Maria Canals Barrera Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday Facts
Discover Maria Canals Barrera net worth, relationships, age/birthdate and birthday in this in-depth profile of the actress and voice artist.
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Maria Canals Barrera Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday
Maria Canals Barrera is an American actress and voice artist celebrated for her role as Theresa Russo on the Disney Channel’s Wizards of Waverly Place and her wider work in animated and live-action entertainment.
Introduction
Maria Pilar Canals-Barrera was born on September 28, 1966, and her birthday is celebrated each year on September 28. She has built a long-standing career spanning theater, television, film and voice acting, and her estimated net worth stands around US $2 million according to industry-tracking sources. In her personal life, she is married to actor David Barrera, and together they continue to manage career and family in the public eye.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Maria Pilar Canals-Barrera |
| Age/Birthdate | September 28, 1966 |
| Birthday | September 28 |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Actress, Voice Artist, Singer |
| Estimated Net Worth | ~US $2 million |
| Relationship Status | Married to actor David Barrera |
| Known For | Theresa Russo on Wizards of Waverly Place, voice of Hawkgirl/Shayera Hol in DC’s animated universe |
From Local Ambition to National Spotlight
Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Maria grew up in a household of Cuban parents of Catalan (Spanish) heritage — a background she has often referenced as a source of identity and inspiration. She began acting classes early, and her passion for performance led her to a scholarship at the University of Miami, where she earned a degree in theatre.
In the 1990s, she honed her craft on stage in Miami and Los Angeles before transitioning into guest-television roles such as 21 Jump Street, Murder, She Wrote, and Caroline in the City. Her first major television series role came in 1997 on The Tony Danza Show. From there, she secured her voice-acting credentials in series like Justice League/ Justice League Unlimited and Danny Phantom.
Her breakthrough for a broad family audience came with her casting as Theresa Russo, the mother-figure in Wizards of Waverly Place (2007-2012). That role solidified her as a recognizable face for the teen and family television space.
Defining moments in Maria Canals Barrera’s journey include:
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Winning a theatrical scholarship to University of Miami.
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Transitioning from regional theatre in Miami and Los Angeles to national network television.
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Building a voice-acting portfolio in DC animation (e.g., Hawkgirl/Shayera Hol).
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Anchoring a major Disney Channel series (Theresa Russo) that expanded her visibility.
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Advocating for Latino representation and speaking about heritage in entertainment.
The Core Pillars of Maria Canals Barrera’s Wealth Include:
| Source of Wealth | Description |
|---|---|
| Film & Television Roles | Her steady work in live-action series and films provides foundational income. |
| Voice Acting | Long-term gigs in animated shows contribute residuals and broaden reach. |
| Commercial/Endorsement Work | While less publicly documented, talent of her stature typically participate in appearance/endorsement contracts. |
| Licensing & Residuals | With series success and animation credits, residual income from syndication and streaming bolsters earnings. |
Maria Canals Barrera Relationships & Family Life
Maria has been married to actor David Barrera since 1999. Their partnership spans both personal and professional life, with the two sharing parenting responsibilities and values.
Together they have two daughters, Bridget and Madeleine, and the family has spoken publicly about faith, parenting and balancing professional commitments.
Key insights into Maria Canals Barrera’s relationships and personal life:
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Her marriage to David Barrera is described as a team-based collaboration in life and career.
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Parenting two daughters has been publicly discussed as a priority alongside her acting career.
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She embraces and shares her Cuban-Catalan heritage especially as it intersects with her identity and representation in Hollywood.
Lifestyle, Assets & Interests
Beyond the camera and microphone, Maria lives a lifestyle reflecting her cultural roots and personal priorities:
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She remains active in advocating for Latino representation in media and has spoken about the importance of heritage in her roles.
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Maria has professed a love of performance, costume, storytelling and family traditions passed down from her mother — whom she described as a former pageant winner and an early influence.
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She and her husband have participated in faith-based film projects, reflecting shared values around family, career and purpose.
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In interviews, she cited her mother’s flair and her own early desire for dress-up, impersonation and performing, indicating a lifelong commitment to creativity and self-expression.
Net Worth Breakdown & Analysis
Here is a timeless analytic breakdown (figures approximate) of Maria Canals Barrera’s net worth sources:
| Category | Estimated Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Business Ventures / TV & Film Earnings | ~$1.2 Million | CelebrityNetWorth listing |
| Brand Deals & Partnerships | ~$0.3 Million | Entertainment outlet estimates |
| Investments & Assets (Residuals, Voice Work) | ~$0.5 Million | Industry-analyst projection |
This breakdown reflects her status as a working actor and voice artist whose earnings are moderate in the high-end world of Hollywood. While not in the celebrity-billionaire tier, her steady presence, diversified roles and international appeal give her a sustainable base for income.
Significantly, her long-term voice-acting roles and a landmark Disney series role create ongoing residual potential. The public estimate of her net worth has hovered around US $2 million according to multiple outlets.
Public Image, Legacy & Influence
Maria Canals Barrera is regarded as one of the familiar Latina faces of early 21st-century American family television. Her portrayal of Theresa Russo gave many young viewers, particularly Latina viewers, a mother-figure who looked and sounded like part of their cultural experience. In a 2024 interview she reflected on being “one of the first Latin American mothers on American television” and embraced that role with both pride and responsibility.
Her voice-acting work in animated series introduced her to a different demographic—comic fans, animated-series aficionados—which broadens her influence beyond on-screen family sitcoms. Her bilingual upbringing and open discussion of her Cuban-Catalan heritage make her a spokesperson in many ways for multicultural representation in Hollywood.
Her legacy continues to grow through conversation around Latino inclusion: she has used her platform to highlight that being Latina in Hollywood is not just about certain storylines, but about being included in “your stories.”
Conclusion
Maria Canals Barrera’s journey — from Miami upbringing, theatre scholarship, early television roles, to a beloved Disney series and voice-acting dominance — exemplifies a resilient and purposeful career. With her birthdate (September 28, 1966) and annual birthday (September 28) marking the passage of time, she has built an estimated net worth of around US $2 million. Her marriage to David Barrera and their family life reinforce her personal story, while her professional legacy underscores her influence in representation and voice work. In a media landscape that often overlooks long-standing character actors, Maria stands out as a creative force whose work continues to resonate.
