With the second season of Starz Latinx series “Vida” and the newly released indie feature film “Papi Chulo,” actress Elena Campbell-Martínez is proving a solid talent.
If you haven’t seen “Vida,” then add it to your binge list. It follows two Mexican-American sisters (Melissa Barrera and Mishel Prada) who return to their roots in East LA after the sudden death of their mother. The local spiritual healer, Doña Lupe (played by Elena), is a trusted friend who the girls turn to looking for advice and a little witchcraft.
Elena’s performance as Doña Lupe has been earning her plenty of industry attention. In fact, she is being considered for an Emmy® in the Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series category for her work in the first season.
“When someone approaches me saying they recognize their tía in me – one fan even told me I was just like her señora who has helped her with spiritual cleanses – it brings home how lucky I am to be representing our Latinx people and culture in a way that just hasn’t been seen on TV until now,” explains Elena.
Elena also returns to theaters appearing in director John Butler’s indie film “Papi Chulo,” starring Matt Bomer and Alejandro Patiño. The film, which first gained momentum on the festival circuit, follows the unlikely friendship between a depressed weatherman and a middle-aged Latino migrant worker. Elena portrays Alejandro’s wife, who is amused by her husband’s new adventures.
Previously, Elena appeared in Clint Eastwood’s heroic biopic “The 15:17 to Paris” about the Americans who stopped the 2015 terrorist train attack in France. On television, she has appeared on NBC’s “This Is Us,” CBS’s “The Big Bang Theory,” ABC’s “Modern Family,” and Amazon’s “Hand of God.”
More info: CampbellMartinez.com
Elena Campbell-Martínez as Doña Lupe in "Vida"
Actress Elena Campbell-Martínez
