Daniella Pineda was born on February 20, 1987, in Oakland, California. She is of Mexican descent. Pineda attended Mills College in Oakland, where she studied sociology and radio journalism. Prior to acting, she worked in retail and as a freelance writer.
Pineda began her acting career with small roles in television and short films. Her early work included appearances in shows like “Men of a Certain Age” and “Homeland.”
Pineda gained wider recognition for her role as Sophie Devereaux in the CW television series “The Originals” (2013-2014), a spin-off of “The Vampire Diaries.” This role significantly raised her profile within the television industry.
She is also known for her role as Ruby Simms in the TBS comedy series “People of Earth” (2016-2017). Her comedic timing and portrayal of the character were well-received.
In film, Pineda is recognized for her role as Zia Rodriguez in “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” (2018) and “Jurassic World Dominion” (2022). These roles in the Jurassic World franchise have been among her most commercially successful projects.
Other notable television roles include her portrayal of Detective Cassandra Perez in the Netflix series “What/If” (2019).