Liza Lapira


Liza Lapira is an American actress. She played Kianna in the 2008 film 21, Special Agent Michelle Lee in the CBS police procedural series NCIS and Ivy, Topher Brink's assistant in Dollhouse.
Lapira has also co-starred in the short-lived sitcoms Traffic Light, Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23, Super Fun Night and 9JKL.

Early life

Liza Lapira was born in Queens, New York. She is of Filipino, Spanish, and Chinese ancestry.
In New York, she acted on stage and in independent films. She moved to Los Angeles in 2004 to work in television.

Career

Stage

Lapira's New York stage credits include As You Like It, The School for Wives, The Odyssey, and Alexandra Cunningham's No. 11 Blue and White. Most recently, she played Suzanne in Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego.

Film

Early film credits include director Tony Scott's Domino and independent feature The Big Bad Swim, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2006. Lapira appeared in J. J. Abrams' 2008 film Cloverfield as Heather and also appeared in Table for Three and 21. In 2009, she played Agent Sophie Trinh in the film Fast & Furious opposite Paul Walker, and in 2010, she played Alva in Repo Men. She portrayed Liz, the sharp-tongued friend of Hannah in the 2011 film Crazy, Stupid, Love.

Television

Lapira's first major role was a series regular spot on the Showtime TV series Huff. Lapira played neuroscientist Ivy in both seasons of Joss Whedon's series Dollhouse, appearing predominantly with Fran Kranz and Dichen Lachman.
Her TV credits include recurring roles in Dexter, ER, Monk, Grey's Anatomy, , The Parkers as Shaquan, Sex and the City, and The Sopranos.
Lapira had regular roles as: Agent Michelle Lee in NCIS, Lisa in Traffic Light, Robin in Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23, Detective Jacocks in Battle Creek, Leslie Barrett in Cooper Barrett's Guide to Surviving Life, and Eve in the CBS comedy 9JKL.
In August 2018, Lapira joined the recurring cast of the Netflix limited-series Unbelievable.
In 2020, Lapira was cast as a lead on CBS' The Equalizer reboot opposite Queen Latifah and Chris Noth.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1999'WaitressEpisode: ""
2001Law & OrderCheryl TreadwellEpisode: "A Losing Season"
2001Law & Order: Special Victims UnitRebecca ChangEpisode: ""
2001'Nia SheppardEpisode: "A Very Great Man"
2002'Student volunteerEpisode: "Money Changes Everything"
2003Sex and the CityPamEpisode: "Pick-A-Little, Talk-A-Little"
2004Without a TraceLaylaEpisode: "Legacy"
2004'Amanda KimEpisode: "Sentimental Education"
2004'ShaquanEpisode: "At Last"
2004–2006HuffMaggie Del RosarioMain role; 21 episodes
2006–2008NCISMichelle LeeRecurring role; 12 episodes
2006Grey's AnatomyNoelle LavatteEpisode: "Let the Angels Commit"
2007Law & Order: Special Victims UnitForensics technician4 episodes
2007MonkDr. SouterEpisode: "Mr. Monk Goes to the Hospital"
2007Queens SupremeEpisode: "Mad About You"
2008ERChristine2 episodes
2008DexterYuki AmadoRecurring role; 5 episodes
2009–2010DollhouseIvyRecurring role; 10 episodes
2011Traffic LightLisa ReillyMain role; 13 episodes
2012PsychTinaEpisode: "Let's Doo-Wop It Again"
2012–2013Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23RobinMain role; 13 episodes
2012Drop Dead DivaAbby HalsteadEpisode: "Winning Ugly"
2013Royal PainsErika SeeligEpisode: "HankWatch"
2013–2014Super Fun NightHelen-AliceMain role; 17 episodes
2014Blue BloodsSkye BishopEpisode: "Insult to Injury"
2014PowerGrace PakEpisode: "Who You With?"
2015Battle CreekDetective JacocksRecurring role; 12 episodes
2015, 2017Con ManBrenda WhiteWeb series; 5 episodes
2016Cooper Barrett's Guide to Surviving LifeLeslie BarrettMain role; 13 episodes
2016Angel from HellJillEpisode: Pilot
2017–20189JKLEve RobertsMain role; 16 episodes
2018Animal KingdomEpisode: Wolves
2018The Good DoctorNurse Ann FloresEpisode: "36 Hours"
2019'Araminta JaxEpisode: Crab Mentality
2019UnbelievableMiaRecurring role; 8 episodes
2019Nancy DrewVictoria Fan3 episodes
2020The EqualizerMelody ChuMain role