Nadine Velazquez on AllMovie

A one-time gymnast hopeful who only gained the courage to try acting after a pep talk from a friendly Chicago talent agent, My Name Is Earl star Nadine Velazquez nearly left her dreams behind in favor of a more "sensible" career in marketing. Thankfully for her many fans, Velazquez accepted a part-time position at a well-known Windy City talent agency in order to pay her tuition at Columbia College and a healthy commercial career was quick to follow. Though Velazquez eventually received her B.A. in marketing from Columbia, the silver screen was calling and it was finally time to test her luck in Los Angeles. Upon arriving in Hollywood, the up-and-coming actress soon landed parts in both film and television (Biker Boyz and The Bold and the Beautiful). While supporting roles on such shows as Entourage and Las Vegas would serve well to familiarize viewers with Velazquez, it was her recurring role as sexy hotel maid Catalina on My Name Is Earl that proved her true small-screen breakthrough. In 2007, Velazquez found herself in the middle of a sizeable escalation when she signed on to appear opposite Jet Li and Jason Statham in the explosive action thriller War.