Paola Lázaro | |
|---|---|
 Paola Lázaro -Walker Con | |
| Born | (1988-10-24)24 October 1988 (age 37) San Juan,Puerto Rico, United States of America |
| Other names | Paola Lázaro-Muñoz |
| Education |
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| Occupation |
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| Years active | 2014–present |
Paola Lázaro (/pao-lah/ born October 24)[1][2] is a Puerto Rican actress. She is best known for portrayingJuanita "Princess" Sanchez on theAMCapocalypticdrama television seriesThe Walking Dead (2020-2022) and Angela Gomez in theNetflix seriesObliterated (2023).
Lázaro was born and raised inSan Juan,Puerto Rico. Lázaro later left to study at theState University of New York at Purchase. In 2010, she graduated as aBachelor of Fine Arts with a degree in dramatic writing.[3] Lázaro completed herMaster's Degree in playwriting fromColumbia University in 2013.[4] At the end of her final year at Columbia, she was mentored by playwrightStephen Adly Guirgis over the course of the production of her thesis play. His presence has heavily influenced both her writing and her career.[5] Lázaro also participated in the Emerging Young Writer's Group at thePublic Theatre, worked on a summer program withLabyrinth Theatre Company, and received an Arts Entertainment Scholarship Award from the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts.[6]
After earning her M.F.A., Lázaro was asked to joinAtlantic Theatre Company in New York City, as playwright-in-residence for the 2016–2017 season.[7] This selective playwright-in-residency program was created by the Tow Foundation and provides funds to New York City theatre companies to support a playwright's production of a new work, and focused on Lázaro's new play,Tell Hector I Miss Him (2017).[8] The play dramatizes a cast of eccentric characters in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, coping with love, addiction, and fear.[9][10] The Atlantic Theatre Company's production, directed by David Mendizabal, opened January 11, 2017 and was scheduled to close January 23; the run was extended due to popular demand. One reviewer described the play as “Our Town with salsa and cocaine.”[11]
While Lázaro is dedicated to relating to Latinos everywhere through her playwriting, and is an actress as well. Under the direction of Lisa Peterson, Lázaro performed inCherry Lane Theatre's recent production ofLisa Ramirez'sTo the Bone, a play based on interviews Ramirez conducted with Latina immigrant poultry workers.[12] Lázaro played Lupe, daughter of Olga (played by Ramirez), a hip-hopping, skateboarding student of political science and law. Her work on this production is described as played with “vivacious urgency,” and it earned her aDrama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play.[13] In 2017 she was acting in film, playing a sex worker in a drama calledPimp and an undercover officer in the filmScenes from the Underground.
Lázaro is a firm believer that Latinos should write their "own stories and create work for ourselves.”[5]
In 2020, Lázaro was cast as Juanita "Princess" Sanchez onAMC'sThe Walking Dead.[14]
Lázaro identifies aspansexual.[5]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | A Northern Star | Mateo's sister | Short film; credited as Paola Lazaro-Munoz |
| 2018 | Pimp | Louisa | |
| 2020 | Black Bear | Cahya |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | So, Then Tell Me | Sue | 2 episodes |
| 2017 | Shelter | Gloria | Unsold pilot |
| 2018 | Dichos | ||
| 2018 | Lethal Weapon | Luisa "The Gute" Gutierrez | 7 episodes |
| 2019 | SMILF | Itsy | 2 episodes |
| 2019 | Wu-Tang: An American Saga | Tonya | Episode: "Assassination Day" |
| 2020–2022 | The Walking Dead | Juanita "Princess" Sanchez | Recurring (Season 10) Main / Also starring (Season 11) Nominated -Imagen Award for Best Supporting Actress: Television (Drama) |
| 2023 | Obliterated | Angela Gomez | 8 episodes[15] |
