Jessica Marie Garcia Explained

Jessica Marie Garcia
Birth Name:Jessica Marie Garcia
Birth Date:23 March 1987
Birth Place:Orlando, Florida, U.S.
Occupation:Actress
Yearsactive:1999, 2010–present
Children:1[1]

Jessica Marie Garcia (born March 23, 1987) is an American actress. She made her acting debut as Sierra on the drama series Huge (2010), and subsequently played Becky on the sitcom The Middle (2012–2014). Her breakthrough came with playing Willow Cruz on the Disney Channel series Liv and Maddie (2013–2017), and she achieved mainstream success portraying Rhonda Navarro on the thriller series How to Get Away with Murder (2018–2019). She has received acclaim for starring as Jasmine Flores on the Netflix series On My Block (2018–2021), which earned her a Teen Choice Award nomination.

Early life

Garcia was born on March 23, 1987, in Orlando, Florida.[2] Garcia's father is of Mexican descent, while her mother is of Cuban descent. At the age of 19, Garcia moved to Los Angeles. Before pursuing acting, she worked at Olive Garden and a restaurant called The Counter, a job she continued while appearing on the show Liv and Maddie.[3]

Career

Garcia began acting in 2010, making her professional debut starring as Sierra, a recurring role, on the ABC Family drama series Huge,[4] and in the same year starred as Lucero in the independent film Las Angeles. Following this, from 2012 to 2014, she starred as Becky in the ABC sitcom The Middle.[5] During her appearances on The Middle, Garcia began appearing on the Disney Channel series Liv and Maddie as Willow Cruz, a role she played until 2017.[6] Despite her character being a teenager, Jessica was 26 years old when the show began and 30 years old when it wrapped up. In 2017, she starred as Peaches in the film Avenge the Crows.[7]

From 2015 to 2019, Garcia starred in and co-wrote episodes for the comedy sketch show Betch.[8] In 2018, Garcia began appearing in the Netflix drama series On My Block as Jasmine Flores.[9] Originally cast in a recurring role, Garcia was promoted to a series regular from the second season.[10] For her performance, she was nominated for Choice Summer TV Actress at the 2019 Teen Choice Awards.[11] In the same year, she portrayed Rhonda Navarro on the thriller series How to Get Away with Murder, a role she held until 2019.[12] In 2020, Garcia began appearing in the Disney+ series Diary of a Future President as Camila.[13]

Personal life

In 2013, Garcia discovered that she was pre-diabetic, and to prevent getting diabetes, she lost over 70 pounds, stating that her career was her "biggest motivation to start living a healthier life."

In January 2016, Garcia became engaged to actor Adam Celorier,[14] whom she married two years later in October 2018. She announced her first pregnancy in November 2021, and their daughter, Selena Grey, was born in February 2022.[15]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2010Los AngelesLuceroFilm
2017Avenge the CrowsPeachesFilm
2020How to Get $100 MillionHopeShort film

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2010HugeSierraRecurring role; 5 episodes
2012CountyVicky SantosTelevision film
2012–2014The MiddleBeckyRecurring role; 11 episodes
2013–2017Liv and MaddieWillow CruzRecurring role; 36 episodes
2015–2019BetchVariousAlso co-writer
2016CasualMartaEpisode: "Phase 3"
2017–2018Hacking High SchoolBeccaRecurring role; 4 episodes
2018–2021On My BlockJasmine FloresRecurring (season 1); main role (season 2–4)
2018GoliathAnaEpisode: "Alo"
Starter PackPenleyRecurring role; 4 episodes
2018–2019How to Get Away with MurderRhonda NavarroRecurring role; 5 episodes
2019American PrincessNurse PalomaRecurring role; 2 episodes
The FilthKevinEpisode: "Filthy Bro Day"
2020–2021Diary of a Future PresidentCamillaRecurring role; 11 episodes
2023Erin & AaronJaxxonEpisode: "Should I Stay or Should I Go"

