Melonie Diaz

When the unconventionally attractive actress Melonie Diaz took her onscreen bow at the outset of the millennium, she quickly racked up a series of roles in well-respected, intelligent films, consistently transcending the pitfall of ethnic typecast from project to project. Throughout, Diaz specialized in portraying unapologetically individualistic and self-assertive young urban women. Diaz began with prominent billing, as one of the key supporting actors in the well-received coming-of-age comedy drama Raising Victor Vargas (2002). Additional assignments included supporting roles in such critical darlings as Lords of Dogtown (2005) and A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006) before the actress landed her first lead, in Jamie Babbit's highly praised indie comedy drama Itty Bitty Titty Committee (2007). In that picture, Diaz played Anna, a young and single lesbian whose life turns an unforeseen corner when she joins a sub-rosa group of militant graffiti painters. In 2008, she appeared in Michel Gondry's comedy Be Kind Rewind alongside Jack Black and Mos Def.