Justina Machado Signs with United Talent Agency (UTA)

Posted on September 18, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Justina Machado has new representation…

The 46-year-old Puerto Rican actress, who stars on Netflix’s rebooted Norman Lear series One Day at a Time, has signed with United Talent Agency (UTA).

Machado, who scored a SAG Award in 2004 as part of the ensemble cast of HBO’s Six Feet Under, has appeared on Season 4 of CW’s Jane the Virgin and USA Network’s Queen of the South, and she voices Carmen on Disney Junior’s Elena of Avalor.

Her big-screen credits include The Purge: Anarchy and The Accidental Husband. On the stage, she made her Broadwaydebut in In the Heights and also appeared in A Free Man of Color.

On One Day at a Time, which follows three generations of a Cuban-American family, Machado stars as Penelope Alvarez, a single mom and military veteran raising two strong-willed, mega-millennial children, all the while enlisting the “help” of her old-school mother and her building manager-turned-confidante. Rita Moreno, Todd Grinnell, Stephen Toblowsky, Isabella Gomezand Marcel Ruiz co-star.

The series from Lear and Sony Television is underway on shooting its third season, which will air in 2019.

She had been with APA and continues to be repped by D2 Management.

Disney Channel Renews Carrero’s “Elena of Avalor” for a Third Season

Posted on February 14, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Aimee Carrero’s reign continues…

Disney Channel has ordered a third season of its hit animated series Elena of Avalor, featuring the 28-year-old Dominican actress as the voice of the title character.

The announcement comes months ahead of its Season 2 premiere.

Created and executive-produced by Emmy winner Craig Gerber, the series centers on a brave and adventurous teenager who rules her kingdom as crown princess, Elena of Avalor. It stars Carrero as the voice of Elena; Jenna Ortega as Princess Isabel; Chris Parnell, Yvette Nicole Brown and Carlos Alazraqui as the jaquins Migs, Luna and Skylar, respectively; Emiliano Díez as Francisco; Julia Vera as Luisa; Christian Lanz as Chancellor Esteban; Jillian Rose Reed as Naomi; Joseph Haro as Mateo; Jorge Diaz as Gabe; Keith Ferguson as Zuzo; and Joe Nunez as Armando. The recurring guest voice cast includes: Constance Marie, Lou Diamond Phillips, Rich Sommer, Justina Machado and Jaime Camil.

When it premiered in July 2016, Elena of Avalor quickly became television’s No.1 series for Girls age 2-11 in the U.S. It also ranks No. 1 in its timeslot among kids in the UK, Spain and Portugal.

Season 2 is scheduled to premiere this fall on Disney Channel and Disney Junior.

Elena of Avalor has spawned a franchise aside from the television series, including a line of dolls from Disney Store and Hasbro which recently reached the mark of one million dolls sold. The Elena character also is featured at Disney Parks & Resorts where she greets well-wishers with stories and songs from her native land during special character appearances. The series also has spawned print and e-book titles from Disney Publishing; an “Elena of Avalor” original soundtrack album from Walt Disney Records; and multiple DVD releases from Walt Disney Studios, including the recently released Elena and the Secret of Avalor.

Carrero to Star in Freeform’s “Young & Hungry” Spinoff Series Starring Ashley Tisdale

Posted on April 9, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Aimee Carrero is going for a spin(off)…

The 27-year-old Dominican-American actress will star opposite Ashley Tisdale in the Young & Hungry spinoff series, which is in development at Freeform.

Carrero will reprise her role in the original series, Sofia Rodriguez, an ambitious banking intern and Gabi (Emily Osment)’s best friend and roommate.

The proposed Young & Hungry spinoff will reportedly follow Sofia (Carrero) as she lands a job working for an overbearing boss. Tisdale is playing lesbian magazine editor Logan Rawlings, a role she originated in two guest-starring appearances on Young & Hungry, which she executive produces, along with the spinoff.

Young and Hungry just had its third season finale this week and returns with new episodes June 1.

Along with role role on Young & Hungry, Carrero voices the title character in the upcoming Disney Junior animated princess series Elena of Avalor. She also has appeared on FX’s The Americans and currently on NBC’s Blindspot.

