Dania Ramirez was born on November 8, 1979, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. She was raised by her grandmother. At the age of 10, she moved to New York City to live with her parents. She was discovered while working in a convenience store in Los Angeles and was subsequently encouraged to pursue acting.
Ramirez began her acting career in the late 1990s. Her early roles included appearances in commercials and music videos. She quickly transitioned to television, securing guest roles in popular series.
Ramirez gained significant recognition for her recurring role as Maya Herrera in the NBC superhero drama Heroes (2007-2008). She also starred as Alex Lopez in the HBO series Entourage (2010). Other notable television roles include Rosie Falta in the Lifetime series Devious Maids (2013-2016), and Cinderella/Jacinda Vidrio in the ABC fantasy drama Once Upon a Time (2017-2018). Most recently, she starred as Areen in the Netflix series Sweet Tooth (2021-present).
Ramirez has also had a successful film career, appearing in a variety of genres. Some of her most popular film credits include: