# Cindy Vela
**Cindy Vela** (born 1979) is an American actress, model, and alto saxophonist from [Brownsville, Texas](https://www.edgepedia.org/brownsville-texas), known for the title role in *Desdemona: A Love Story* and for roles in *Run Hide Fight* (2020) and *Oak* (2024).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1822623/) • [2](https://www.cindyvela.com/biography) She is a [SAG-AFTRA](https://www.edgepedia.org/sag-aftra) member based in Los Angeles.[3](https://resumes.actorsaccess.com/CindyVela)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1979, Brownsville, Texas, USA[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1822623/) • [4](https://www.cine.com/actores/cindy-vela) |
| Professions | Actress, print model, alto saxophonist[2](https://www.cindyvela.com/biography) |
| Education | Bachelor of Arts in Music Education, University of Texas at Brownsville; lead saxophonist in the top jazz and concert bands[2](https://www.cindyvela.com/biography) |
| Signature role | Desdemona, the title role of the award-winning film *Desdemona: A Love Story* (2009)[2](https://www.cindyvela.com/biography) • [5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/cindy_vela) |
| Screen credits | *Run Hide Fight* (2020) as Ms. Nunez, *Oak* (2024) as Detective Somers, *It's Gawd!* (2017) as Lucy, *Camino* (2015) as TV Reporter[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1822623/) |
| Union and height | SAG-AFTRA; listed height 5'2"[3](https://resumes.actorsaccess.com/CindyVela) |
## Music and education
Vela attended the University of Texas at Brownsville, where she became lead saxophonist in both the top jazz and [concert bands](https://www.edgepedia.org/concert-band). She performed in national and international concerts and competitions in the United States and Mexico, and opened shows for [Tito Puente](https://www.edgepedia.org/tito-puente), Celia Cruz, and Jose Feliciano.[2](https://www.cindyvela.com/biography) She received a [Bachelor of Arts](https://www.edgepedia.org/bachelor-of-arts) in Music Education and then worked as a middle school band director, whose students won various awards.[2](https://www.cindyvela.com/biography)
## Acting career
Vela began modeling and appearing in local commercials during college, and after moving to Los Angeles she worked as a print model on magazine covers and in international print ads; her listed commercial work includes a Kellogg's Special K cereal box and an O.P.I. Pirates of the Caribbean Collection international advertisement.[2](https://www.cindyvela.com/biography) • [6](https://www.backstage.com/u/cindyvela/) She has also collaborated with artists George Yepes, Maria Kane, and Retna to create works of art using her image.[2](https://www.cindyvela.com/biography)
On stage she played Kay Banks in *Father of the Bride* at the Camille Lightner Playhouse in Brownsville, Rita Chavez in *Let the Eagle Fly* at the Albert L. Jeffers Theatre in [Edinburg, Texas](https://www.edgepedia.org/edinburg-texas), and Celia Obregon in [Ray Bradbury](https://www.edgepedia.org/ray-bradbury)'s *The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit* at the Fremont Centre Theatre in Los Angeles.[3](https://resumes.actorsaccess.com/CindyVela) She worked on a television pilot with [Robert Ben Garant](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-ben-garant) and Thomas Lennon, the creators of *Reno 911*, and then played the title role of Desdemona in the award-winning film *Desdemona: A Love Story*.[2](https://www.cindyvela.com/biography)
**Exhibit B-5.** Vela created controversy with an internet video called "Exhibit B-5", also known as "Girl Dies", directed by [Project Greenlight](https://www.edgepedia.org/project-greenlight) winner Kyle Rankin, in which she played the lead; the video had millions of viewers searching for answers about her life and identity.[2](https://www.cindyvela.com/biography) She worked with Rankin again on the television movie *Nuclear Family* (2012), in which she played Karen.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1822623/)
Her later film work includes supporting roles in *Camino* (2015) from SpectreVision, *It's Gawd!* (2017) with [Tommy Chong](https://www.edgepedia.org/tommy-chong), and *Run Hide Fight* (2020), Kyle Rankin's thriller about a school siege, in which she played Ms. Nunez, the Spanish teacher of the protagonist Zoe Hull.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1822623/) • [7](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/run-hide-fight/) • [8](https://johnnyalucard.com/2021/09/10/frightfest-review-run-hide-fight/amp/) In 2023 she played Officer Sally in *Adventures of the Naked Umbrella*, and in 2024 she played Detective Somers in *Oak*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1822623/) [Television](https://www.edgepedia.org/television) work includes a lead role in MSNBC's *Caught on Camera* for Peacock Productions and a guest spot as a host and co-anchor on Fox 2 News in the Rio Grande Valley.[3](https://resumes.actorsaccess.com/CindyVela)
## Public profile
Vela has appeared at industry events including the premiere of *Cantinflas* at the TCL Chinese Theatre in August 2014, and in 2024 she attended the premiere of *Takin' Care of Business* at the [Toronto International Film Festival](https://www.edgepedia.org/toronto-international-film-festival) and the Critics Choice Awards alongside actor [Kiefer Sutherland](https://www.edgepedia.org/kiefer-sutherland), to whom entertainment coverage has referred as her partner.[9](https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/photos/cindy-vela) • [10](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1822623/news/)
A different Cindy Vela, who appeared on season 9 of the reality series *My 600-Lb Life*, has a separate IMDb entry, and media coverage of that show's participants is unrelated to the actress.[11](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm14130280/) • [10](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1822623/news/)
## References
1. [Cindy Vela (I), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1822623/)
2. [Biography, cindyvela.com](https://www.cindyvela.com/biography)
3. [Cindy Vela - Resume, Actors Access](https://resumes.actorsaccess.com/CindyVela)
4. [Cindy Vela, Cine.com](https://www.cine.com/actores/cindy-vela)
5. [Cindy Vela, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/cindy_vela)
6. [Cindy Vela, Backstage profile](https://www.backstage.com/u/cindyvela/)
7. [Run Hide Fight Reviews, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/run-hide-fight/)
8. [FrightFest review - Run Hide Fight, The Kim Newman Web Site](https://johnnyalucard.com/2021/09/10/frightfest-review-run-hide-fight/amp/)
9. [Cindy Vela photos, Getty Images](https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/photos/cindy-vela)
10. [Cindy Vela - News, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1822623/news/)
11. [Cindy Vela (II), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm14130280/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Actors and actresses by country or nationality › American actors and actresses › Surnames P to Z*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license