Biography
Emilia Suárez is a Bolivian American actress, singer, songwriter, and composer whose multifaceted work spans film, television, and theater. Raised in Florida, she developed formative interests in performance and music that guided her toward professional training at Carnegie Mellon University's School of Drama, one of the most prestigious conservatory programs in the United States. At Carnegie Mellon, she cultivated her skills across acting, musical performance, and writing, appearing in productions including Juliet & Her Romeo, Pilgrims, and Desdemona's Child. This rigorous institutional foundation equipped her with both classical dramatic techniques and contemporary storytelling approaches, preparing her to navigate multiple creative roles throughout her career.
Following graduation, Suárez established herself across multiple performance contexts, working in regional theater, new play development, and collaborative ensemble work. She appeared in productions at The Old Globe, Quantum Theatre, and the Ashland New Plays Festival, and participated in developmental workshops and readings at venues including New York Theatre Workshop, The Public Theater, and the O'Neill Center. Her theatrical portfolio reflects a commitment to both established and emerging dramatists, with credits spanning classical re imaginings and experimental new works. She joined Bellwether, an anti hierarchical theater company focused on collaborative creation, and completed residencies including the Vineyard Arts Project where she developed Dr. Rees Ziti's Pageant for a Better Future at the Ars Nova Theatre Festival. Her early television presence included the web series (in)alienable with The Bellwether Project, and she participated in ABC Network's ABC Discovers New York Showcase, a talent identification program connecting emerging performers with industry professionals.
Suárez transitioned into screen work with a supporting role in Zach Braff's drama A Good Person in 2023, starring Florence Pugh and Morgan Freeman, which explored themes of grief, addiction, and redemption. Her professional breakthrough arrived with Hulu's musical romantic comedy series Up Here, which premiered in March 2023. Created by Steven Levenson, Danielle Sanchez Witzel, and the songwriting team of Kristen Anderson Lopez and Robert Lopez, the eight episode series was set in late 1990s New York City and followed two protagonists navigating the obstacles of romance while contending with internal anxieties expressed through original musical numbers. Suárez played Renee, a recurring character across all eight episodes, in a production directed by Thomas Kail and featuring an ensemble cast including Mae Whitman and Carlos Valdes. As both an actress and singer songwriter, she contributed to the show's musical fabric, performing songs on the cast album and appearing in choreographed sequences that integrated traditional narrative with stylized musical storytelling. Though the series received praise for its performances and original score, it was canceled after one season.
In 2025, Suárez expanded her screen presence with appearances in major network and streaming properties. She joined the cast of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, portraying Isabella Dela Cruz in one episode of the long running NBC procedural. More significantly, she secured a recurring role as Elsa Rivera in the Showtime limited series Dexter: Resurrection, scheduled for release spanning 2025 and 2026. This continuation of the acclaimed crime drama positions her within a high profile franchise revival and represents her largest television commitment to date. In 2026, she’ll star in Mindy Kaling’s TV series "Not Suitable For Work" as Elena. Alongside her acting work, Suárez continues to engage with music composition and theatrical writing, maintaining dual practices as both interpreter and creator. She divides her professional time between Los Angeles and New York City, working across coasts to access diverse performance opportunities. Her career reflects a sustained interest in genre hybridity, particularly projects that merge musical performance with dramatic narrative, and a versatility that encompasses classical stage work, contemporary streaming content, and independent artistic collaboration.
Suárez's professional trajectory demonstrates an ability to navigate commercial entertainment and experimental theater with equal commitment. Her involvement with ensemble driven companies and new work development signals a dedication to collaborative artistic processes, while her presence in high budget television productions reflects adaptability to industry demands. As a singer songwriter, she brings musicianship directly into her performance work, contributing original material and interpretive vocal work to projects that require integrated musical and dramatic skills. Her training at Carnegie Mellon, combined with her ongoing engagement across multiple creative disciplines, positions her as a performer whose work resists easy categorization, equally at home in intimate theatrical settings and large scale screen productions. With upcoming releases and continuing project development, she represents a generation of actors whose careers increasingly span traditional theatrical training, independent artistic practice, and mainstream media visibility.
