Tia Texada (December 14, 1971) is an American actress and singer. She is probably best known for portraying the role of Sgt. Maritza Cruz from the American television show Third Watch.

Texada was born in Louisiana to a reflexologist mother and an insurance agent father.[1] She has been acting since she was young.

Texada's most recent appearance was as a guest star in an episode of CSI Miami. Before that, she was a guest star in two episodes of The Unit. She played Sgt. Maritza Cruz in the NBC Drama Third Watch. She also has appeared in movies such as Paulie (1998) , Nurse Betty (2000), Glitter (2001), Phone Booth (2003) and Spartan (2004). She also has a singing career, and her songs have been featured on shows such as Dawson's Creek. She has lent her voice to TV's Static Shock as well as many television commercials. She has also done layouts for magazines.

love to watch her everyday in Third Watch

from Third Watch

Tia Texada's guest appearance on CSI:Miami

"Third Watch"

"Third Watch"

"Huge"

video: http://abcfamily.go.com/watch/clip/huge/SH...582/sneak-peeks

Catalina June/August 2003

When adults asked the young Tia Texada what she wanted to be when she grew up, she didn't hesitate - she knew exactly what she wanted to do.

"I either wanted to be a nun, or a hula dancer," she says with a giggle. "Those are the extremes I'd go to. So, I'd practice my hula, and say my prayers."

Picturing the now grown-up Texada as either a nun or a hula dancer may be tricky for the millions of viewers who watch her on Third Watch. As the tough-talking Sgt. Maritza Cruz, a member of an elite anti-crime taskforce, Texada portrays anything but the serenity of a nun or the playfulness of a hula dancer. And, that's just how she likes it.

"My character is quite intense. She's layered. And that's how we are as Latin women. We're layered and we have so much complexity. That's what makes us beautiful."

While Texada's giggle and bright smile confirm she is nothing like her tough-as-nails character, it's clear that she shares her character's multifaceted nature.

The Third Watch star began her parallel career as an actress and singer in the 1990s, earning a major break by singing on the renowned 1995 Lilith Fair tour. Her musical talent eventually led to a bit acting part as a bar room dancer in Robert Rodriguez's 1996 Dusk Till Dawn. Then, in 1998, her sultry voice earned her a larger role, as Ruby/Lupe, in the talking parrot film Paulie. That same year, Dawson Creek's fans could here Texada's sultry voice on the show's soundtrack.

Soon, Texada moved on to supporting roles in the successful motion pictures Bait and Nurse Betty. It wasn't long before Texada had the chance to combine her two loves, music and acting, on screen as one of Mariah Carey's best friends in Glitter (2001). Although Glitter wasn't a box office hit, Texada moved on to the critically acclaimed film 13 Conversations About One Thing and Phone Booth with Colin Farrell.

All of these layers aside, Texada admits that she has little in common with the characters she's played, including her recurring Third Watch part as the stern Sgt. Cruz. Her co-stars agree. "She's like the furthest thing away from Sgt. Cruz. She's like a chameleon," says Third Watch co-star Jason Wiles. "She's like this little bubbly girl, then all of sudden she's Cruz."

Not only are character's personalities quite the opposite from hers, she even looks differently in real life. "People tell me: That doesn't even look like you!" That's the way it should be, she tells us. "Most of the parts I play don't even look like me. I love it. That means I'm doing my job."

Rest assured, none of this success has gone to her head. "She's been all over the place, but she's not like an actress-y type," says one of Texada's closest friends, Corey Roskin, who met Texada eight years ago while in Yoga classes. "She's no diva."

To continue her climb up the showbiz ladder, Texada says she welcomes all offers, but would rather play characters like Sgt. Cruz who reflect Latinas today. But, as a Latina in Hollywood, strong characters don't come around often. "I pick what comes to me," she admits. "It's very difficult, and I'm not afraid to say that. I went in for a role, and I really wanted to play it, but they said I was too ethnic looking for it. I have to accept that."

The few roles that are available for Latinas "usually go to Jennifer, Salma, or Penelope" Texada explains, adding, "Box office is huge. If a role comes up, they're going to want Jennifer because she has great box office appeal. These are things that I'm learning."

But there's a bright side: "Things are starting to change. I'm seeing the changes in the scripts that are coming to me." The busy actress, of Venezuelan, Puerto Rican, Spanish, and French descent says she caught the acting bug as a child, growing up in Louisiana. "My parents knew, from the time I was little, that acting is what I wanted to do."

