MARIA CANALS-BARRERA

"Theresa Russo"

Maria Canals-Barrera stars as Theresa Russo, the mortal mother of three teenage wizards, in the Emmy Award-winning series "Wizards of Waverly Place."

Born and raised in Miami, Florida, the award-winning actress has starred as the mom in the Disney Channel Original Movie "Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie," and "Camp Rock."

A 2002 Alma Award-winner for her role in the television series "Brothers Garcia," Canals-Barrera starred in the Telemundo series "Marielena" and "Corte Tropical" for Univision.  She was the Female Lead on "The Tony Danza Show," and she's had guest-starring roles on "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "George Lopez," "The Loop," "Popular," "Veronica's Closet," "Caroline in the City" and "Almost Perfect," as well as recurring roles in "Beggars & Choosers" for Showtime and the critically acclaimed PBS series "American Family."  Canals-Barrera is also the voice of "Hawkgirl" in the animated series "The Justice League" and was the voice of "Sunset Boulevardez" in Disney Channel's acclaimed series "The Proud Family."

On the big screen she appeared in "Master of Disguise" and "My Family / Mi Familia," with Edward James Olmos, Jimmy Smits and Esai Morales.

On stage, Canals-Barrera appeared at the Mark Taper Forum in "Changes of Heart" for which she received an Ovation Award nomination.  Her other stage work include roles in "Chilean Holiday," "Hedda Gabler," "A Touch of the Poet," "Mixed Blessings," "The House of Blue Leaves" and "The Glass Menagerie."

She resides in Los Angeles with her husband and two children.

9/09

-- Disney Channel --