# Maria Canals-Barrera
**Maria Canals-Barrera** (born 1966) is an American actress and voice actress best known for playing Theresa Russo on the [Disney Channel](https://www.edgepedia.org/disney-channel) series *Wizards of Waverly Place* and Connie Torres, the mother of [Demi Lovato](https://www.edgepedia.org/demi-lovato)'s character, in the *Camp Rock* films. In voice work she is known as Shayera Hol, or Hawkgirl, in *Justice League* and *Justice League Unlimited*, as Sunset Boulevardez in *The Proud Family* and its revival, and as She-Hulk in *[Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds](https://www.edgepedia.org/marvel-vs-capcom-3-fate-of-two-worlds)*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0133566/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Maria Pilar Canals; born 1966 in Miami, Florida[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0133566/bio/) |
| Signature live-action roles | Theresa Russo in *Wizards of Waverly Place* (2007–2012, 106 episodes) and Connie Torres in *Camp Rock* (2008) and *Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam* (2010)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0133566/) |
| Signature voice roles | Hawkgirl (Shayera Hol) in *Justice League* and *Justice League Unlimited*; Sunset Boulevardez in *The Proud Family*; She-Hulk in *Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0133566/) |
| Awards | ALMA Award 2002 (*The Brothers Garcia*), Family Television Award 2008, Imagen Award 2010 for *Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie*, ALMA Award 2011[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/maria-canals-barrera/bio/3060059689/) |
| Family | Married to actor David Barrera since January 16, 1999; two daughters, Bridge (born 2003) and Madeleine (born 2005)[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0133566/bio/) |
| Recent work | Reprised Theresa Russo in *Wizards Beyond Waverly Place* and Connie Torres in *Camp Rock 3* (2026)[4](https://d23.com/maria-canals-barrera-on-the-magic-of-reprising-her-beloved-role-in-wizards-beyond-waverly-place/) |
## Early life and background
Maria Pilar Canals was born in Miami, Florida, in 1966[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0133566/bio/) • [5](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/canals-maria-1966). She is of Cuban descent, most of her family comes from Cuba, and she is fluent in Spanish[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0133566/bio/) • [3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/maria-canals-barrera/bio/3060059689/).
## Early career
**Television work in the 1990s.** Her first screen appearance was an episode of the undercover-cop series *[21 Jump Street](https://www.edgepedia.org/21-jump-street)* in 1990[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/maria-canals-barrera/). She then began starring on the Spanish-language Telemundo telenovela *Marielena* in 1994, and through the decade held parts on series including *Key West* (1993), *The Tony Danza Show* (1997), and *Beggars and Choosers* (1999–2001)[7](https://www.aaespeakers.com/keynote-speakers/maria-canals-barrera) • [5](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/canals-maria-1966).
## Voice acting
Canals-Barrera entered animation voice work in the early 2000s. The casting of Hawkgirl on *Justice League* (2001) is a distinctive example of a role shaped around her background: the casting department looked for an actress with an accent to make the alien character sound more unique, and Maria was chosen in part for her Hispanic accent[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0133566/bio/). This role made her well known in the science-fiction community[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/maria-canals-barrera/bio/3060059689/).
Her animated credits include the voice of Shelly Sandoval on *Static Shock* (2000–2003), Sunset Boulevardez on *The Proud Family* (2001–2005) and in *The Proud Family Movie* (2005), and Paulina on Nickelodeon's *Danny Phantom* from 2004[5](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/canals-maria-1966). She voiced She-Hulk in the video game *Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds* and Mercedes "Meche" Colomar in the 1998 adventure game *Grim Fandango*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0133566/) • [8](https://wizardsofwaverlyplace.fandom.com/wiki/Maria_Canals-Barrera).
When Disney+ revived *The Proud Family* as *The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder*, the long-anticipated revival of the original series, Canals-Barrera returned as Sunset Boulevardez[9](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/maria_canals-barrera_bio_1a97cae6.pdf).
## Disney Channel starring roles
**Wizards of Waverly Place.** Canals-Barrera signed on as Theresa Russo, the matriarch of a family of wizards, on *Wizards of Waverly Place*; the show attracted a large following and led to the 2009 Disney Channel Original Movie *Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie*, which premiered on August 28, 2009, and in which she reprised the role[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/maria-canals-barrera/) • [10](https://d23.com/a-to-z/wizards-of-waverly-place-the-movie-television/). She played Theresa Russo across 106 episodes from 2007 to 2012[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0133566/). She reprised the role in the Emmy Award-winning movie and won the 2010 Imagen Award for Best Supporting Actress – [Television](https://www.edgepedia.org/television) for that performance[9](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/maria_canals-barrera_bio_1a97cae6.pdf).
**Camp Rock.** She appeared in the hit TV movie *Camp Rock* (2008) as Connie Torres, the mother of Demi Lovato's character Mitchie and the camp's cook, and returned for the sequel *[Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam](https://www.edgepedia.org/camp-rock-2-the-final-jam)* (2010)[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/maria-canals-barrera/).
## Awards and recognition
Canals-Barrera has been nominated for numerous ALMA Awards for her work on sitcoms including *Wizards of Waverly Place* and *The Tony Danza Show*[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/maria-canals-barrera/bio/3060059689/). Her listed awards are the 2002 ALMA Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Series, the 2008 Family Television Award for Actress, the 2010 Imagen Award for Best Supporting Actress – Television, and the 2011 ALMA Award for Favorite TV Actress in a Supporting Role[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/maria-canals-barrera/bio/3060059689/). The 2002 ALMA Award recognized her work on *The Brothers Garcia*, and she also received an Ovation Award nomination for best featured actress in a play for *Changes of Heart*[5](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/canals-maria-1966).