After discovering theatre in school, her many talents started coming together. "I became really creative, and then I knew, and my whole family knew that I'd be very creative."

She was doing professional theatre by age 13. "I was so fortunate because my parents were so supportive. I think they wanted me to go to college. I tried. I went for a week."

At 18, she moved into a small apartment in L.A., looking for her big break. She waited tables, taught aerobics, and sold flowers, all while acting at the local theatre at night. Like so many struggling actors say, it wasn't easy. "In this business, you're selling yourself. You're not just selling a product; you're selling yourself. So, when it's rejected, you're rejected. You really have to be strong. I've had my moments that I've been very confused."

Talent and determination, along with her family's support, made her Hollywood dream come true. "When I was about to give up, they were always there to say, 'don't give up. You gotta do what you've gotta do.'"

Texada's busy schedule hasn't stopped her from spending time with her family. She talks to her parents once a week. And, though they lead different lives, Texada and her brother, a jewelry designer, remain the best of friends. When she's not on set, she's traveling the world with her brother Tomas, 32. "We're both adventurous."

Back at work, she starts at 5 a.m. and stays late. "It's long hours, but it's worth it. When people come up to you and say, 'Oh my God, I love that show,' then you know you're doing something interesting."

Texada is also staying true to her career goals, acting in major motion films such as her latest project Spartan, starring actors William H. Macy and Val Kilmer. Her role? A strict cop.

What's next? Name it. Texada also plans to work on her singing and song writing career, working on movie and TV soundtracks. Of course, as a layered artist, she will also concentrate on her acting, looking to star in the next big Hollywood film. "I think Jennifer, Salma, and Penelope have helped all Latin women because when it shows that they can sell movie tickets, then it's like, 'Well, maybe this girl can too.'"

Stepping out

Interview by Chauncé Hayden

Stunning actress, Tia Texada currently stars as 'Sgt. Maritza Cruz' on

NBC's "Third Watch", now going into its fifth season this fall. The

popular weekly series is coming off it's highest rated season thus far and

Texada is a big reason why.

Best known for her work in the indie film world Texada recently played

'Dorrie' in "13 Conversations About One Thing", opposite John Turturro,

Matthew McConaughey, and Amy Irving. Texada will next be seen as "Jackie

Black" in David Mamet's, "Spartan" opposite William H. Macy, Val Kilmer,

and Derek Luke.

Other film credits include "Nurse Betty," playing Renee Zellweger's feisty

roommate, Joel Schumacher's "Phone Booth," Antoine Fuqua's "Bait," Eriq La

Salle's "Crazy As Hell" and Mariah Carey's "Glitter."

Besides film work Tia's television credits include a recurring role on

HBO's "Mind of a Married Man" playing 'Lane', the roommate who likes to

dance on countertops, and guest starring roles on "ER", "NYPD Blue", and

"Brooklyn South."

Tia is originally from Bayou, Louisiana. Her career began when, as a

child, she lent her voice to children's dance records, jingles and

cartoons. Since then her singing voice has been heard in the films

"Paulie" and "Welcome to the Neighborhood," as well as the television

shows, "Dawson's Creek" and "The Wild Thornberries". Tia is also a dancer

appearing in videos for Brazilian artist, Alexandre and South America's,

Iviano. Stage credits include "Twist of Fate" and "A Midsummer Night's

Dream" at the Globe Theatre.

I recently had the chance to talk to Tia Texada about her popular role on

"Third Watch," her interest in voodoo and her eternal connection to a film

she'd like to forget.

Chaunce Hayden: "Third Watch" is doing great, and your character, Sgt.

Maritza Cruz, is compelling to watch. I guess things are good.

Tia Texada: I'm having such a wonderful time! The guy who plays my partner

is one of my good friends, and so every day is a like a fun joke.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Sgt. Cruz isn't very likeable.

No, she's not. But of course, because I play her, I think she's wonderful!

(Laughs) I shouldn't say it like that. When you play a character, you have

to believe them and like them. Because you have to find the rationale

behind that person.

Sgt. Cruz is tough and not very likeable on the series. But if Sgt. Cruz

was a guy, do you think peoples' perceptions would be completely

different?

