Constance Marie has the ability to make audiences laugh and cry. She is a veteran of both film and television. Her portrayal of strong women has become a signature in a stellar career.

I first saw Constance Marie when she played Marcella Quintanilla opposite Jennifer Lopez in the film Selena. The riveting and gut wrenching biopic told the story of slain music star Selena. While Lopez was excellent in the titular role, I found myself mesmerized by Constance Marie’s performance. She delivered as the anguished mother. The emotional depth of her portrayal was incredible.

I was thrilled when Constance Marie was cast in the recurring role of Detective Toni Brigatti in CBS’ Early Edition. Early Edition was the tale of former Chicago stockbroker turned unsung hero Gary Hobson (Kyle Chandler) who received tomorrow’s edition of the Sun Times a day early and raced across the Windy City in an effort to prevent foretold disasters. Initially, Toni Brigatti was the cop who was a thorn in Gary’s side. Later, she became an advocate when he was falsely accused of murder (in the two part episode, Fatal Edition) Brigatti was fiercely determined and fiercely loyal. Constance Marie and Kyle Chandler had impeccable onscreen chemistry. To this day, Fatal Edition is my all-time favorite Early Edition episode.

For an actress who made a name for herself with her dramatic work, Constance Marie proved she had the comedic chops when she starred opposite George Lopez in the George Lopez show. As Angie Lopez, Constance Marie again played a strong woman. This time, she was also brilliantly funny.

Constance Marie returned to her dramatic roots with her current role in the Freeform (formerly ABC Family) series Switched At Birth.  As Regina Vazquez, Constance Marie plays a woman who is the biological mother of one daughter yet the legal mother to another. This fact based plot enables Constance Marie to do what she does best: inhabit the skin of a strong woman and translate that strength (and vulnerability) on screen to emotionally connect with the audience.

Today, September 9th, is Constance Marie’s birthday. I extend my best wishes as she celebrates her special day with family and friends.

 

Here is a birthday poem that I just wrote for Constance Marie:

 

Stages, a birthday poem for Constance Marie by Tracy Diane Miller

As a child there is a fascination
As the seasons begin to change
The handiwork of time
As Nature is rearranged
A tree once adorned with leaves
Will soon stand proud and bare
When summer becomes a memory
Yet winter need not signal despair
Your life has been about stages
Measured as it seems
The little girl who became
The woman who pursued her dreams
To live the life of an actor
Where all the world’s a stage
To emotionally connect with an audience
Their hearts and minds you engage
To inspire the Muse of a poet
With the words she longs to convey
The rhythm is her voice
As she wishes you the very best on your birthday