## Return to the Disney roles
**Wizards Beyond Waverly Place.** After more than a decade, Canals-Barrera again played Theresa Russo in *Wizards Beyond Waverly Place*, a follow-up to *Wizards of Waverly Place* that brings back [David Henrie](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-henrie) (Justin Russo) as a series regular and [Selena Gomez](https://www.edgepedia.org/selena-gomez) (Alex Russo) as a guest star, with both also serving as executive producers.[4](https://d23.com/maria-canals-barrera-on-the-magic-of-reprising-her-beloved-role-in-wizards-beyond-waverly-place/) In the continuation her character is a grandmother, sharing scenes with the youngest members of the Russo family, Roman (Alkaio Thiele), Milo (Max Matenko), and the young wizard Billie ([Janice LeAnn Brown](https://www.edgepedia.org/janice-leann-brown))[4](https://d23.com/maria-canals-barrera-on-the-magic-of-reprising-her-beloved-role-in-wizards-beyond-waverly-place/). She also appeared in the show's finale event among the announced returning cast[11](https://d23.com/d23-exclusive-david-henrie-chats-wizards-beyond-waverly-place-finale-event/).
**Camp Rock 3.** Disney announced *Camp Rock 3* with the [Jonas Brothers](https://www.edgepedia.org/jonas-brothers) returning as Shane, Nate, and Jason Gray and Canals-Barrera returning as Connie, the mother of Mitchie Torres and the camp's cook[12](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/camp-rock-3-officially-happening-jonas-brothers-demi-lovato-disney-channel). Demi Lovato does not return as a lead but serves as executive producer and has a special cameo as Mitchie[13](https://as.com/meristation/cine/demi-lovato-y-los-jonas-brothers-arrasan-con-su-regreso-al-streaming-numero-1-en-67-paises-f202608-n/). The film premiered on August 13 on Disney Channel and the next day on Disney+; at the world premiere event at the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank on August 10, 2026, Lovato appeared alongside her[14](https://www.tvinsider.com/1280461/camp-rock-3-maria-canals-barrera-connie-return-mitchie-role-demi-lovato-interview/) • [15](https://remezcla.com/features/film/interview-maria-canals-barrera-camp-rock-3/). In interviews Canals-Barrera described reprising the role and said that fans still approach her to tell her what *Camp Rock* and her character meant to them[16](https://www.womansworld.com/entertainment/movies/maria-canals-barrera-on-reprising-her-role-for-camp-rock-3).
## Personal life
Canals-Barrera has been married to actor David Barrera since January 16, 1999[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0133566/bio/), and the couple has two children together[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/maria-canals-barrera/). She is the mother of two daughters, Bridge Barrera and Madeleine Barrera[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0133566/bio/).
## References
1. [Maria Canals-Barrera - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0133566/)
2. [Maria Canals-Barrera Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0133566/bio/)
3. [Maria Canals-Barrera Biography, Celebrity Facts and Awards, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/maria-canals-barrera/bio/3060059689/)
4. [Maria Canals-Barrera on the Magic of Reprising Her Beloved Role in Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, D23 (February 26, 2025)](https://d23.com/maria-canals-barrera-on-the-magic-of-reprising-her-beloved-role-in-wizards-beyond-waverly-place/)
5. [Canals, Maria 1966–, Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/canals-maria-1966)
6. [Maria Canals-Barrera - Actress, Voice Actor, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/maria-canals-barrera/)
7. [Maria Canals-Barrera Biography, AAE Speakers Bureau](https://www.aaespeakers.com/keynote-speakers/maria-canals-barrera)
8. [Maria Canals-Barrera, Wizards of Waverly Place Wiki (Fandom)](https://wizardsofwaverlyplace.fandom.com/wiki/Maria_Canals-Barrera)
9. [Disney press biography: Maria Canals-Barrera as Sunset Boulevardez, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/maria_canals-barrera_bio_1a97cae6.pdf)
10. [Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie (television), D23](https://d23.com/a-to-z/wizards-of-waverly-place-the-movie-television/)
11. [D23 Exclusive: David Henrie Chats Wizards Beyond Waverly Place Finale Event, D23](https://d23.com/d23-exclusive-david-henrie-chats-wizards-beyond-waverly-place-finale-event/)
12. [Camp Rock 3 Is Officially Happening With The Jonas Brothers And Demi Lovato, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/camp-rock-3-officially-happening-jonas-brothers-demi-lovato-disney-channel)
13. [Demi Lovato y los Jonas Brothers arrasan con su regreso al streaming: número 1 en 67 países, AS](https://as.com/meristation/cine/demi-lovato-y-los-jonas-brothers-arrasan-con-su-regreso-al-streaming-numero-1-en-67-paises-f202608-n/)
14. ['Camp Rock 3': Maria Canals-Barrera on Connie's Return and Mitchie's Role in the Sequel, TV Insider (August 10, 2026)](https://www.tvinsider.com/1280461/camp-rock-3-maria-canals-barrera-connie-return-mitchie-role-demi-lovato-interview/)
15. [INTERVIEW: Maria Canals-Barrera on 'Camp Rock 3,' Nostalgia & the Jonas Brothers as Dads, Remezcla](https://remezcla.com/features/film/interview-maria-canals-barrera-camp-rock-3/)
16. [Maria Canals-Barrera Is Returning For 'Camp Rock 3', Woman's World (August 10, 2026)](https://www.womansworld.com/entertainment/movies/maria-canals-barrera-on-reprising-her-role-for-camp-rock-3)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 2000s onward › Surnames Bu to Ce*
*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