Oh, I totally agree! For me, it's just an amazing opportunity to play

somebody so strong. But what I like about Sgt. Cruz is that she's not just

strong, she's also very layered. She's not just one note. You see all her

colors, like when her sister died. A lot has happened to her during the

course of last season. This new season is going to be very interesting.

How would you describe Sgt. Cruz?

She's of course very strong. She also finds in people feelings that

normally other people wouldn't. When I play her, that's what I feel. She

will look at one thing and it will affect her forever. That's what I find

intriguing about her. She doesn't let things go, and yet she's strong

willed. Some might call Sgt. Cruz a bitch. She's just strong-willed and she

doesn't take crap.

How much of Sgt. Cruz is inside of you personally?

Not much! It's a huge character stretch for me! It's so funny; I'm

probably one of the jokesters on the set. I'm always dancing around

between takes. I'm very, very different than my character. It's very

strange, because people will come up to me on the street and say, "I hate

you!"

Seriously? People actually come up to you and say that they hate you?

Well, it's different with the guys. I have guys come up to me and say,

"Sgt. Cruz, you can arrest me anytime!" I get that almost every day. I

travel back and forth from L.A. to New York a lot, and on the airplane I

meet so many guys who are turned on by Sgt. Cruz and they really think

that I'm her!

Don't you know that all guys love dominant women in a police uniform? It's

our own little sick fantasy.

(Laughs) It must be! I'm shocked every time it happens.

But it's different with the women?

The women don't like that my character has been with Bosco because the

women love Bosco. So women get mad at me because I seduced him and I'm his

boss and I'm such a bitch.

How does it feel to conjure up those kinds of responses in people?

It's fun because the way I look at it, is that when you're really playing

your character true, people will really believe what they're watching.

It's so funny, because my family always laughs when they see the show

because I'm so opposite from Sgt. Cruz. In fact, the show is hard for my

parents to watch sometimes because I'm so much not like that. It's just

not me.

Would you rather play characters that are opposite from you?

It's interesting, because most of the characters I've played throughout my

career have been totally opposite from me. I don't think I've ever played

a character who's even close to how I really am.

I'm amazed by the work you've done during your career. First of all, I'm a

big fan of the cartoon "The Wild Thornberrys." So I was surprised to see

that you were a voice on the show.

Isn't that a great cartoon? It's so wonderful because it's both

interesting to watch and at the same time it's educational. You learn so

much in every episode. All the characters on that show are so wonderful.

How many episodes of "The Wild Thornberrys" did you do?

I did three episodes where I played the voice of Peruvian llama named

"Santusa." I don't know if you saw the episodes, but the family is in Peru

and the llama takes the little girl on an exhibition. It's just so cute!

So many kids know that character, so I'm always signing autographs for my

friends' kids because they love that show.

Personally, I have a crush on the older daughter, even if she is animated.

Isn't she adorable!

Be honest, isn't voice-over work on cartoons the easiest gig in Hollywood?

I think all it really takes is a unique sound to your voice, or if you can

do a lot of different characters. I can do little kids' voices, and also

very seductive voices as well. It comes naturally to someone like myself

who's a goof off! (Laughs)

Have you ever worked as a phone sex girl?

(Laughs) You know what's funny? I do kind of have a sexy voice message on

my phone, so when people call they always tell me I should be in that

business! So, hey, if "Third Watch" ever goes off the air, I have myself

another career!

You started out as a singer, and even performed at The Lilith Fair. Are

you a singer who needs to act to pay the rent, or an actor who just likes

to sing?

I've always been acting and singing and dancing since I was a little girl.

But I started to write some songs for some friends, and Sarah McLaughlin

heard me and invited me to sing at The Lilith Fair. I was actually offered

a record contract. But at the same time I was offered a record contract, I

got the film "Nurse Betty." So I had to choose.

How hard of a choice was it?

It was really tough. The music was something that I really wanted to do,

but this was a great part and I had been waiting for a big break in a

film. I just couldn't turn the role down. So I put my music career on hold

and haven't stopped working as an actress ever since.

Can't you pursue both a music and an acting career?

You can, but it's very difficult if you want to do it right. I'm a very

focused person, and so it's hard for me to do 15 things at once. But I

still write songs and even after I did the film "Nurse Betty" I continued

to write songs, and even wrote and sang a song that played on "Dawson's

Creek." I really enjoy writing songs for particular scenes in films. Also,

now that I live in New York, I would like to perform in some clubs and get

into some cabaret and theatre. So it's still there. I wouldn't say that my

music career didn't go well, I just haven't focused on it.

