
Rosa Salazar
Biography
Rosa Salazar (/ˈsæləzɑːr/; born July 16, 1985) is an American actress. She had roles in the NBC series Parenthood (2011–2012) and the FXanthology series American Horror Story: Murder House (2011). She made her breakthrough as the title character of the film Alita: Battle Angel (2019) and is known for starring in the series Brand New Cherry Flavour (2021), which she also co-produced.
Salazar appeared in The Divergent Series: Insurgent (2015), Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015), and Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018) and also appeared in the Netflix films The Kindergarten Teacher (2018) and Bird Box (2018). She stars in the Amazon series Undone (2019–2022).
Salazar was born on July 16, 1985, in Washington, D.C., to Luis and Marilynne Salazar. Her father is Peruvian, and her mother is French-Canadian. She grew up in Washington, D.C., and nearby Greenbelt, Maryland. She attended Greenbelt Middle School and Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, where she was active in the theatre program. She attended Prince George's Community College, where she studied drama, then continued drama studies at Upright Citizens Brigade, where she practiced method acting, improvisation, and performance.
Salazar enjoyed entertaining others from the age of fifteen and became serious about becoming an actress after moving to New York City as a young adult. There she appeared in several CollegeHumor sketches. Shortly after relocating to Los Angeles in 2009, she made her film debut playing the character Crystal in Jamesy Boy, written and directed by Trevor White. She then landed recurring roles on two hit TV series: American Horror Story: Murder House and Parenthood. In 2015, she co-starred in various sequels: The Divergent Series: Insurgent as Lynn, and Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials as Brenda.
In 2016, Salazar directed and starred in the short film Good Crazy, a story of a social crusader. It was nominated for a Short Film Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.
In 2018, she reprised her role as Brenda in Maze Runner: The Death Cure.
In 2019, she made her major studio lead debut with the film Alita: Battle Angel, an adaptation of the manga Gunnm directed by Robert Rodriguez. It brought Salazar numerous awards, including "Best Visual Effects or Animated Performance" from the Hollywood Critics Association and "Best Voice or Motion Capture Performance" from the Association of Latin Entertainment Critics. That year, it was announced that Salazar would have a main role on the Netflix horror drama miniseries Brand New Cherry Flavor. It was released on August 13, 2021.
In 2023, Salazar was invited to become a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Description above from the Wikipedia article Rosa Salazar, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Known For

TV
American Horror Story
María
2011

TV
Big Mouth
Ms. Benitez (voice)
2017

TV
CollegeHumor Shorts
Adison
2007

TV
CollegeHumor Shorts
Rosa
2007

TV
Parenthood
Zoe DeHaven
2010

Film
Play Dirty
Zen
2025

TV
Pantheon
Senator Elaine Rivera (voice)
2022

TV
Law & Order: LA
Yolanda
2010

TV
B Positive
Adriana
2020

TV
China, IL
Barb (voice)
2011

TV
China, IL
(voice)
2011

TV
Man Seeking Woman
Rosa / Bosa
2015

TV
Man Seeking Woman
Rosa
2015

TV
Undone
Alma Winograd-Diaz
2019

Film
Alita: Battle Angel
Alita
2019

TV
Tim and Eric's Bedtime Stories
Lucy
2014

Film
Insurgent
Lynn
2015

TV
Star Trek: Short Treks
Lynne Lucero
2018

Film
Maze Runner: The Death Cure
Brenda
2018

Film
Bird Box
Lucy
2018
Filmography
2026FilmVampires of the Velvet Lounge2025FilmPlay Dirtyas Zen2025TVWin or Loseas Vanessa (voice)2023FilmA Million Miles Awayas Adela2022TVWedding Seasonas Katie2022TVPantheonas Senator Elaine Rivera (voice)2022FilmMarcel the Shell with Shoes Onas Larissa2022FilmChariotas Maria Deschaines2021FilmNo Futureas Becca2021TVBrand New Cherry Flavoras Lisa N. Nova2020TVB Positiveas Adriana2020FilmPink Skies Aheadas Addie2019TVUndoneas Alma Winograd-Diaz2019FilmAlita: Battle Angelas Alita2018FilmBird Boxas Lucy2018TVStar Trek: Short Treksas Lynne Lucero2018FilmThe Kindergarten Teacheras Becca2018FilmMaze Runner: The Death Cureas Brenda2017TVBig Mouthas Ms. Benitez (voice)2017FilmCHiPsas Ava2016FilmGood Crazyas Rosa2016FilmSubmergedas Amanda2015FilmNight Owlsas Madeline2015FilmMaze Runner: The Scorch Trialsas Brenda2015FilmChina, Il The Musicalas Barb2015FilmInsurgentas Lynn2015TVMan Seeking Womanas Rosa / Bosa2014FilmSearch Partyas Pocahontas2014TVTim and Eric's Bedtime Storiesas Lucy2014FilmJerked2014FilmJamesy Boyas Crystal2013TVHello Ladiesas Heaven2013FilmEpicas Roller Derby Girl (voice)2012TVBen and Kateas Molly2011TVAmerican Horror Storyas María2011TVChina, ILas Barb (voice)2010TVLaw & Order: LAas Yolanda2010TVParenthoodas Zoe DeHaven2007TVCollegeHumor Shortsas Adison