Bertila Damas

Bertila Damas is a Cuban-born American actress whose career has spanned theater, film, and television in both English and Spanish.

Damas began her professional life in Miami, where she performed in Spanish-language theater while attending college. She subsequently gained acceptance to the Circle in the Square Theater School in New York City, where she encountered Terry Hayden, who introduced her to The Actors Studio. She remained at the Studio until the death of Lee Strasberg, after which she pursued further training under Stella Adler.

Her stage work includes a Broadway appearance in 1986, with credits encompassing As You Like It, Romeo + Juliet, and Macbeth. Beyond Broadway, Damas portrayed Clemencia in Electricidad at the Mark Taper Forum and took on the role of Marta in Eduardo Machado's Fabiola at Theatre for the New City in New York City. She is a recipient of the Garland Awards.

On screen, her film appearances include Nothing but Trouble, Mi Vida Loca, and Fires Within. Her television work covers a wide range of productions, among them The John Larroquette Show, NYPD Blue, King of the Hill, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, and Grimm. She held a recurring role as Camila Santiago on the NBC sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine. On international Spanish-language television, she is recognized for playing the villainous Marta on the Telemundo series Angelica, mi vida. Her work in the industry also extends to dozens of commercials and voiceovers in both English and Spanish.

Damas has been active in union governance, serving on the SAG board of directors from 2010 to 2012 and on the SAG-AFTRA board from 2012 to 2015. Since 2010, she has held the position of SAG-AFTRA national chair of the Ethnic Employment Opportunities Committee.