The foremost Mexican actress working in Hollywood today, Elpidia’s long list of co-stars includes top A-list talents such as Jack Nicholson and Harvey Keitel (“The Border”), James Woods (“Salvador”), Richard Gere (“The Honorary Consul”), Johnny Depp (“The Brave”) and Adrien Brody (“Bread and Roses”). She is probably best known, however, as Arnold Shwarzenegger’s rebel prisoner in “Predator,” and as Jimmy Smits’ new bride in Gregory Nava’s “My Family.”

Elpidia has also shined in two of writer-director Rodrigo García’s films, “Nine Lives” and “Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her,” as well as in Salvador Carrasco’s “The Other Conquest.” “Ladrones y Mentirosos” is her first film in Puerto Rico.

We were lucky enough to meet Elpidia when we worked on “Bread and Roses.” Already big fans, we were even more impressed by her work in that film, particularly the unforgettable confrontation scene with fellow Mexican actress Pilar Padilla.

Since then we had hoped to someday create a part where Elpidia could play something different from the maids and prostitutes that sadly dominate casting opportunities for Latinas in Hollywood. “Whatever it turns out to be,” we used to tell Elpidia, “she will wear a business outfit and carry a briefcase.” When the role of newspaper reporter “Isabel” surfaced in “Ladrones y Mentirosos,” Elpidia was the first and only choice.