From a hit new television drama to a medley of feature films, Roma Maffia graces the entertainment mediums with her trademark sophistication and charismatic appeal.

Roma currently portrays the smart, no-nonsense anesthesiologist, 'Dr. Liz Cruz,' on the hit FX drama, "Nip/Tuck." Often the voice of reason in an otherwise unpredictable environment, 'Liz' is tough on the surface yet shows warmth and concern for her patients as well as for her co-workers. An out-and-proud lesbian, she is the only female seen as a true equal in the life of 'Dr. Troy.' Roma's 'Liz' began as a recurring role in the show's first season, and she has become a series regular for the second season.

Roma started her acting career performing off-Broadway, off-off Broadway and in regional productions ranging from Shakespeare to Sam Shephard. At a benefit reading for the New Group in New York, she was asked by casting director Jane Jenkins to audition for a role in director Ron Howard's feature film "The Paper," and found a career mentor: "Ron tells people he discovered me, which is absolutely true."

When "The Paper" opened in Los Angeles, Roma took her first trip to Hollywood and her career quickly flourished. She soon met television producer David E. Kelley, who cast her as Adam Arkin's secretary, 'Angela' in his new series, "Chicago Hope."

During her one season on "Chicago Hope," Maffia landed a plum role in the Barry Levinson film, "Disclosure," in which she played Michael Douglas' tough sexual harassment lawyer, 'Katherine Alvarez.' Garnering rave reviews for her performance, Roma quickly landed feature film roles in director John Badham's "Nick of Time," playing a kidnapper opposite Christopher Walken and Johnny Depp; and "Eraser," with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Additional feature credits include "Holes"; "I Am Sam" with Sean Penn and Michelle Pfeiffer; "Things You Can Tell Just By Looking At Her" with Glenn Close and Holly Hunter; "Double Jeopardy" opposite Ashley Judd; and "Kiss The Girls" with Morgan Freeman.

For television, Roma played the dedicated and intelligent 'Grace Alvarez,' forensic pathologist for the Violent Crimes Task Force for four seasons on NBC's primetime series "Profiler." Her telefilm credits include "Consensual Relations" for NBC; HBO's "Mistrial" with Bill Pullman; and Showtime's "The Defenders." She had a recurring role on NBC's "ER," and she has guest-starred on numerous television shows, including NBC's "The West Wing," HBO's "The Sopranos" and NBC's "Law & Order."

In her free time, Roma is involved with the Unusual Suspects, a mentoring program in which actors, writers and directors help kids within the foster care and juvenile systems create theatre through their own words and life experiences. And though she is happiest when acting, she also finds time to run on her treadmill, write, play ping-pong and hang out with her two dogs, Lou Lu and Lucky.



Despite her name, she is not of Italian descent but of West Indian, English, and German descent. "Maffia" is last name of her Italian stepfather who adopted her. Her mother named her after Rome, Italy after picking the city out of a map.