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Luna Lauren Velez

Luna Lauren Velez

Actor, also producer · Born November 2, 1964 (61) · Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Screen Actors Guild Award nominee · 1 other major award body

Luna Lauren Vélez (born November 2, 1964) is an American actress. Her most notable television roles are as María LaGuerta on Showtime's Dexter, Detective Nina Moreno on Fox's New York Undercover, Dr. Gloria Nathan on HBO's prison drama Oz, and Elena on ABC's comedy-drama Ugly Betty. She also starred as Rio Morales in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023). Description above from the Wikipedia article Lauren Vélez, licensed under CC-BY-SA, is a full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 2, 1964 (61)
From
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
38 on MovieCove · 47 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 31% in 30 days

What are Luna Lauren Velez's films like?

Across their 20 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Survival.

Genres

Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 18th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Animation3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 99th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
35%
Survival
21%
Self
18%
Morality
14%
Power
5%
Society
4%
Ideas
2%
Family bonds12 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty3 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 16 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 4 · Serious 5 · Dark 7

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 9 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 5

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 3 · Charged 3 · Intense 10

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 6 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 3

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 8 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 2

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 5 · Relentless 5

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 6 · Engaged 7 · Full focus 3

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 12 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

8 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 3 of 8 analyzed roles.

Ally
3 of 8
Hero
2 of 8
Threshold guardian
2 of 8
Herald
1 of 8
Show the 8 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
13
Dread
8
Thrilling
6
Hopeful
7
Melancholic
6
Other
13

How their films linger

Hopeful9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet15
  • Ambiguous3

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Luna Lauren Velez's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 32 of their 38 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Roku Channel (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Luna Lauren Velez's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

47 credits, 38 with a MovieCove page; 3 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse(2027)

    as Rio Morales (voice)

  • Transformers: Rise of the Beasts(2023)

    as Breanna Diaz

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse(2023)

    as Rio Morales (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • East New York(2022)

    Show 4 episodes · as Tamika Martin

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all shows

  • Rogue Hostage(2021)

    as Sunshine

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • American Rust(2021)

    Show as Detective Angela Burgos

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Power Book II: Ghost(2020)

    Show 2 episodes · as Evelyn Castillo

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Swallow(2019)

    as Lucy

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Ana(2020)

    as Camila

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Shaft(2019)

    as Bennie Rodriguez

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Windows on the World(2019)

    as Eva

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse(2018)

    as Rio Morales (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The First Purge(2018)

    as Luisa

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Officer Downe(2016)

    as Police Chief Berringer

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • America Adrift(2016)

    Producer · as Cecilia Fernandez

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • MacGyver(2016)

    Show 3 episodes · as Cassandra Glover

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all shows

  • South of Hell(2015)

    Show 8 episodes · as Tetra

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all shows

  • How to Get Away with Murder(2014)

    Show 11 episodes · as Soraya Hargrove

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Madam Secretary(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Natalia Moreno

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Elementary(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Zoe Mercado

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • The Rosewood Lane(2011)

    as Paula Crenshaw

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Unforgettable(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Aisha Conway

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Blue Bloods(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Special agent Veronica Molina

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Sugar Pathways (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Narrator

  • Dexter(2006)

    Show 84 episodes · as Maria LaGuerta

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Ugly Betty(2006)

    Show 7 episodes · as Elena

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • Serial (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Roseanne Crystal

  • Wanted (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Faye Templeton

  • Numb3rs(2005)

    Show 3 episodes · as Claudia Gomez

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows

  • Medium(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Elena Cabrera

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • Law & Order: Criminal Intent(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Lois Melago

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Prison Song(2001)

    as Prison Counselor (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Love and Treason (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Agent Susan Mestre (as Lauren Vélez)

  • Starwater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Actor

  • Prince of Central Park(2000)

    as Rosa Sanchez

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Strong Medicine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Vanessa Burke

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · as Defense Attorney Shamal

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Thicker Than Blood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Camilla Lopez

  • The LaMastas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Actor

  • Oz(1997)

    Show 44 episodes · as Dr. Gloria Nathan

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • I Think I Do(1997)

    as Carol

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Profiler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Emily Sadler

  • The Pretender(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Emily Sadler

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • City Hall(1996)

    as Elaine Santos

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • I Like It Like That(1994)

    as Lisette Linares

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • New York Undercover(1994)

    Show 64 episodes · as Nina Moreno

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Ms. Torres

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 46 titles, 45 of them dated from 1990 to 2023; peak year 2019.

Biggest box office

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

$691M worldwide

Highest rated

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Dexter (2006)

Film career

MilestoneNomination
19902023

Peak 2019 · at the high point of their film career. Top draw in 4 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting46 of 46: 45 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score62ndProducing1 of 46: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1990s11 · acting2000s13 · acting2010s14 · 14 acting · 1 crew2020s7 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 0% of 12 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

Awards

5 major nominations and no wins, 1995–2012.

  1. 2012
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
  2. 2011
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
  3. 2010
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
  4. 2009
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
  5. 1995
    • Independent Spirit Award, nominated · Best Female Lead

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Luna Lauren Velez's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 46th percentile, the median of the 17 of 18 with a score; across their 15 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 49th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Approval · how many liked their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Reach · how many have seen their films

74thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Midcredits score across 37 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up13
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

16 of their 37 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic5
  • Crowd Pleaser16
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · actor

MacGyver (2016)

82nd percentile spread · 27% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

Midcredits 99th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 65/100 in their films, across 14 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 39. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Luna Lauren Velez's work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films and alcohol & drugs lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore6 titles41–91 · median 57 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity8 titles10–70 · median 27 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity6 titles29–91 · median 46 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles4–58 · median 18 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles42–79 · median 62 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Luna Lauren Velez work with?

People who share at least 2 of Luna Lauren Velez's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Phil Lord shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles