I have admired Rosie Perez since the first time I saw her onscreen. She was so funny, tough and real.

I still admire her for her work as a dramatic/comedic actor and her effervescent personality.

So I was taken aback when I learned just how hard – I mean really really hard – her personal life has been.

How she managed to cope with all the adverse childhood trauma she endured is a story far more dramatic than any film or TV show. It is a testament to her tenacious survival skills.

Rosie Perez is also a worthy advocate for the cause of normalizing mental health issues, particularly among communities of color.

You can read all about Rosie in this profile written by entertainment journalist Nikki Swift