Jossara Jinaro(1973-2022)
- Actress
- Additional Crew
- Producer
Jossara Jinaro, described in the Latin media as the "strong, smart, and
sexy ultimate woman," was the love child of two Maoists in South
America. She was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and when her Mother
married a Colombian diplomat she moved to Colombia. As a little girl
she loved to watch movies. Her favorite was "Gilda" because she loved
Rita Hayworth as the night club dancing dame. Jossara always dreamed of
being just like her. Samba and salsa rhythms pulled Jossara onto the
stage. She began dancing at the age of 5 and by the time she was 8 she
did her first play. Her Step-Father was held hostage by the guerrilla
and soon after he was released her family sought safety in the United
States.
She fully learned English at the age of 15 and soon found herself
caught between a traditional Latin Family and her new American
identity. She decided to leave home at the age of 16 and pursue her
artistic dreams. Her first professional gig was singing and dancing at
the theme park Old Indiana Fun Park where everybody recognized her as
the girl playing Janet Jackson. This love for singing and dancing got
her in a BFA musical theatre program that fall. She graduated top of
her class and was recognized as the best actress and most likely to
succeed. She got her first agent in Chicago and started working
professionally right away. Chicago reviewers referred to her as
"dynamic and versatile, the ultimate chameleon," "a classic beauty who
fills the stage with heat, passion, and intensity."
Jossara left Chicago to play Rene, the seductress in "Dark Rapture," at
the American Conservatory Theatre. An agent approached her after her
opening night and asked her to come to Los Angeles. Once she arrived in
LA she was soon snatched up by Columbia Tri-Star to play the beautiful
and funny Virginia Bustos in the Alma nominated sitcom "Viva Vegas."
Since then, Jossara has fought for and been very fortunate to play
strong, positive and non-traditional roles for Latinas.
After making her network debut recurring on Judging Amy as Cheech
Marin's smart and driven activist daughter, she got the attention of
Emmy-Award winning director/producer Christopher Chulack, who cast her
on ER and later opposite Simon Baker on Smith. The storyline of her
role on "Passions," as Rae, the strong and sexy club owner, was
nominated for the 2006 GLAAD award. She went back to Colombia in 2009
to work on the Novela La Bella Ceci y El Imprudente and returned to
Hollywood to work on the new series East Los High.
Her biggest love is the film world. So much so that she began to
produce her own projects. A budding filmmaker with critically-acclaimed
shorts and a feature that was accepted into Panavision's new
filmmaker's program. She's made the film festival rounds with
award-winning films like Desert Road Kill which garnered her a best
supporting Actress award. You may have also seen her in "Devil's
Rejects," a Rob Zombie Film, "Havoc," with Anne Hathaway, "TenTricks,"
with Leah Thompson, "Fly Boys," with Stephen Baldwin, Oliver Stone's
"World Trade Center," opposite Maggie Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena, and
recently in Lion Gate's urban hip-hop movie "Go For It!" as Loli, the
queen bee of the dance floor.
Jossara still loves to do live theatre. Most recently she was the
female lead in "Firehouse" from consulting producer Academy Award
winner Robert Moresco and in "The Birthday Present" directed by Academy
Award winner Jonathan Sanger.
sexy ultimate woman," was the love child of two Maoists in South
America. She was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and when her Mother
married a Colombian diplomat she moved to Colombia. As a little girl
she loved to watch movies. Her favorite was "Gilda" because she loved
Rita Hayworth as the night club dancing dame. Jossara always dreamed of
being just like her. Samba and salsa rhythms pulled Jossara onto the
stage. She began dancing at the age of 5 and by the time she was 8 she
did her first play. Her Step-Father was held hostage by the guerrilla
and soon after he was released her family sought safety in the United
States.
She fully learned English at the age of 15 and soon found herself
caught between a traditional Latin Family and her new American
identity. She decided to leave home at the age of 16 and pursue her
artistic dreams. Her first professional gig was singing and dancing at
the theme park Old Indiana Fun Park where everybody recognized her as
the girl playing Janet Jackson. This love for singing and dancing got
her in a BFA musical theatre program that fall. She graduated top of
her class and was recognized as the best actress and most likely to
succeed. She got her first agent in Chicago and started working
professionally right away. Chicago reviewers referred to her as
"dynamic and versatile, the ultimate chameleon," "a classic beauty who
fills the stage with heat, passion, and intensity."
Jossara left Chicago to play Rene, the seductress in "Dark Rapture," at
the American Conservatory Theatre. An agent approached her after her
opening night and asked her to come to Los Angeles. Once she arrived in
LA she was soon snatched up by Columbia Tri-Star to play the beautiful
and funny Virginia Bustos in the Alma nominated sitcom "Viva Vegas."
Since then, Jossara has fought for and been very fortunate to play
strong, positive and non-traditional roles for Latinas.
After making her network debut recurring on Judging Amy as Cheech
Marin's smart and driven activist daughter, she got the attention of
Emmy-Award winning director/producer Christopher Chulack, who cast her
on ER and later opposite Simon Baker on Smith. The storyline of her
role on "Passions," as Rae, the strong and sexy club owner, was
nominated for the 2006 GLAAD award. She went back to Colombia in 2009
to work on the Novela La Bella Ceci y El Imprudente and returned to
Hollywood to work on the new series East Los High.
Her biggest love is the film world. So much so that she began to
produce her own projects. A budding filmmaker with critically-acclaimed
shorts and a feature that was accepted into Panavision's new
filmmaker's program. She's made the film festival rounds with
award-winning films like Desert Road Kill which garnered her a best
supporting Actress award. You may have also seen her in "Devil's
Rejects," a Rob Zombie Film, "Havoc," with Anne Hathaway, "TenTricks,"
with Leah Thompson, "Fly Boys," with Stephen Baldwin, Oliver Stone's
"World Trade Center," opposite Maggie Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena, and
recently in Lion Gate's urban hip-hop movie "Go For It!" as Loli, the
queen bee of the dance floor.
Jossara still loves to do live theatre. Most recently she was the
female lead in "Firehouse" from consulting producer Academy Award
winner Robert Moresco and in "The Birthday Present" directed by Academy
Award winner Jonathan Sanger.