Stephens alum Stephanie Beatriz, actress in ‘Encanto,’ to speak at MU

Stephanie Beatriz introduces Sebastián Yatra as he performs “Dos Oruguitas” from “Encanto" at the 94th Academy Awards in 2022.

It will be a homecoming — almost — when actor Stephanie Beatriz appears at the University of Missouri’s Jesse Auditorium Wednesday evening.

The “Encanto” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” star will be in her college town for the moderated Q&A event. Beatriz is a 2002 graduate of Stephens College.

Beatriz publicly came out as bisexual several years ago, later writing about her sexuality in an essay for GQ. Wednesday’s event promises “a compelling and insightful look into LGBTQ+ advocacy and queer representation in the entertainment industry,” according to the event page.

Stephanie Beatriz’s work on ‘Encanto’

2021 was Beatriz’s most successful year at the movies to date. She played Carla in the film adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical “In the Heights.” And she reached untold families as the voice of main character Mirabel Madrigal in “Encanto.” The animated hit grossed over $250 million while also streaming on Disney+.

Among several award nominations for “Encanto,” Beatriz won the Hollywood Critics Association Award for best animated or VSX performance. Reviewing the film, The Hollywood Reporter said Beatriz voiced Mirabel with “delightful verve.”

“Encanto” won the best animated feature Academy Awards last month, and Beatriz introduced a performance of the song “Dos Oruguitas” from the film at the ceremony.

Beatriz visited Disneyland a month before the Oscars, and the effect of “Encanto” was evident, she told The List.

“Walking around the park and seeing all these kids dressed as characters from the movie was really moving,” she said. “So many of them, not Latino, absolutely obsessed with the film — that, to me, it’s so big, the repercussions that loving this film will have for those kids.”

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Stephanie Beatriz acting career includes ‘Modern Family’, ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’

While enjoying a few earlier credits, 2013 was a breakthrough year for the Argentina-born, Texas-raised performer. That year, Beatriz appeared in the well-regarded indie drama “Short-Term 12” and took a recurring role on the sitcom “Modern Family.”

Most important, Beatriz also began her work in the career-making role of Detective Rosa Diaz on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” in 2013. The ensemble police comedy, co-starring Andy Samberg, Terry Crews and Andre Braugher, aired through last year for a run of 153 episodes.

Her character Diaz came out as bisexual in a storyline, and Beatriz told Bustle last year that the development “was really wonderful because it allowed conversations to happen with people all over the world.”

“I think that’s so special to be able to do that on a sitcom,” she added. “Network television is accessible to so many people; all you really need is a TV and almost everyone you know has one. The possibilities for reaching people and spreading ideas, empathy, love, and acceptance are so great.”

Beatriz reaches a wide audience on social media, with 2.5 million followers on Instagram and over 724,000 followers on Twitter.

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