Named after a European city? Picked up by Ron Howard from a bus stop very early in the morning? Hang on a sec...

Roma Maffia was born and raised in Manhattan, New York. Not knowing what to name her unborn child Roma's mother took out a map and thought where would she like to be at that moment. Her choice was Rome, so the name was turned into Roma. As for her last name, Roma got it from her stepfather, who her mother met after Roma's birth. She is of West Indian, English and German descent, which explains her lovely exotic features.

Roma never set out to become an actress. Growing up, she rarely watched television or went to the movies. She caught the performing bug at tap dance and ballet lessons and decided to try out theatre. There was a time when she thought about becoming a history teacher because she found it fascinating, it was like a story beginning to unfold to her. She loved it in school because of the teachers. But in the end, her love for performing won. She says she'd like to play a history teacher, though.

Roma is a veteran stage actress. She began acting in regional and off-Broadway theatre productions such as "Fool for Love", "Street Venus", "Talking Things Over with Chekhov" and "Twelfth Night" in the beginning of the eighties. She'd appeared in numerous films before Profiler and she kept her film career going alongside the series' production. Her movie work includes "The Paper", "Disclosure", "Nick Of Time", "Double Jeopardy" and "Rules Of Engagement". She was a regular on "Chicago Hope" for the 94/95 season.

When Roma moved to L.A. to New York she had gotten so used to riding the bus that she kept it up in her new home town (she knows how to drive, but she had problems with merging). So, one early morning it happens that Roma is standing at a bus stop in North Hollywood waiting for her ride when Ron Howard suddenly appears and offers her a ride. As Roma herself says, the chances of that happening are next to none. Later on Ron directed Roma in "The Paper".

One Sunday morning she gets a call from the executive producer of "Profiler" (either Kim Moses or Ian Sander). To her the idea of being a part of a crime solving team was appealing. On the differences between herself and the character Grace she says: "Grace is evolving and I think her sense of humor. I think it is drier than mine but maybe it isn't. What isn't the same is the way she thinks. I couldn't look at something and be as scientific and detached on an emotional level".

As for fame interfering with her life, Roma remarks that not much has changed in her everyday life. "I am not stopped from doing anything I want to do and people are so generous with their comments...I haven't lost anything. I have only gained things" she explains. She has placed a keen interest on The 52nd Street Project. It is a mentoring program for children, in which professionals of the music and acting industries help children develop plays and participate in them. Roma owns a dog, and also a large collection of shoes! In her spare time she runs, goes to the gym and spends time with friends.

Picture:
Roma Maffia - Urban Desires interview