Olga Merediz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Olga Merediz
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Merediz in 2021
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| Born | February 15, 1956 Guantánamo, Cuba
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| Citizenship | United States |
| Alma mater | Tulane University |
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| Years active | 1984–present |
| Known for | Abuela Claudia in In the Heights |
| Awards | Drama Desk Award HOLA Tespis Award |
Olga Merediz (born February 15, 1956) is a talented American actress and singer. She is best known for playing Abuela Claudia in the Broadway musical In the Heights. She even earned a special award nomination, a Tony Award, for this role! Olga played Abuela Claudia for the entire time the show was on Broadway. She also played the same role in the movie version of the musical. You might have also seen her on TV shows like NBC's Shades of Blue and Netflix's Orange Is the New Black.
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Early Life
Olga Merediz was born in Guantánamo, Cuba, on February 15, 1956. When she was just five years old, her family moved from Cuba to Miami, Florida. After that, they moved again to Puerto Rico, which is where Olga grew up.
She went to Commonwealth High School in San Juan. There, she started performing in school plays. This is where she began to develop her amazing singing and acting skills! Later, Olga went to Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, and earned her college degree.
Amazing Acting Career
On Screen: Movies and TV Shows
Olga Merediz started her movie career in 1984. Since then, she has been in many films. Some of her movies include Evita (1996) and Music of the Heart (1999). A big role for her was playing Abuela Claudia again in the movie In the Heights (2021). She was also the singing voice for Alma Madrigal in the popular Disney movie Encanto (2021)!
She has also appeared in many TV shows. She had recurring roles in shows like Diary of a Future President, New Amsterdam, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. You might have seen her in episodes of Law & Order or Law & Order: SVU too.
On Stage: Broadway and More
Besides In the Heights, Olga has performed in several other famous Broadway shows. These include Man of La Mancha and Les Misérables. She also played the character Rosie in the musical Mamma Mia!.
Before they became big Broadway hits, Olga also starred in the Off-Broadway versions of In the Heights. She has been in many other plays too, showing her talent on stage.
Voice Acting Fun
Olga Merediz has a great voice, and she uses it for many voice-over roles! She has narrated nature documentaries for PBS. You can also hear her voice in popular kids' cartoons like Dora the Explorer, Go, Diego, Go!, and Elena of Avalor. And, as mentioned before, she was the singing voice of Abuela Alma in Disney's Encanto!
Awards and Recognition
Olga Merediz has received special awards for her acting. In 2008, she was nominated for a Tony Award for her role in In the Heights on Broadway. This is a very big honor in theater!
She also won a Drama Desk Award in 2007 for her amazing performance in the Off-Broadway version of In the Heights. In 2003, she received a HOLA Tespis Award from the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors.
In 2013, Latina magazine even named her one of the 50 Best Latin Singers and Pop Stars of All Time! They said she "knows how to dominate a live stage and owns it!"
