Michaela Jaé Rodriguez

Emmy-nominated Michaela Jaé (MJ) Rodriguez continues to break barriers and capture audiences, most recently as housemother “Blanca” in Ryan Murphy’s groundbreaking series POSE on FX. Her work on the series earned her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Series Drama in 2022 and an historical Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series in 2021.

For POSE, she has been previously nominated for a Television Critics Choice Award for Individual Achievement in Drama, as well as a Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series, and nominations for an MTV Movie + TV Award in the category of Breakthrough Performance and 3 Gold Derby Awards for Drama Actress and Breakthrough Performance. She won the Imagen Award for Best Actress in Television in 2021 and 2019.

Rodriguez most recently appeared in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s feature film ‘TICK, TICK… BOOM!’ which released this fall. She will be starring in the Apple TV+ series, LOOT, alongside Maya Rudolph, created by Alan Yang and Matt Hubbard, as well as ‘GIRLS CAN’T SHOOT (AND OTHER LIES)’ alongside Beanie Feldstein, Jameela Jamil and Kat Dennings.

In June 2021 she released her debut single, “Something to Say” via Access Records. Disco, R&B and Funk Tinged Pop, an immediate anthem that has Michaela calling people to step into their truth and let their voices be heard. Rodriguez wrote the track with PWP (comprised of the legendary Verdine White of Earth, Wind, and Fire, multi-Grammy winning Neal Pogue and John Paris as well as Nick Ferraro and Duncan Hood). Listen to “Something to Say” HERE.

In 2018 she made her Tribeca Film Debut starring in the indie film SATURDAY CHURCH, a performance which garnered her a Tribeca Film Festival Nomination for Best Actress. Her other television credits include NURSE JACKIE and Marvel’s LUKE CAGE.

Born and raised in Newark, New Jersey, Rodriguez made her Off-Broadway debut in New World Stages production of RENT as ‘Angel,’ before continuing onto New York City Center to star in Encores! production of RUNAWAYS. She recently starred as ‘Audrey’ in the Pasadena Playhouse’s production of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS.