Machado was born in Chicago, Illinois, one of two children of Alicia Morales Ruiz and Ismael Machado.[1] Her mother was born in Puerto Rico and her father was born to Puerto Rican parents. They subsequently divorced and her mother remarried and had three children. Her family roots are in Barceloneta, Puerto Rico and Barrio Jagual, Patillas, Puerto Rico, and her ancestry includes Afro-Latino.[1] As Machado is of Hispanic descent, she had a traditional quinceañera, with chambelanes as well as damas.[4] She said her family was poor, and she grew up in the Northwest Side of Chicago.[5] Machado was raised Catholic.[6]
Machado was very active in drama, always participating in her school plays. She also took dance at Franklin Fine Arts Center.[5] In 1986, Machado attended Lane Technical College Prep High School.[2] During her spare time, she performed with the Latino Chicago Theater Company.
Machado was a guest appearing in Episode 6 of Season 6 of Finding Your Roots, a documentary show by PBS that is hosted by Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., during which it was confirmed that she has African matrilineal ancestry (i.e. through a female ancestor on her mother's side[7]) through genetic testing of her mitochondrial DNA.[8]
Career
1993—2015: Career beginnings
In 1990, after graduating from Lane Tech, Machado moved to New York City. The experience she had gained as a performer with the Latino Chicago Theater Company helped open the doors for her in that city. Soon, she was offered a job as a professional actress in Los Angeles, California. Machado moved to Los Angeles and in 1996, she landed her first two acting roles. She was cast as Elsa in the ABC series NYPD Blue appearing in an episode "Burnin' Love", and co-starring in the made-for-television drama film No One Would Tell.[2] In 1997, she made her big screen debut playing supporting role of Carmen Rodriguez in the romantic drama film She's So Lovely. Machado also guest-starred on Arsenio, Any Day Now, Touched by an Angel, Early Edition, Angel and had a recurring role on the short-lived UPN sitcom Goode Behavior.
Machado at the 2014 ALMA Awards
In 2001, Machado played the leading role in the action comedy film Sticks and a minor part in Steven Spielberg's science fiction film A.I. Artificial Intelligence. Later that year, she was cast in the HBO comedy-drama series, Six Feet Under. She played Vanessa Diaz, originally a supporting character, later evolving into one of the series' main characters. Machado and her cast mates were honored with a Screen Actors Guild Award. The series completed its final season in 2005.[3] In 2003, she played Isabella Hudson in the supernatural horror film, Final Destination 2, and the following year appeared in the action comedy Torque. In 2003, Machado appeared in the music video for TLC's song "Damaged", the third single from their fourth studio album 3D, as a young woman trapped in an abusive relationship and unsure of what to do with her life.[2] From 2003 to 2004, Machado also starred in the Canadian crime drama series, 1-800-Missing playing FBI Agent Sunny Estrada during the show first season. In 2006, she starred in the drama film Little Fugitive, a remake of the 1953 film of the same name. Machado has also made appearances on stage, including a 2008 production of Neil LaBute's play, Some Girl(s), at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles.[9] She was in productions of Blade to the Heat and Black Butterfly at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. She was the first replacement for Andréa Burns in Broadway's In the Heights.[10] In 2010, Machado appeared in the Los Angeles run of Love, Loss and What I Wore.[11]
In 2019, Machado played the leading role in the Lifetime television drama film Family Pictures.[19] From 2019 to 2020, she had a recurring role on the NBC comedy series, Superstore playing new district manager Maya, with whom Amy Sosa shares a surprising connection.[20] After having been announced to portray Florence Johnston in the first Live in Front of a Studio Audience’s The Jeffersons portion, instead reprised by Marla Gibbs,[21] Machado was cast in the second edition in December 2019 as Teresa Betancourt from All in the Family.[22] On September 2, 2020, Machado was announced as one of the celebrities competing on the 29th season of Dancing with the Stars, partnered with professional dancer, Sasha Farber.[23] Machado finished in fourth place on November 23, 2020. In 2021, Machado was a singing bust in Muppets Haunted Mansion.
In 2020, Machado starred in the drama film All Together Now, which was released on Netflix. Also in 2020, Jacob Vargas and Justina Machado were Masters of Ceremonies at the National Hispanic Media Coalition Impact Awards.[24] In 2021, she starred in the Lifetime television drama film, Switched Before Birth directed by Elisabeth Röhm.[25] She starred alongside Will Sasso in the comedy film, The Throwback.[26]
In 2023, Machado starred as Dolores Roach in the Amazon Prime Video black comedy-horror series, The Horror of Dolores Roach.[27] The series received generally positive reviews, with Machado's performance being widely praised.[28] In 2024 she was cast in the Netflix medical drama series, Pulse as Dr. Natalie Cruz.[29][30]