But which career would you prefer to be successful at if you had the

choice?

(Pause) I'm not afraid to say that I'm kind of used to hiding behind

characters. When you sing, you have to be yourself, but I think I like

being a character better.

Don't you like yourself?

That's not it at all. There's a part of me that's really shy. Only my

friends and family see the real me. Only my friends and family see the

goofball that I really am. I like to save that part of me for myself. So

when I sing, it's hard for me to be myself out there. Does that make

sense?

Yes, I totally understand what you're saying. So what's a nice girl like

you doing in a crappy town like Hollywood anyway?

It's very difficult. I won't deny it. It's very difficult, and I have my

moments when I don't feel in control of it. But I love what I do. I love

the art of it. I love the entertainment part of it. But I don't like the

business side. But to have the creative and artistic, fairytale side of

acting, you have to be able to deal with the other side, and it's not

easy. I try to balance it, but I'm not going to lie. It's very, very

difficult. I've been through my moments where I've taken breaks. There

have been times when I've said, "I'm going to Mexico! I'm out of here!"

And I'll go off for three weeks. My brother is the one that makes me

escape it all and realize what it's all about. It really took my brother

to help me realize that, because you really can get caught up in it. I'm

sure you know yourself. You're in the business and you meet all these

famous people.

That's why I wonder how a nice person like you deals with the horrors of

Hollywood.

I can understand how you would say that, because my family is the same

way. But I just make my job like a playtime. Just like I did when I was a

little girl. When I go to the set, I'm at my most vulnerable and creative.

That's what I love. I just hate dealing with contracts and trying to get

my name out there.

You've starred with so many "A" list actors, including Colin Farrell. I

have to ask you, what is the deal with his eyebrows? Don't they freak you

out?

(Laughs) You know what it is about him? I'll tell you! He is so charming.

He really is.

Come on, you just love the accent.

I don't even think it's that. To me it's all about the energy of a person,

and the accent has nothing to do with that. I think it's just that he has

a really strong, piercing energy. He's very charismatic. It's like what

they say about President Clinton, he makes you feel like you're the only

important person in the room at that moment. Colin makes every woman feel

like that. He makes every woman feel like the dream of his life! He's the

biggest flirt. It's so funny, he would flirt with me, and then I would

turn around and he's flirting with five other women at the same time!

Did that upset you?

No! There's nothing wrong with that, if that's what he wants to do. He's

having fun and enjoying his life. I think he's adorable. But I think a lot

of different men are adorable for different reasons. My type isn't

normally the norm.

What's your type?

I like somebody who has a sense of adventure inside. Whether it be with

just simple things like a conversation or exploring beautiful things in

life or going to find the best gardens in New York. The kind of person you

can work with for six hours and you're fine with it!

Do you date only actors?

I date actors only because that's who I tend to meet. But I prefer my

future guy not be an actor, or just know enough about it so he can

understand me. I just need to be with a person who always wants to learn

something and have that adventurous spirit, because that's how I am. Every

day I wake up I think, "Oh my God, there's so much I want to learn today!"

There's so many books I want to read and so many poems I want to read and

so many dances I want to learn and ...

Damn, you put a lot of pressure on yourself.

I guess I just can't see how anyone can ever say, "I'm bored."

You're wearing me out just listening to you.

I'm just passionate. I just like to have fun and enjoy life!

Do you think you get that excitement from life from being born in New

Orleans? It seems to be Mardi Gras 24/7 for you.

Yes! I was born in the Bayou with the water in the background, where

everybody is barefoot and dancing.

Sounds like a scene out of "Angel Heart." Are you into that Bayou voodoo?

I know! That's what everybody says. You can look at voodoo in many ways.

You can say that voodoo is bad, but it doesn't always mean bad. There are

some wonderful people who have some magical spirits within them and use it

only for good.

So you are into voodoo, aren't you!

(Laughs) No! I'm not into anything of a bad nature. I'm only into the

voodoo of passion and love. The cool side of it.

But voodoo nonetheless.

My mom is able to tell what's going to happen in her dreams, and I know a

lot of people who have a magical spirit, but personally I would never wish

bad upon anybody or wish any kind of harm on anybody because they did

something to me.

But you could.

I do have some access to that world if I need it, Chaunce! I got some

connections and my mom sends me voodoo love dolls all the time!

