased boyfriend.
Roma started her acting career performing off-Broadway, off-off
Broadway and in regional productions ranging from Shakespeare to Sam
Shephard. At a benefit reading for the New Group in New York, she was
asked by casting director Jane Jenkins to audition for a role in
director Ron Howard's feature film "The Paper," and found a career
mentor: "Ron tells people he discovered me, which is absolutely true."
When "The Paper" opened in Los Angeles, Roma took her first trip to
Hollywood and her career quickly flourished. She soon met television
producer David E. Kelley, who cast her as Adam Arkin's secretary,
'Angela' in his new series, "Chicago Hope."
During her one season on "Chicago Hope," Roma landed a plum role in the
Barry Levinson film, "Disclosure," in which she played Michael Douglas'
tough sexual harassment lawyer, 'Katherine Alvarez.' Garnering rave
reviews for her performance, Roma quickly landed feature film roles in
director John Badham's "Nick of Time," playing a kidnapper opposite
Christopher Walken and Johnny Depp; "Eraser" with Arnold
Schwarzenegger, and "Double Jeopardy" opposite Ashley Judd.
Additional feature credits include "I Am Sam" with Sean Penn and
Michelle Pfeiffer; "Kiss The Girls" with Morgan Freeman; "Holes,"
"Things You Can Tell Just By Looking At Her" with Glenn Close and Holly
Hunter.
For television, Roma played the dedicated and intelligent 'Grace
Alvarez,' forensic pathologist for the Violent Crimes Task Force, for
four seasons on NBC's primetime series "Profiler." Her telefilm credits
include "Consensual Relations" for NBC; HBO's "Mistrial" with Bill
Pullman; and Showtime's "The Defenders." She had recurring roles on
NBC's "Law & Order" and "ER," and she has guest-starred on numerous
television shows, including CBS's "Ghost Whisperer," Lifetime's "Strong
Medicine," NBC's "The West Wing" and HBO's "The Sopranos."
In her free time, Roma is actively involved with the non-profit
organization, Artists for a New South Africa (ANSA) which dedicates
itself to advancing democracy and equality in South Africa. Although
she is happiest when acting, Roma also finds time to run on her
treadmill, write, play ping-pong and hang out with her two dogs, Lou Lu
and Lucky.