Carrero’s feature credits include The Last Witch Hunter and The Devil’s Due.

Carrero to Voice Lead Princess on Disney Junior’s “Elena of Avalor”

Posted on January 30, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a royal opportunity for Aimee Carrero…

Disney Junior has announced plans to launch an animated spinoff from Sofia The First, with the 26-year-old Dominican actress voicing the lead character.

Entitled Elena of Avalor, it centers on Princess Elena of Avalor, a confident and compassionate teenager in an enchanted fairytale kingdom inspired by diverse Latin cultures and folklore.

The title character will be introduced in a special episode of its mothership series Sofia The First, in a story arc that will usher in the 2016 launch.

Carrero’s journey as Princess Elena began long ago when her parents and kingdom were taken from her by the evil sorceress, Shuriki. She bravely faced the sorceress to protect her little sister, Princess Isabel, and grandparents but in the process, her magical amulet pulled her inside its enchanted jewel, saving her life but imprisoning her at the same time. Decades later, Princess Sofia of Enchancia discovers the truth about the amulet she has worn since joining her royal family and sets out to restore Elena to her human form and help her return to the kingdom of Avalor.

The series will be presented in 25 languages on Disney Junior channels and daily programming blocks for kids age 2-7 on Disney Channels, among other platforms, in 154 countries around the world.

Disney Television Animation is producing Elena Of Avalor and Sofia The First‘s Craig Gerber is executive producing. Silvia Cardenas Olivas (Moesha, The Brothers Garcia), is the story editor, and Elliot M. Bour (The Little Engine That Could) is the supervising director.

Carrero’s credits include television appearances on The Americans, The Mentalist, Lincoln Heights, Young & Hungry, Hannah Montana, Men of a Certain Age, The Middle, Greek, Zeke and Luther and Baby Daddy.

Ramirez’s “Sofia the First” Returning for Second Season

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

It looks like Sara Ramirez’s reign on the Disney Channel and Disney Junior will continue…

The network’s animated television series Sofia the First, which features the 37-year-old Mexican & Irish-American actress/singer’s voice, has been renewed for a second season.

The Tony-winning Grey’s Anatomy star voices the character of Queen Miranda on the smash-hit series, which continues to hit series highs week after week.

Sofia the First, which airs on the Disney Channel’s daily programming block for preschoolers Disney Junior as well as the 24-hour channel Disney Junior, is the top cable television series among Kids 2-5, Girls 2-5 and Boys 2-5.

The series stars Modern Family’s Ariel Winter as the titular character, a young 7-year old girl on the verge of becoming a princess.

It launched with the ratings records-breaking TV movie Sofia the First: Once Upon a Princess and has spawned a successful soundtrack album. Sofia The First toy and apparel lines and theme park attractions are currently in the works.

Ramirez’s “Sofia the First” Premiering This Weekend

Posted on November 13, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Sara Ramirez is getting ready to step out of her scrubs and step into a gown…

The Mexican/Irish-American actress/singer and Grey’s Anatomy star is lending her voice to the Disney Junior movie Sofia the First: Once Upon a Princess, a job she gladly accepted.

“I grew up watching animation [and] this was kind of like a dream come true,” Ramirez told TVGuide.com.

The television movie centers on a young girl named Sofia (voiced by Modern Family‘s Ariel Winter) who suddenly becomes a princess when her mother Miranda (voiced by Ramirez) marries the king. Unlike most fairy tales that feature mean stepsisters and evil stepmothers, Sofia the First: Once Upon a Princess is all about learning how to fit in and being kind to others.

“What’s really behind it is that you can have all the material things in the world and can sit on a throne, but what really matters is being kind, compassionate, respectful and honest,” says Ramirez. “The king has two other kids from a previous relationship so there’s a blended family story, which I really love. And for once the stepmother is not an evil woman! She’s actually quite helpful and wants to empower her daughter to do good things and be a kind person in the world.”

Sofia the First premieres on Sunday, November 18 at 7:00 pm ET on the Disney Channel.

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