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jessica Marie Garcia Welcomes Baby Girl Selena Grey with Husband: 'Love of My Life'.
  2. Web site: Jessica Marie Garcia: 11 facts about the On My Block star you probably didn't know. PopBuzz. March 22, 2020. September 29, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200929175034/https://www.popbuzz.com/tv-film/features/jessica-marie-garcia/. live.
  3. Web site: 10 Things You Didn't Know about Jessica Marie Garcia. TV Overmind. March 30, 2020. March 31, 2020. January 17, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210117232012/https://www.tvovermind.com/jessica-marie-garcia/. live.
  4. Web site: Jessica Marie Garcia Talks ABC Family's 'Huge,' Self-Worth And Choosing To Be Healthy. Galo. March 22, 2020. August 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200811033857/http://www.galomagazine.com/movies-tv/jessica-marie-garcia-talks-abc-familys-huge-self-worth-and-choosing-to-be-healthy/. live.
  5. Web site: Cuban actress Jessica Marie García stars "On my block". In South. March 22, 2020. November 7, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201107050434/https://www.insouthmagazine.com/2019/03/14/cuban-actress-jessica-marie-garcia-stars-block/. live.
  6. Web site: Liv and Maddie Star Jessica Marie Garcia on Losing Weight, Gaining Confidence, and Everything in Between. Glamour. August 17, 2015 . March 22, 2020. March 22, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200322144910/https://www.glamour.com/story/liv-and-maddies-jessica-marie/amp. live.
  7. Web site: Hipes . Patrick . 'On My Block': Jessica Marie Garcia Upped To Regular On Netflix Series . Deadline . October 2, 2018 . April 27, 2020 . March 22, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200322144910/https://deadline.com/2018/10/on-my-block-jessica-marie-garcia-jasmine-series-regular-netflix-1202474741/ . live .
  8. News: 'On My Block': Jessica Marie Garcia Upped To Regular On Netflix Series. Deadline Hollywood. March 22, 2020. March 22, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200322144910/https://deadline.com/2018/10/on-my-block-jessica-marie-garcia-jasmine-series-regular-netflix-1202474741/. live.
  9. Web site: On My Block Is a Remarkable Coming-of-Age Story. Vulture.com. March 19, 2018 . March 22, 2020. March 22, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200322150902/https://www.vulture.com/2018/03/on-my-block-netflix-review.html. live.
  10. Web site: How On My Block Turned Jasmine From a Punch Line Into a Star. Vulture.com. March 16, 2020 . March 22, 2020. March 22, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200322150901/https://www.vulture.com/amp/2020/03/on-my-block-season-3-jasmine.html. live.
  11. News: Teen Choice Awards: Full List of Winners. Billboard. August 11, 2019. March 22, 2020. February 15, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200215073036/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/awards/8527134/teen-choice-awards-2019-winners-list. live.
  12. Web site: 'How To Get Away With Murder' season 5: Jessica Marie Garcia has 'the blisters to prove' she was on the sets of the Viola Davis show. meaww.com. February 27, 2019 . en. 2020-04-20. January 17, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210117232009/https://meaww.com/how-to-get-away-with-murder-season-5-spoilers-jessica-marie-garcia-rhonda-viola-davis-on-set. live.
  13. Web site: 'On My Block's Jessica Marie Garcia Loves Supporting Latino Shows: "We Have to Raise Each Other Up". Remezcla. March 22, 2020. March 22, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200322150900/https://remezcla.com/features/film/interview-jessica-maria-garcia-omb/. live.
  14. Web site: 'Liv and Maddie' Star Jessica Marie Garcia Is Married. J-14. October 29, 2018 . March 22, 2020. March 22, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200322195201/https://www.j-14.com/posts/jessica-marie-garcia-married/. live.
  15. Web site: Slater . Georgia . On My Block's Jessica Marie Garcia Expecting First Baby with Husband: 'Beautiful Little Secret' . People . November 12, 2021.
  16. Web site: Swift . Andy . Teen Choice Awards: 'Stranger Things' Leads Final Wave of 2019 Nominations . TVLine . July 17, 2019 . en . July 8, 2019 . July 8, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190708201032/https://tvline.com/2019/07/08/teen-choice-awards-nominees-2019-stranger-things-full-list-nominations/ . live .