1993–2015: Career beginnings In 1990, after graduating from
Lane Tech, Machado moved to New York City. The experience she had gained as a performer with the Latino Chicago Theater Company helped open the doors for her in that city. Soon, she was offered a job as a professional actress in
Los Angeles. After relocating, she landed her first two acting roles in 1996. She was cast as Elsa in the ABC series
NYPD Blue appearing in the episode "Burnin' Love", and co-starring in the made-for-television drama film
No One Would Tell. She was in productions of
Blade to the Heat and
Black Butterfly at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. She was the first replacement for
Andréa Burns in
Broadway's
In the Heights. In 2010, Machado appeared in the Los Angeles run of
Love, Loss and What I Wore. Machado appeared in ''
Grey's Anatomy, Ugly Betty, Bones, Body of Proof and Desperate Housewives. She had a recurring role as Chicago police officer Claudia Diaz in the NBC medical drama ER'' in 2009. She later guest-starred on the show' fourth season. Later that year, she joined the cast of The CW comedy series
Jane the Virgin, playing the role of Darci Factor. In 2017, she was cast as a lead character in the Netflix comedy series,
One Day at a Time based on the
1975 series of the same title. Machado has received positive reviews for her role as a single mother raising two children and struggling with
PTSD after serving in
Afghanistan. For her performance, she received two
Imagen Awards for Best Actress - Television, and well as nomination for
Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series. Despite positive critical reception, Machado has not received a
Primetime Emmy Award nomination. The series ended in 2020 after four seasons. In 2019, Machado played the leading role in the Lifetime television drama film
Family Pictures. From 2019 to 2020, she had a recurring role on the NBC comedy series,
Superstore playing new district manager Maya, with whom Amy Sosa shares a surprising connection. After having been announced to portray
Florence Johnston in the first
Live in Front of a Studio Audiences
The Jeffersons portion, instead reprised by
Marla Gibbs, Machado was cast in the second edition in December 2019 as Teresa Betancourt from
All in the Family. On September 2, 2020, Machado was announced as one of the celebrities competing on the
29th season of
Dancing with the Stars, partnered with professional dancer
Sasha Farber. Machado finished in fourth place on November 23, 2020. In 2021, Machado was a singing bust in
Muppets Haunted Mansion. In 2020, Machado starred in the drama film
All Together Now, which was released on Netflix. Also in 2020, Jacob Vargas and Machado were Masters of Ceremonies at the
National Hispanic Media Coalition Impact Awards. In 2021, she starred in the Lifetime television drama film,
Switched Before Birth directed by
Elisabeth Röhm. She starred alongside
Will Sasso in the comedy film,
The Throwback. In 2023, Machado starred as Dolores Roach in the
Amazon Prime Video black comedy-horror series,
The Horror of Dolores Roach. The series received generally positive reviews, with Machado's performance being widely praised. In 2024 she was cast in the Netflix medical drama series,
Pulse as Dr. Natalie Cruz. In 2025, Machado originated the role of Carmen Garcia in the Broadway musical production of
Real Women Have Curves. She received a nomination for the
Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. ==Filmography==