biography

Dot Portella began her acting career at age 6, when she landed the role of the Virgin Mary in her school’s Christmas Pageant (see early career). She studied her pregnant aunt for a week so she could convincingly portray the pregnant Mary in the manger scene. Her hard work paid off! She sailed through her role and saved the opposite lead (Joseph) when he froze with stage fright and forgot his part by whispering his lines for him to repeat.

Since starring in this “living nativity”, Dot has been cast in a variety of roles in theatre, film, and television (see resume). She earned her B.F.A. at Marymount Manhattan College and received her Master’s at New York University.

Dot also spent several years touring the East Coast Spoken Word Circuit as a featured poet. For a few years, she hosted the Wednesday night SLAM open at the Nuyorican Poet’s Café (NYC). She has published poetry in two works: Skyscrapers, Taxis & Tampons (Fly by Night Press) and SLAM! (Alloy Book).

When Dot is not performing or writing, she studies Muay Thai Kickboxing and teaches in New York City independent schools.