Immigrant of the Day: Ana Alicia (Mexico)

Ana Alicia (born December 12, 1956) is a Mexican-born American actress, known for her role as scheming heiress Melissa Agretti on the long-running television soap opera "Falcon Crest."

Born Ana Alicia Ortiz in Mexico City, Alicia's mother was a clothing manufacturing executive mother and her father a businessman.  When she was a child, her family moved to El Paso, Texas.  Alicia earned a scholarship to Wellesley College but eventually left and earned her bachelor's degree in drama at the University of Texas at El Paso. Alicia then moved to Los Angeles and started auditioning for roles in various productions. Eventually, she won the part of Alicia Nieves on the daytime soap opera "Ryan's Hope," and temporarily moved to New York City. After fifteen months on the show, Alicia moved back to Los Angeles part-time and attended law school at night.

Following several guest roles on television shows, including "Battlestar Galactica" and "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century," Alicia auditioned for the role of spoiled, selfish vineyard heiress Melissa Agretti on "Falcon Crest."  She played the role for over six years up until 1988 when producers decided to kill the character off. Only months after this, Alicia returned to "Falcon Crest" as Samantha Ross, a Melissa lookalike, a character featured in a few episodes. In 1989, Ortiz appeared with Raúl Juliá in the movie "Romero," a drama on the life of martyred Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero.  Ana Alicia continued to play guest roles on television and effectively retired from acting in 1996.

KJ