Birthplace: Chicago, Ill., USA

Now Lives: Los Angeles, Calif., USA

If you watch NBC's "My Name Is Earl", you can't miss Nadine Velazquez as the sexy Catalina, one of Jason Lee's dim-witted friends who joins him along his karma-cleansing.

Nadine was recently nominated as Best Supporting Actress on a comedy for a second time and presented at the Alma Awards. Additionally, she was picked as one of the "40 Hottest TV Stars" in TV Guide's March 26, 2007 issue. USA Today named her as one of "Five Rising Stars to Watch Closely" and Variety named her as "Ten Actors to Watch."

She appears in the new Jet Li/Jason Statham movie War as a character named Maria. Later in 2007, she will appear in the film A Day in the Life and a TV movie "Husband for Hire."

Nadine is of Puerto Rican descent. She is fluent in Spanish and has had an outstanding acting career with parts on shows such as "Entourage", "The Bold and the Beautiful", "Chasing Papi", and "E-Ring". What else would you expect from a girl who walked into an agency without her parents at age 13 looking for work?

Nadine doesn't mind when people look at her body and enjoy it, but she realizes such things are not meant to last.

She has used her shapely figure to entice beer drinkers to choose Miller Lite, which she represented as a model, and uses her curves as another instrument of expression for her art and true passion, acting.

"I don't mind (being a sex symbol)," Nadine said. "I love my body and don't hide it. But I don't want to be classified as just that. I would rather have talent than looks."

Her body hooks viewers, but her skill in delivering dialogue and physical action keep us watching.

She joins Jennifer Lopez, Penelope Cruz, Thalia, Shakira, and other Latin Goddesses who've seized their share of the larger entertainment world in recent years.

Nadine doesn't necessarily see her ethnicity as a lasting advantage though.

"I think being Latino is still more of an obstacle than a benefit in getting parts," she said. "(Popularity of everything Latin) is a trend, and those things tend to fade, then being part of a past trend gets in the way when you want to be a part of more serious things."

If Hollywood continues to churn out offerings with such beautiful women, it is doubtful men will hasten the next trend any time soon.

Like many actresses, Nadine's career quest started as a model then moved to commercials. She first decided she wanted to act when she watched the TV show "Punky Brewster" and realized it was a gig she could do. It hasn't exactly been that easy, as she has learned in classical training, improvisation, vocal and street dance.

Ambition has never been a problem for Nadine, who walked into an agency without her parents at age 13. They told her to come back with her mom and dad. When she did, the agent told her to dye her hair to its natural black instead of the blonde she put in it.

After a move from cold, windy Chicago to sunny L.A., things started to take off for Nadine.

In 2003, she got a part as Anna on "The Bold and The Beautiful". She gave viewers the beautiful part of the show and a hint of rising talent to watch.

Also in 2003, Nadine earned parts in two major releases, Biker Boyz and Chasing Papi. She followed with Blast! with Breckin Meyer and Eddie Griffin, and Sueno. In addition to "Earl", she has appeared in the TV productions of "Hollywood Vice", "House of the Dead 2", "Las Vegas", "Kings of South Beach", and "Husband for Hire."

Like other celebrities with projects to promote, she gets asked the same questions over and over again. Her childhood is a theme she returns to each time.

Nadine said she grew up in a Polish and Italian neighborhood. Her father sent her to an all-girls school (insert your fantasy here).

She also gets confused for another Latin hottie, Patricia Velasquez, who appeared in the "Mummy" films. Nadine said writers and fans ask whether they are sisters.

"Whenever I do interviews, everybody also asks what kind of guy I like," she said.

Nadine said she's attracted to guys who are a little rough around the edges. Pretty boys who have to comb their hair every 10 minutes need not apply. And you "edgy" guys, don't pour on the rico suave because she doesn't like guys who try too hard.

"I just like a respectful guy who gives me space and isn't worried about whether he 'has' me or not. Just an easygoing type who is a friend," she said. "I like romantic stuff at times, when appropriate, but not on a first date."

When we first interviewed her in 2004, Nadine spoke to us from the set of her movie, Last Ride. She was excited because it was her first leading role as an actress opposite legendary celluloid wild man Dennis Hopper.

"(The movie is) definitely a big opportunity and will mean good exposure," she said at the time. "I like the part because it isn't just the stereotypical Latin girlfriend. My character has a lot of balls but she is also vulnerable. She's a combination of hot-tempered, funny, sexy, and strong, a lot like I am in real life."

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