Mariana Garzón Toro
Mariana Garzón Toro is a Colombian-American actress and performer currently pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Drama with a focus on acting at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). Originally from Colombia and raised in New Jersey, she developed an early passion for storytelling, often watching Harry Potter on repeat as a child. Her love for theater blossomed during high school and led her to join a theater company in New York City, eventually earning her acceptance into CMU's prestigious drama program. At CMU, Garzón Toro has showcased her talent in various productions. Notably, she portrayed Zuzu in Dance Nation, G in Passage, and Lady Anne in scene studies of Richard III. She has also performed on the Santa Cruz Shakespeare stage and expanded her training internationally with a physical theater education in Germany. In addition to her theater work, Garzón Toro has appeared in film and television. She played Roma in the short film Brioche (2022) and appeared as Anna Beltran in an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999). She is also set to voice Naiya in the upcoming animated film Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado (2025). Beyond acting, Garzón Toro is passionate about painting, singing, dancing, and filmmaking. She enjoys creating amateur movies with her camcorder and has aspirations to produce a documentary in the future. She credits her family, her Colombian roots, and her mentors at CMU for shaping her into the passionate and genuine artist she is today.
