Tonantzin Carmelo

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Tonantzín Carmelo is an American actress. A California Mission Indian (Gabrielino and Mexica) who counts herself a descendant of the original residents of Los Angeles, grew up performing in an American Indian dance troupe led by her mother, Virginia Carmelo. Branching out into acting during college, she has since appeared in theater productions and independent films. A graduate of UC Irvine. Her acclaimed stage roles include Anita in Exmagare, Christina Khalo/Paula in Frida Khalo, and multiple characters in Malinche. She is in national commercials and starred in the feature film King Rikki with Jon Seda and Mario López. Carmelo is a traditional Aztec dancer and pre-columbian musician, recording 3 CDs with Canyon Records. She is an Emerging Voice with the California Indian Storytellers Association and a mentor for the Native Voices Youth Playwright Project.

[edit] Awards

On January 5, 2006, she was nominated for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries for her performance in: Into the West.