Liza Colón-Zayas is celebrating much more than the end of an acclaimed television series. As The Bear reaches its conclusion, the Emmy winning actress says the role of Tina transformed both her professional outlook and her confidence, proving that achieving long held dreams can happen at any stage of life.
The 53 year old actress has portrayed Tina since the FX hit debuted, following the character’s remarkable evolution from a guarded and skeptical line cook into one of the restaurant’s most dependable leaders. Looking back, Colón-Zayas says the experience has mirrored parts of her own journey in unexpected ways.
The actress believes that portraying Tina encouraged her to fully embrace her talents after decades of working steadily in television and theater. Instead of questioning whether success would ever arrive, she came to appreciate that there is no deadline for reaching personal or professional goals.
She discovered it’s never too late to achieve a dream
Colón-Zayas spent years building an impressive résumé before landing the role that would change her career. After launching her acting career in New York’s off Broadway theater scene in the mid 1990s, she appeared in numerous television dramas and comedies, including roles on Law & Order, Sex and the City and In Treatment.
Her breakthrough came with The Bear, where audiences watched Tina gradually become one of the kitchen’s emotional anchors. Colón-Zayas says the character’s personal growth reminded her that dreams do not come with an expiration date, allowing her to recognize her own abilities with greater confidence.
Tina’s evolution became deeply personal
Throughout five seasons, Tina transformed from one of the restaurant’s toughest employees into a respected leader and nurturing presence for the staff. By the series finale, the character receives the opportunity to step into the role of chef de cuisine after earning the trust of her colleagues.
Colón-Zayas says she shares many personality traits with Tina, making the character’s development especially meaningful. She takes pride in helping audiences see the humanity beneath Tina’s initially difficult exterior and is grateful that many viewers ultimately connected with and embraced the character.
Her historic Emmy win became a defining milestone
The success of The Bear extended far beyond critical acclaim for the series itself. In 2024, Colón-Zayas made history by becoming the first Latina to win the Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.
During her acceptance speech, she acknowledged that she had not prepared remarks because she never expected to hear her name announced as the winner. She also expressed gratitude to the creative team behind The Bear and encouraged Latina women to continue believing in themselves while remaining engaged in civic participation.
The award marked a major turning point in her career after decades of dedication to acting.
Working alongside her husband added another special layer
Another memorable part of the final season involved sharing the screen with her husband, actor David Zayas. The couple, who married in 1998 after first working together in theater, appeared together as Tina and her husband during the opening of the show’s final season.
Colón-Zayas has previously described acting opposite her husband as a natural experience, crediting him with consistently encouraging her career while helping her overcome moments of self doubt. Their longtime personal and professional partnership made those scenes especially meaningful as the series wrapped production.
She leaves the series feeling hopeful
Although The Bear does not resolve every storyline with a perfect ending, Colón-Zayas believes the characters finish their journeys in a far better place than where they started. She says she feels proud of the final season and optimistic about where the restaurant staff ultimately lands.
The actress also has little time to slow down. Following her acclaimed run on The Bear, she is preparing for her next major role as a detective in the upcoming Spider Man: Brand New Day.
For Colón-Zayas, the lessons from Tina will continue long after filming has ended. The series reinforced the importance of trusting her abilities, embracing opportunities when they arrive and recognizing that perseverance can eventually lead to career-defining moments.
As audiences continue streaming The Bear, Colón-Zayas hopes viewers see the same message that inspired her throughout the show’s run. Personal growth rarely follows a straight path, and meaningful success can arrive after years of persistence, making every step of the journey worthwhile.
Exclusive : People
