Best known for her leading roles as Thunder Heart Woman in the emmy-winning Steven Spielberg miniseries Into the West, Kendra Daniels in the best-selling EA Video Game Dead Space, and Shayla Stonefeather in the critically acclaimed Chris Eyre feature film Imprint, Tonantzín (pronounced toh nahn tseen) is an award winning, multifacited actor of the stage, screen and new media.
Her projects this year include a return to the stage at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts as Victoria Roubideux in the world premiere production of Eventide, followed by a leading role in the feature film Shouting Secrets. Some of her other big screen credits include starring roles in the feature films Unearthed, Shadowheart, and King Rikki. She has appeared as a guest star in the primetime televison shows Dark Blue, American Dad, CSI Miami, and Dragnet.
Awards and nominations include a coveted Screen Actors Guild nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in Dreamworks' Into the West; Best Actress awards and nominations for Imprint at the Hoboken International Film Festival (nom), American Indian Film Festival (win), and the Cherokee International Film Festival (win). Her character Kendra Daniels was named one of the Hottest Video Game Babes of 2008 by Maxim Magazine.
Carmelo began her career as a native dancer and musician, recording 3 CDs with Canyon Records. She honed her acting craft in a myriad of professional theater productions, and is a member of the LA based professional theater company Native Voices, most recently as Lisa Yellowtree in the world premiere production of Carbon Black.
Her maternal native ancestory comes from the original people of Southern California (Tongva and Kumeyaay) and her musical gifts come from her father, who is a professional Latin musician. She recieved her BA from UC Irvine in Environmental Anaysis and Design with a minor in Dance.
Carmelo's background and cultural involvement are integral to her artistic and community work. In 2009 she was appointed by L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to serve on the Los Angeles City/County Native American Indian Affairs Commission.
Her projects this year include a return to the stage at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts as Victoria Roubideux in the world premiere production of Eventide, followed by a leading role in the feature film Shouting Secrets. Some of her other big screen credits include starring roles in the feature films Unearthed, Shadowheart, and King Rikki. She has appeared as a guest star in the primetime televison shows Dark Blue, American Dad, CSI Miami, and Dragnet.
Awards and nominations include a coveted Screen Actors Guild nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in Dreamworks' Into the West; Best Actress awards and nominations for Imprint at the Hoboken International Film Festival (nom), American Indian Film Festival (win), and the Cherokee International Film Festival (win). Her character Kendra Daniels was named one of the Hottest Video Game Babes of 2008 by Maxim Magazine.
Carmelo began her career as a native dancer and musician, recording 3 CDs with Canyon Records. She honed her acting craft in a myriad of professional theater productions, and is a member of the LA based professional theater company Native Voices, most recently as Lisa Yellowtree in the world premiere production of Carbon Black.
Her maternal native ancestory comes from the original people of Southern California (Tongva and Kumeyaay) and her musical gifts come from her father, who is a professional Latin musician. She recieved her BA from UC Irvine in Environmental Anaysis and Design with a minor in Dance.
Carmelo's background and cultural involvement are integral to her artistic and community work. In 2009 she was appointed by L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to serve on the Los Angeles City/County Native American Indian Affairs Commission.