Rose Portillo
Biography
Rose Portillo is an accomplished American actress/writer/director/educator and visual artist whose stage and film career began with a lead role in Luis Valdez's 'Zoot Suit' (original L.A. and Broadway productions and the film). She played the role of Mother in the critically acclaimed 2017 revival, starring Demián Bichir. She was Associate Director of About Productions, now celebrating 24 years of creating original Theaterworks and founded the company's Young Theaterworks, which serves students in Continuation/Options High Schools primarily in East Los Angeles. Since appearing in Theresa Chavez's solo play, L.A. Real, she has directly partnered with Chavez (the company's Artistic Director) on at least 10 critically acclaimed productions.
Filmography
The Mandalorian and Grogu
2026
as Local Leader
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip
2025
as Lidia Garcia
Peak Season
2024
That's Amor
2022
as Julietta
Encanto
2021
as Señora Guzmán (voice)
Fathers and Sons
2005
as Nurse
After the SIlence
1996
as Lisa, Sanctuary Woman
...And the Earth Did Not Swallow Him
1995
as Florentina
Palomino
1991
as Donna
The Mean Season
1985
as Kathy Vasquez
Best Kept Secrets
1984
as Mrs. Zepeta
Seguin
1982
as Gertudis
Victims
1982
as Pilar Galloway
Zoot Suit
1981
as Della
Panic in Echo Park
1977
Exorcist II: The Heretic
1977
as Spanish Girl