Liza Lapira
Age: 42
Birthplace: Queens, New York, U.S.
Liza Lapira (born December 3, 1981) is an American actress. She played Kianna in the 2008 film 21, Special Agent Michelle Lee in the CBS police procedural series NCIS and Ivy, Topher Brink's assistant in Dollhouse. Lapira has also co-starred in the short-lived sitcoms Traffic Light, Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23, and Super Fun Night.
Early life
Liza Lapira was born in Queens, New York. She is of Filipino, Spanish, and Chinese ancestry.
In New York, she acted on stage and in independent films. She moved to Los Angeles in 2004 to work in television.
Career
Stage
Lapira's New York stage credits include As You Like It, The School for Wives, The Odyssey, and Alexandra Cunningham's No. 11 Blue and White.
Film
Early film credits include director Tony Scott's Domino and independent feature The Big Bad Swim, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2006. Lapira appeared in J. J. Abrams' 2008 film Cloverfield as Heather and also appeared in Table for Three and 21. In 2009, she played Agent Sophie Trinh in the film Fast & Furious opposite Paul Walker, and in 2010, she played Alva in Repo Men. She portrayed Liz, the sharp-tongued friend of Hannah (Emma Stone) in the 2011 film Crazy, Stupid, Love.
Television
Lapira's first major role was a series regular spot on the Showtime TV series Huff. Lapira played neuroscientist Ivy in both seasons of Joss Whedon's series Dollhouse, appearing predominantly with Fran Kranz and Dichen Lachman.
Her TV credits include recurring roles in Dexter, ER, Monk, Grey's Anatomy, Law & Order: SVU, The Parkers as Shaquan, Sex and the City, and The Sopranos.
Lapira had regular roles as Agent Michelle Lee in NCIS, Lisa in Traffic Light, Robin in Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 and Detective Jacocks in Battle Creek.
Personal life
Lapira is a supporter of LA's BEST, an after-school enrichment program in conjunction with the Los Angeles Unified School District. She is also a supporter of the #ActToChange anti-bullying campaign.
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2000 | Autumn in New York | Charlotte's birthday friend | |
2002 | Brown Sugar | Hot 97 receptionist | |
2005 | Domino | Chinegro woman | |
2006 | Big Bad Swim, TheThe Big Bad Swim | Paula | |
2007 | LA Blues | Sandra | |
2008 | Cloverfield | Heather | |
2008 | 21 | Kianna | |
2009 | Fast & Furious | Sophie Trinh | |
2009 | Table for Three | Nerissa | Direct-to-video |
2010 | Repo Men | Alva | |
2010 | See You in September | Monica | |
2010 | Marmaduke | Party dog #1 | Voice |
2011 | Crazy, Stupid, Love. | Liz | |
2012 | Happiest Person in America, TheThe Happiest Person in America | Lara | Short film; also associate producer |
2014 | Someone Marry Barry | Single mom at wedding |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1999 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Waitress | Episode: "Wanderlust" |
2001 | Law & Order | Cheryl Treadwell | Episode: "A Losing Season" |
2001 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Rebecca Chang | Episode: "Scourge" |
2001 | Education of Max Bickford, TheThe Education of Max Bickford | Nia Sheppard | Episode: "A Very Great Man" |
2002 | Education of Max Bickford, TheThe Education of Max Bickford | Student volunteer | Episode: "Money Changes Everything" |
2003 | Sex and the City | Pam | Episode: "Pick-A-Little, Talk-A-Little" |
2004 | Without a Trace | Layla | Episode: "Legacy" |
2004 | Sopranos, TheThe Sopranos | Amanda Kim | Episode: "Sentimental Education" |
2004 | Parkers, TheThe Parkers | Shaquan | Episode: "At Last" |
2004-2006 | Huff | Maggie Del Rosario | Main cast; 21 episodes |
2006-2008 | NCIS | Michelle Lee | 12 episodes |
2006 | Grey's Anatomy | Noelle Lavatte | Episode: "Let the Angels Commit" |
2007 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Forensics technician | 4 episodes |
2007 | Monk | Dr. Souter | Episode: "Mr. Monk Goes to the Hospital" |
2007 | Queens Supreme | N/A | Episode: "Mad About You" (unaired) |
2008 | ER | Christine | 2 episodes |
2008 | Dexter | Yuki Amado | 5 episodes |
2009-2010 | Dollhouse | Ivy | 10 episodes |
2011 | Traffic Light | Lisa Reilly | Main cast; 13 episodes |
2012 | Psych | Tina | Episode: "Let's Doo-Wop It Again" |
2012-2013 | Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 | Robin | Main cast; 13 episodes |
2012 | Drop Dead Diva | Abby Halstead | Episode: "Winning Ugly" |
2013 | Royal Pains | Erika Seelig | Episode: "HankWatch" |
2013-2014 | Super Fun Night | Helen-Alice | Main cast; 17 episodes |
2014 | Blue Bloods | Skye Bishop | Episode: "Insult to Injury" |
2014 | Power | Grace Pak | Episode: "Who You With?" |
2015 | Battle Creek | Detective Jacocks | Recurring; 12 episodes |
2016 | Cooper Barrett's Guide to Surviving Life | Leslie Barrett | Main cast |
2016 | Angel from Hell | Jill | TV series, 1 episode |