Let's change the subject. Let's talk about the Mariah Carey film

"Glitter." What the hell were you thinking when you signed on for it?

Here's the thing. I had just finished making "Nurse Betty" and it hadn't

come out yet. So I was waiting for my next film role. Nobody knew my work

yet, so I had to audition and audition for that part in "Glitter." I

actually worked hard for that part! That's what is so funny about it. I

was actually excited. I loved Mariah Carey's voice and I thought this was

going to be a great project. Plus, I was going to get to show off my

dancing. What a great opportunity, I thought.

So rationally, you thought the film has to be a hit.

You would think! But let me just tell you, it was a disaster from the time

I got there. It was just horrible. I wanted to quit, but I couldn't

because when you're in, you're in. I would call my manager every day,

trying to get myself off the film. I was so new and I thought you had to

listen to what you were told. People would say, "You have to wear this!"

and I would just say, "Well I don't want to wear that!" But everyone,

including Mariah Carey said, "You have to wear what we give you or you're

fired!" She did not want any of us to look good!

I smell a Mariah-bashing coming on!

Let me just tell you that I wasn't allowed to show any of my body in this

movie because she would not allow it. It's too bad because she's so

beautiful and talented that she doesn't need to be that way. But she was

very insecure. Everyone else I worked with, whether it was Colin Farrell,

Chris Rock, Renee Zellweger, or Morgan Freeman, have all been so generous

and easy to work with. But working with Mariah was really hard. She knows

that I feel this way. When you work with actors, you have to make those

around you who you're working with feel comfortable. But she tried to make

us all feel horrible and it came out in the film. That's why the film was

such a flop. In fact, she cut out all my dance moves. She said, "Sorry,

but this movie is about my singing not your dancing." She just ruined the

film.

What did you learn from the experience?

Now I'm totally different on the set. If something is wrong, I'll be the

first to speak up. Not in the diva way, but I'll tell people if I'm

uncomfortable with something. It will never happen to me again. Ever! And

if somebody treats me like Mariah did, then I won't talk to that person.

I have to ask you this. When something like that happens and you have a

terrible experience like that, does it affect how you perceive them as

talents? In other words, do you have trouble listening to Mariah's music

now? Even the hit songs?

(Yells) It's so funny that you said that! It's so interesting you said

that because I truly feel that way! I think she's ultratalented and she's

been through a lot and she's been sheltered a lot and we don't know her

full story, but it really is harder for me to listen to her music! I have

all her CDs and I don't think I've listened to any of them since that

movie.

Keep in mind Mariah was on the verge of an emotional breakdown during the

making of "Glitter." So maybe that had something to do with her attitude.

You don't know what people are going through, that's true. But I will say

that most of the other actors I worked with during my career have taken

the time to be a professional and they didn't go out of their way to make

the other actors on the set miserable. That's really why the film was a

failure. The film never should have been released.

Well, on the bright side, "Glitter" is forever a cult classic.

Do you know how many fans I have from that movie? I had a bunch of little

girls following me around the airport the other day because they loved the

movie.

The film that's so bad it's good.

Yes! And I've learned from it, plus I made the biggest paycheck I've ever

made on it as well! (Laughs) Sometimes the films you get the biggest

payday from are the worst ones! It's a crazy system!

Aren't you glad I brought up "Glitter"?

I know, and it's brought up all the time! It used to really agitate me

because it was such a negative experience. In fact, when I finished the

film, I quit acting for three months because I had had it! But now I just

laugh about it.

Every famous actor has their own "Glitter" story.

Exactly. I just hope that's my only one!

I take it the set of "Third Watch" is slightly less stressful?

Oh yeah. We try to make all our guest stars feel as comfortable as

possible. We just have so much fun. Everybody is so wonderful. That's the

great thing about this business, you can be working on a really bad movie

one minute and the next minute you're working on a beautiful series!

So tell me something about this new season of "Third Watch" that nobody

knows.

Well, there's something about my character this season that's been

sleeping inside of her that's going to come out.

She's a lesbian, isn't she?

No, the secret is that she loves Chaunce. She has had a crush on Chaunce

all along. In fact, I think you should end this interview with "Sgt. Cruz

in love with Chaunce." That's the perfect ending to what this whole next

season is about. Sgt. Cruz loves Chaunce! It's perfect! I love it!

Latina Magazine, April 2001

Black Crescent Moon