[2] She is best known for her roles in film and television shows including the Peabody Award winning[3] drama series The Bridge[4][5][6] with Demián Bichir and Diane Kruger and Corridos: Tales of Passion & Revolution with Linda Ronstadt[7][8] as well as performances on Broadway, Off-Broadway, regional theatre, Mexican and European stages.
[9][10] Her film debut was in Valdez's 1981 adaptation, the American classic Zoot Suit,[11] launching a career that led to her induction into the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2013.
[13][14][15][16][17] Australian director Fred Schepisi cast her in his American film debut, Barbarosa[18] with Willie Nelson and Gary Busey.
Martinez made a notable Broadway debut in In the Summer House[19] directed by Joanne Akalaitis featuring Dianne Wiest, Frances Conroy and Liev Schreiber.
Martinez has appeared in over 20 features and independent films including Born in East L.A. with Cheech Marin, For Greater Glory with Andy Garcia and Oscar Isaac, Strike One[20][21] with Danny Trejo as well as Cake with Jennifer Aniston and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.