Photography Giulio Marcochi

A triple threat electrifies in Trauma

Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, Aimee Garcia had the makings of a performer from an early age. A professional dancer by the age of seven, she was cast in Paul Mejia’s Cinderella at the Auditorium Theater, which lead her to perform 20 shows a month as Clara in The Nutcracker.

During one of her many performances, a commercial agent approached Aimee’s mother, which quickly took her from the stage to television. “In high school, I was going on auditions, and booking enough work, to save for my college tuition. While most of my friends were working odd jobs, I was on set, shooting a McDonald’s commercial with Michael Jordan,” she says.

After graduating high school, Garcia attended Northwest-ern University, triple majoring in French, economics, and journalism. Even with a full load, she still made room for her craft. Once she completed college, Garcia moved to New York to work for a financial firm. “I assumed since I paid my way through college, I should be doing something with my economics degree,” she says with a laugh. With whatever time was leftover, Garcia attended plays and Broadway musicals, and became inspired. “I wanted to be in the shows, and it just hit me, what am I doing? I need to get back into what I love.” Soon after, she left New York, and headed to Hollywood.

“As soon as I arrived in Los Angles, I was sending hundreds of headshots to casting directors so I could get the word out that there’s a Latina actress in Los Angles and she’s ready to work.” Her ambition paid off and Garcia was once again going on numerous castings a week, one of which landed her a role as Maria Tiant on the WB show Greetings from Tucson, as a series regular. Subsequent to the short-lived sitcom, Garcia landed a part on The George Lopez Show, playing his bratty niece. The role helped her gain notoriety, and is currently the only sitcom, with an all Latino cast, in syndication.

Garcia returns to television this season with Peter Berg’s much anticipated medical drama, Trauma on NBC, as the young helicopter pilot Marisa Benez. A triple threat for sure, with brains, beauty, and talent, this young starlet has set the bar quite high for a successful career ahead.

– Natalie Shirinian