Biografia
Immigrating to the United States at age seven, Teresa grew into a working actress by 17, embarking on a multifaceted career spanning nearly 35 years in the entertainment industry.
Consistently working in theatre, film, and television, she sought additional avenues for artistic expression. Although she appeared in an Academy Award-winning film and an Emmy Award-winning television series, Teresa found her true autonomy behind the scenes. Writing, directing, acting, filming, editing, and composing the scores for her own projects place her firmly in the realm of a true auteur.
In front of the camera, Teresa’s credits include Nails (starring Dennis Hopper, Anne Archer, John Hawkes); Out Of The Dark (featuring Bud Cort, Divine); Session Man (with James Remar; Academy Award winner for Best Short, 1992); House Down The Street (James Le Gross); the Emmy Award-winning China Beach; the Ace Award-winning 6 Minutes; the web series Aliendog.com; and Life In The Laff Lane.
She has also starred in numerous commercials and music videos, including Lionel Richie’s “Hello,” Michael Jackson’s “The Way You Make Me Feel,” and Mick Smiley’s “Magic” from the Grammy-nominated Ghostbusters original soundtrack.
On stage, Teresa’s theatrical debut was in Ebbe Roe Smith’s original play O.D.: Other Dimensionalists. She has since performed in productions at The Stella Adler Studio, La Jolla Playhouse, The Cast, Celebration Theatre, On The Fringe, Griffith Park Theatre, LACC Theatre Academy, and The LA Women’s Theatre Project.
Teresa is also a guitarist and singer-songwriter, performing solo as well as serving as the guitarist and vocalist for the Los Angeles power trio tch & mAdmAx.
Behind the camera, Teresa Crespo Hartendorp operates as a fiercely independent one-woman film company. She has created numerous feature films, documentaries, and music videos, including The People Of Peace: A Message From The Hopi, hArmOny & mELOdy, Vigilantette, and the short film shE smilE prEtty, which premiered at the LAWTP Women In The Arts Festival.
Despite her wide range of creative talents, Teresa primarily sees herself as a storyteller. “It’s really all about the story,” she says, “stories that convey the spectrum of human emotion; when souls kiss and transform.”
