Tessie Santiago | The Queen of Swords

Tessie Santiago | The Queen of Swords

Maria Teresa (Tessa) Alvarado

The original biography for Tessie Santiago...

Tessie Santiago
Newcomer Tessie Santiago cuts a wide swath across 19th century Southern California this fall as Tessa Alvarado, a Spanish beauty who masquerades as the avenging QUEEN OF SWORDS, striking fear in the hearts of evil-doers and bringing hope to the good. While she landed the part of the sword-wielding Spanish heroine in her very first professional acting audition, instantly capturing the essence, strength and beauty of a young Latina woman fighting for all things just, Santiago has been preparing for the role her entire life.

The Miami-born Cuban-American grew up in a tight-knit family of artists, including a sculptor grandfather, musician father and painter mother. From playing the piano at age 7, to performing in musicals, to studying Shakespeare in London, and earning a double major in Film and Theater at the University of Miami, Santiago has always immersed herself in creative endeavors. At the University of Miami, she starred in the independent film Echo and became the resident “It Girl,” acting in many student films. As part of a nationwide search, Santiago read for QUEEN OF SWORDS, and her life literally changed from one day to the next.

Since getting her own TV show, the 5-foot-8-inch beauty has filmed two commercials in Spanish and thrown herself into training for QUEEN OF SWORDS; learning how to horseback ride, flamenco dance and fence. She’s particularly proud to play the part of a strong-willed Latina woman battling oppression. Since most of Santiago’s family fled from Cuba after Castro and communism took hold of the country, she easily identifies with her character of the QUEEN OF SWORDS. This first-generation American is passionate about keeping her Cuban heritage alive and passing it onto her own children one day. An avid reader, who counts Henry Miller, Anais Nin and Milan Kundera among her favorite authors, Santiago also aspires someday to work behind the camera, both as a writer and a director. Tessie loves living in Miami, where she attends plays and concerts, watches foreign films and spends time with her family and lifelong friends.

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The original biography for Tessie Santiago...
	Tessie Santiago Newcomer Tessie Santiago cuts a wide swath across 19th century Southern California this fall as Tessa Alvarado, a Spanish beauty who masquerades as the avenging QUEEN OF SWORDS, striking fear in the hearts of evil-doers and bringing hope to the good. While she landed the part of the sword-wielding Spanish heroine in her very first professional acting audition, instantly capturing the essence, strength and beauty of a young Latina woman fighting for all things just, Santiago has been preparing for the role her entire life.
The Miami-born Cuban-American grew up in a tight-knit family of artists, including a sculptor grandfather, musician father and painter mother. From playing the piano at age 7, to performing in musicals, to studying Shakespeare in London, and earning a double major in Film and Theater at the University of Miami, Santiago has always immersed herself in creative endeavors. At the University of Miami, she starred in the independent film Echo and became the resident “It Girl,” acting in many student films. As part of a nationwide search, Santiago read for QUEEN OF SWORDS, and her life literally changed from one day to the next. Since getting her own TV show, the 5-foot-8-inch beauty has filmed two commercials in Spanish and thrown herself into training for QUEEN OF SWORDS; learning how to horseback ride, flamenco dance and fence. She’s particularly proud to play the part of a strong-willed Latina woman battling oppression. Since most of Santiago’s family fled from Cuba after Castro and communism took hold of the country, she easily identifies with her character of the QUEEN OF SWORDS. This first-generation American is passionate about keeping her Cuban heritage alive and passing it onto her own children one day. An avid reader, who counts Henry Miller, Anais Nin and Milan Kundera among her favorite authors, Santiago also aspires someday to work behind the camera, both as a writer and a director. Tessie loves living in Miami, where she attends plays and concerts, watches foreign films and spends time with her family and lifelong friends.