Maria J. Cruz is a born and raised Vancouver, BC actor. She booked her first professional theatre gig while attending her final year of the University of British Columbia's Theatre program. As "Tina", in 'Tony 'n' Tina's Wedding', Vancouver's longest running stage play, she was married hundreds of times to over a half a dozen different "Tony's" and has gone onto play the independent stages of Vancouver and Toronto, including the iconic Second City. She lives best in acerbic comedic roles and the Classics - having had several favourable reviews in Restoration plays. Taking some time off shortly after the new millennium to obtain her Masters degree in Museum studies, she returned to her first love of acting over 6 years ago and plans to "stay on the bus". This year Maria had the opportunity to perform her one-woman stage play (in her native Portuguese and English) in the middle of the Atlantic at the 'Azores International Fringe Festival'. She is looking forward to taking on the role of creator, producer and actor in SMAK!Productions independent Feature Film, 'The Parties'.