Judy Reyes is a low-key but brilliant actress who has cracked dry jokes as a nurse, stared down danger in a horror flick, and so much more. Her performances are grounded and her characters often feel like someone you know, like a cousin, a friend, or the cool aunt who gets things done while everyone else is losing it.
For anyone unfamiliar with her work, here are eight of Judy Reyes' best movies and TV shows. Watch her standout funny, fierce, and sometimes heartbreaking roles on streaming services like Max and Amazon Prime Video.
Scrubs (2001)
The 2001 medical sitcom Scrubs follows an endearingly awkward doctor who is just trying to figure out medicine, friendship, and life while working at the slightly odd Sacred Heart Hospital. Reyes does a great job as Carla Espinosa, a straight-talking, compassionate nurse who is basically the only real adult in the room. While the doctors are out there chasing egos or cracking jokes, Carla is saving lives and calling people out when they need it. What makes Carla timeless is how real she feels. The character is ambitious but grounded and loving but never soft. Reyes gives the character an edge wrapped in heart, and her chemistry with Donald Faison's Turk is epic.
High Potential (2024)
A brilliant single mom with zero police training and all the instincts shakes up crime-solving with style, sass, and a seriously sharp mind in the 2024 crime drama High Potential. The series also sees Reyes step into a slightly more serious role as Lieutenant Selena Soto, the boss of a major crimes division. Refreshingly, she does not play into the usual hard-edged cop trope. Instead, Selena sees potential in Kaitlin Olson's unlikely crime-solver (a cleaning lady with a genius IQ), and that belief drives the story. Reyes portrays authority with empathy, and it works because it never feels forced. There's something satisfying about watching her lead, especially when she's quietly three steps ahead of everyone else.
Dr. Death (2021)
True crime dramas don't get much more unsettling than 2021's Dr. Death, in which Reyes holds her own in the emotionally taxing second season. She plays Kim Verdi, a woman drawn into the aftermath of one surgeon's horrifying malpractice. It's a small but deeply impactful role, and Reyes brings a quiet, worn-down realism to it. She doesn't oversell anything while showing us the kind of damage that isn't always headline-worthy but is just as permanent. If you're into slow-burn performances that stay with you long after the episode ends, she delivers that here.
Claws (2017)
Five no-nonsense manicurists turn a Florida nail salon into ground zero for criminal chaos, fierce fashion, and a whole lot of drama in 2017's Claws. Annalise "Quiet Ann" Zayas is one of Reyes' most original characters. She's the salon's bouncer who doesn't say much. But when she does, you listen. She's protective and mysterious while being unexpectedly kind. Played with stoic intensity by Reyes, Ann comes into the game with a college degree and dreams of teaching, but life became complicated when Ann snapped and tried to kill her husband, landing herself behind bars for attempted murder. Reyes plays the character with a magnetic kind of restraint in a show that's a little wild and flashy.
One Day at a Time (2017)
A Cuban-American family tackles real life in the 2017 sitcom One Day at a Time. Reyes' guest arc, which is a reimagining of the 1975 series of the same name, is a little small but very memorable. She plays Ramona, a veteran who connects with Justina Machado's character in a familiar way that resonates with viewers. There is something powerful about watching the two Latina actresses share space and speak openly about their experiences. Reyes doesn't need big monologues. Instead, she uses silence and presence like a pro. It's definitely the kind of story arc that makes you wish that she was in more than just 10 episodes.
Devious Maids (2013)
Secrets, scandal, and murder swirl behind Beverly Hills gates as four maids do way more than clean up after their rich employers in the 2013 comedy-drama Devious Maids. In this series, Reyes get to be sharp, funny, and dramatic all at the same time. She plays Zoila Diaz, the long-suffering housekeeper with a dry wit and a moral compass. Working for a wildly annoying Beverly Hills socialite, Zoila somehow manages to keep her sanity and everyone else's secrets. Reyes nails the tone of the show, which is high drama but never without some very hard truth. Watching Zoila exist in a world of luxury with an unmatched type of dignity is oddly empowering and very, very entertaining.
The Circle (2017)
A fresh hire at a mega-tech company learns the hard way that going viral might just mean losing your soul and your privacy with every click. Released in 2017, The Circle explores what happens when tech goes too far, with Reyes playing a government figure caught in the middle of it all. As Congresswoman Olivia Santos she's one of the few voices trying to inject logic into a very Orwellian situation. It is a small role, but Reyes makes it matter as her scenes feel like the grounding moments in an otherwise fast-moving, high-stakes plot.
Smile (2022)
A cursed grin becomes the stuff of psychological nightmares when a therapist starts seeing things no one else can, making the 2022 psychological horror Smile not for the faint of heart. Reyes plays Victoria Muñoz, a woman haunted by something she can't explain. What Reyes does so well here is make fear feel personal with a raw performance and a desperation in her eyes that comes across brilliantly. She doesn't scream her way through the story. Instead, she trembles quietly, which is somehow a lot worse. This movie is unsettling, and Reyes adds to that dread in the best way possible.
Where To Stream Judy Reyes' Best Movies & TV Shows Online
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