At age 15, her parents, dismayed with her acting aspirations, gave her a six-month deadline to pursue an acting role -- or fully concentrate on school. Within months, Majandra had secured an agent and won the role of Kathleen Quinlan's daughter in the film "Zeus & Roxanne." The following summer, she landed her first television series, playing Tony Danza's eldest daughter on "The Tony Danza Show." Before landing her role on "Roswell," she also appeared on a short-lived show "Katie Joplin." Adding to her big-screen credits, Majandra starred in the horror spoof, "I Know What You Screamed Last Summer" (aka "Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the 13th"), as well as opposite Linda Hamilton in the coming-of-age drama "The Secret Lives of Girls." She also appeared in the independent film "The Learning Curve" and had a role in the Academy-Award nominated motion picture, "Traffic" starring Michael Douglas and directed by Steven Soderbergh. She is at work on a new film "Sticks and Stones."

Majandra lives in Los Angeles. Her mom, sister and her dogs - a standard poodle and a Pekinese - live there too. While continuing her acting, she has also returned to her first love of music and is currently in the recording studio writing and recording a CD of her music.

From the WB Roswell Press packet; thanks to wonka.

The Character of Maria De Luca

Maria DeLuca is one of the most delightful characters on Roswell, for a variety of reasons. Maria brings some much-needed comic relief to the show, as her sarcastic humor and high-strung tendencies lighten up the often-somber mood of the show. Maria is a wonderfully loyal friend to Liz, and their friendship on the show is very touching and very true to life. Maria's mother Amy DeLuca (Diane Farr) is a hippie New Age person who had Maria when she was young, and Maria's father left them when Maria was a child. Liz is like a sister to her. Maria is very nervous and her excitable nature has only been increased by the revelation that three of her schoolmates are aliens. Maria also is kind and compassionate, as she demonstrated when she chose not to tell Sheriff Valenti the truth about Max, Michael, and Isabel or later when she helped the Skin girl Courtney when she was sick, even though she saw Courtney as a rival for Michael's affection.

A whole new dimension was added to Maria’s character, when she reluctantly fell in love with Michael Guerin, the other male alien on the show. Their road trip in "285 South" was a highlight of the first season. Michael and Maria’s constant bickering masks deep feelings for one another which they have acted on several times, most notably in the wordless but intensely passionate kissing scene at the opening of "Heat Wave." Their uncertain relationship creates both happiness and anguish for their characters. Both Maria and Michael seem afraid to admit the feelings they have for one another, and their tortured but passionate romance is intriguing. Michael loves Maria, but he would prefer things just to be on a physical and spiritual plane, without the conversations or conditions or conventions of a formal relationship. Maria loves Michael but wants him to act like a 'real boyfriend' and treat her nicer - like Max treats Liz - but these are skills that Michael is sorely lacking and he cannot be anybody but himself. Still, despite their ups and downs, Michael and Maria grow very close, playing 'detective' together investigating FBI enemies and helping their human and alien friends, and their bond grows very strong.

However, when Michael learns about his origins and his destiny and uses his powers to kill Agent Pierce, he becomes very frightened and pushes Maria away 'for her own good' - because he "loves her too much" and is afraid of hurting her. He also feels his duty to Max and to his alien people must come first.

In the second season, we find Maria and Max have become better friends over the summer, as Max pines for Liz and Maria misses her former closeness with Michael. But Maria is not one to give up that easily and she sticks with Michael waiting for him to weaken. However, Michael is strong in refusing to let her get close again - although he might have weakened a little over Christmas, on their trip to help Laurie Dupree in "Disturbing Behavior" and on a group road trip in "Viva Las Vegas" where he arranges for her to live out her dream of singing for an audience.

Maria also was flattered by the attentions of new UFO Center owner, Brody Davis (Desmond Askew). The eccentric British UFO abductee really likes her and treats her well -- and compared to Michael, his eccentricities are not so bad. She finds out that Brody has a young daughter who doesn't live with him and, despite their age difference, Maria feels very close to Brody.

Maria grows much stronger and calmer this season - she has just seen so much this year that nothing seems to bother her or surprise her any more. She can still be passionate about things, but is no longer so flighty or hysterical. Her mother has a budding romance with Sheriff Valenti. Her cousin Sean DeLuca (Devon Gummersall) shows up in town (after getting out of jail) and comes to stay with the DeLucas for awhile. Maria doesn't trust him and lays down the law with him, telling him to stay away from Liz and trying to keep Sean on the up and up. A fortuneteller does not predict long-term happiness for Maria and Michael - but even though she is interested in Brody, Maria continues to wait for Michael, tries to push Max and Liz back together, and acts as the spirited 'glue' who holds everyone in Roswell together.

Character sketch by Jerry D.; updated by MyrnaLynne.

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