From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Valerie Cruz (born July 18, 1976) is an American actress. Cruz was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey of Cuban ancestry. She attended Florida State University and received a BFA theatre degree. She has appeared in films such as Cellular and played Grace Santiago in Nip/Tuck. She played a main character in Nip/Tuck, but she left the show just after the first season.[1] She has made guest appearances in series such as Grey's Anatomy and Las Vegas. In 2007, she appeared as Connie Murphy, a tough Chicago police detective, in SciFi Channel's (now cancelled) adaptation of The Dresden Files. The show lasted for one season. She has also played Maria Nolan on the CW's Hidden Palms. In 2008, she appeared in season three of Dexter, playing Sylvia Prado, the wife of Assistant District Attorney Miguel Prado (Jim...