# Jessica Darrow
**Jessica Darrow** (born 1995) is an American actress, singer, and voice artist from Miami, Florida, best known as the voice of Luisa Madrigal in the [Walt Disney Animation Studios](https://www.edgepedia.org/walt-disney-animation-studios) film *Encanto* (2021), for which she sang the single "Surface Pressure".[1](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2489411-jessica-darrow?language=en-US) She is Cuban American, trained at [Rutgers University](https://www.edgepedia.org/rutgers-university)'s Mason Gross School of the Arts, and has worked across screen, stage, voiceover, and audio drama.[2](https://filmfreeway.com/JessicaDarrow) • [3](https://digital.abcaudio.com/news/encanto-so-important-and-significant-jessica-darrow-says)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1995, in Miami, Florida; of Cuban descent[2](https://filmfreeway.com/JessicaDarrow) • [1](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2489411-jessica-darrow?language=en-US) |
| Breakthrough role | Voice of Luisa Madrigal, Mirabel's older sister, in *Encanto* (2021)[1](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2489411-jessica-darrow?language=en-US) • [4](https://news.disney.com/cast-of-encanto) |
| Signature song | "Surface Pressure," certified platinum by the RIAA, peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 2022[1](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2489411-jessica-darrow?language=en-US) |
| Education | BFA in Acting, Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University, 2013–2017; also studied at Shakespeare's Globe[2](https://filmfreeway.com/JessicaDarrow) |
| First film role | Sarah in *Feast of the Seven Fishes* (2019), directed by Robert Tinnell[1](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2489411-jessica-darrow?language=en-US) |
| Other voice work | Mimi in *Grand Theft Auto Online*'s 2021 "Los Santos Tuners" update; Skelita Calaveras in *Monster High* (2023)[1](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2489411-jessica-darrow?language=en-US) |
| Live performance | Performed as Luisa in *Encanto at the Hollywood Bowl* (2022)[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jessica_darrow) |
## Background and training
Darrow was born in Miami and grew up in a Cuban American family; she has said that as a teenager she listened to songs by [Lin-Manuel Miranda](https://www.edgepedia.org/lin-manuel-miranda) and watched Disney films.[1](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2489411-jessica-darrow?language=en-US) She earned a BFA in acting from Rutgers University's Mason Gross School of the Arts between 2013 and 2017 and also studied at [Shakespeare's Globe](https://www.edgepedia.org/shakespeares-globe) in London.[2](https://filmfreeway.com/JessicaDarrow) She now lives in Brooklyn, New York.[2](https://filmfreeway.com/JessicaDarrow)
Her early stage work included the roles of Lucy in *You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown* at Miami Stage Company and Hermia in *A Midsummer Night's Dream* at Shakespeare's Globe, followed by New York theater credits in *Pipeline* (Mile Square Theater), *Bitter Greens* (59E59 Theaters), and *The Grievance Club* (Classic Stage Company).[2](https://filmfreeway.com/JessicaDarrow)
## Encanto and Luisa Madrigal
In 2021 Darrow voiced Luisa Madrigal, Mirabel's older sister, who has the gift of super strength, in Disney's *Encanto*, the studio's 60th animated feature, directed by [Byron Howard](https://www.edgepedia.org/byron-howard) and Jared Bush with songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda.[4](https://news.disney.com/cast-of-encanto) Darrow described the connection between herself and the character in physical and emotional terms: "Her gift is super strength, and that is both physical and emotional. She is the emotional Super Hero of the film."[4](https://news.disney.com/cast-of-encanto) She has said she loves Luisa because "how much we are alike. We are both tough crybabies."[4](https://news.disney.com/cast-of-encanto)
The film resonated with her personally. "To see a family like this on screen feels so important and significant," she told ABC Audio, saying the Madrigals resembled her own extended Cuban American family.[3](https://digital.abcaudio.com/news/encanto-so-important-and-significant-jessica-darrow-says) In interviews she has described finding her own voice in the role as a form of therapy, connecting the character's experience to her life in a large Latino family.[6](https://revistaquem.globo.com/Series-e-filmes/noticia/2021/11/jessica-darrow-sobre-encontrar-voz-de-sua-personagem-em-encanto-foi-como-uma-terapia.html)
**Surface Pressure.** Luisa's solo number "Surface Pressure" became one of the film's most popular songs. It was certified platinum by the RIAA and peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 2022.[1](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2489411-jessica-darrow?language=en-US) Darrow has said that the song let her use "the authentic part" of her husky voice that she had earlier trained herself to suppress in musical theater.[7](https://www.out.com/celebs/2022/1/27/encanto-jessica-darrow-luisa-madrigal-lgbtq-queer-crush-interview) She performed the role again in the filmed concert *Encanto at the Hollywood Bowl* (2022).[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jessica_darrow)
## Screen and voice work after Encanto
Darrow's screen career began with the role of Sarah in the 2019 film *Feast of the Seven Fishes*, and in 2020 she wrote, directed, acted in, and shot the music video "Da Rona (Ay)", her first filmmaking credit.[1](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2489411-jessica-darrow?language=en-US) • [2](https://filmfreeway.com/JessicaDarrow) She also voiced Mimi in *Grand Theft Auto Online*'s 2021 "Los Santos Tuners" update.[1](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2489411-jessica-darrow?language=en-US)
After *Encanto* she worked steadily in television and voice acting: a recurring role as Mikki Easton in the series *[Fifteen-Love](https://www.edgepedia.org/fifteen-love)* (2023, six episodes), the voice of Skelita Calaveras in *Monster High* (2023), Isabella in *Blue Bloods* (2023), a voice role in *Hamster & Gretel* (2023), Taylor in *Elsbeth* (2025), and Nohelia in *[The Residence](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-residence-tv-series)* (2025).[8](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8731846/) She has also appeared in audio drama, playing Jade in the podcast series *People Who Knew Me* (2023) and Esme in *Journey to the Heart* (2023).[8](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8731846/)
## Representation and public identity
Darrow has spoken about the significance of Luisa for audiences, particularly Latino viewers and queer women who identified with a strong, soft-spoken character who does not talk about her own feelings. She has said she sees her role in such recognition as humbling rather than a personal achievement.[7](https://www.out.com/celebs/2022/1/27/encanto-jessica-darrow-luisa-madrigal-lgbtq-queer-crush-interview) She has said she wishes she could have seen a film like *Encanto* as a child, and she has described herself as a "gateway" for Latino representation in Hollywood.[3](https://digital.abcaudio.com/news/encanto-so-important-and-significant-jessica-darrow-says) • [9](https://peopleenespanol.com/chica/encanto-jessica-darrow-megacon-orlando/)
She has also discussed the vocal adjustments the role required: as the only non-Colombian member of the cast, she had to adapt her Cuban Spanish pronunciation of the letter r for the film's Colombian setting.[10](https://latination.com/voz-de-luisa-en-encanto-jessica-darrow/)
## References
1. [Jessica Darrow, The Movie Database (TMDB)](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2489411-jessica-darrow?language=en-US)
2. [Jessica Darrow, FilmFreeway profile](https://filmfreeway.com/JessicaDarrow)
3. ['Encanto' is "so important and significant," Jessica Darrow says, ABC Audio Digital Syndication (November 24, 2021)](https://digital.abcaudio.com/news/encanto-so-important-and-significant-jessica-darrow-says)
4. [The Cast of Walt Disney Animation Studios' Encanto Talk About the Madrigal Family, Disney News (December 1, 2021)](https://news.disney.com/cast-of-encanto)
5. [Jessica Darrow, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jessica_darrow)
6. [Jessica Darrow sobre encontrar a voz de sua personagem em 'Encanto': "Foi como uma terapia", Quem (November 25, 2021)](https://revistaquem.globo.com/Series-e-filmes/noticia/2021/11/jessica-darrow-sobre-encontrar-voz-de-sua-personagem-em-encanto-foi-como-uma-terapia.html)
7. ['Encanto's Jessica Darrow Is Ready To Be Your New Queer Crush, Out.com (January 27, 2022)](https://www.out.com/celebs/2022/1/27/encanto-jessica-darrow-luisa-madrigal-lgbtq-queer-crush-interview)
8. [Jess Darrow, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8731846/)
9. [Exclusive: Jessica Darrow on Being a "Gateway" for Latino Representation in Hollywood, People en Español (May 17, 2022)](https://peopleenespanol.com/chica/encanto-jessica-darrow-megacon-orlando/)
10. [Jessica Darrow es la voz de Luisa en 'Encanto', LatiNation (2021)](https://latination.com/voz-de-luisa-en-encanto-jessica-darrow/)
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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 A to F*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 20, 2026; Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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