Diany Rodriguez (born 1982) is a Puerto Rican-American actress known for her work in television and film. She plays Special Agent Vera Strickland in the CBS drama NCIS: Origins, her most high-profile role to date.
Her career spans over two decades of theatre, film, and television work.
Who is Diany Rodriguez?
Diany Rodriguez is a Puerto Rican-American actress with a career built across theatre, independent film, and major network television. She grew up as a self-described army brat, with both her parents and other family members serving in the military.
Her path to acting was anything but direct. Rodriguez originally planned to become a JAG officer before a chance audition changed the course of her life.
She has appeared in over 30 film and television projects since 2005. Her roles have ranged from crime dramas and thrillers to a romantic comedy film opposite Eugenio Derbez.
Rodriguez also engages in community activism off-screen. She has spoken publicly about using her platform to advocate for social causes and representation in entertainment.
Early Life of Diany Rodriguez
Diany Rodriguez was born in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, and grew up in Jacksonville, Alabama. Her family had deep military roots, with her parents and other relatives serving in the armed forces.
Her early exposure to the arts came through The Soldier Show, an annual song-and-dance production featuring members of the United States Army. As a child, she attended those shows on the military base.
Rodriguez initially expected to follow her family’s path into service. Her plan was to join the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, graduate as an officer, and become a JAG officer.
In high school, she joined the choir and the band, playing clarinet. In her senior year, she took part in the school musical, planting a deeper seed for performance.
Diany Rodriguez Age
Diany Rodriguez is 44 years old as of June, 2026, born in 1982. Her specific birth date has not been publicly confirmed.
Her zodiac sign is not confirmed, as her birth month and day remain private.
Since the premiere of NCIS: Origins in October 2024, Rodriguez has become one of the more recognisable faces in the CBS franchise.
Diany Rodriguez Ethnicity and Nationality
Rodriguez holds American nationality and was born in Puerto Rico. Her ethnic background is Latina, with Puerto Rican heritage.
She grew up in Jacksonville, Alabama, and has spoken openly about the importance of Latina representation in American television and film.
Her bilingual background, speaking both English and Spanish fluently, has factored into several of her roles, including her part in the 2022 film The Valet.
Diany Rodriguez Height and Weight
Diany Rodriguez stands 5 feet 4 inches tall, equivalent to 1.65 metres.
Her weight is not publicly confirmed.
Rodriguez has a lean, athletic build that suits her action-oriented roles, particularly in crime drama series.
Diany Rodriguez Education
Rodriguez studied at the University of Alabama, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She majored in art with a concentration in political science and Spanish, minoring in theatre.
She initially chose theatre as a minor primarily to secure a scholarship. That minor ultimately redirected her entire career path.
After graduating, she returned to work at a Jacksonville McDonald’s where she had worked through high school. Her goal at the time was to save money for a move to New York City to pursue a career in public service.
Diany Rodriguez Career
Breakthrough and Early Career Start
After moving to New York City, Rodriguez heard about an audition for a national tour of Dora the Explorer and tried out on impulse. She booked the tour and spent nearly two years on the road performing.
An injury during the tour brought her back to Alabama to recover. With medical expenses to cover, she booked a union acting job in Atlanta.
That Atlanta booking proved to be the turning point. From there, she kept working steadily in film and television.
Rodriguez also built a strong theatre background alongside her screen career. Her best-known stage performance is the lead role of Dolores Roach in Empanada Loca, playwright Aaron Mark’s dark twist on Sweeney Todd, performed at Savannah Rep in 2023.
Notable Film and Television Projects
Rodriguez made her feature film debut in Pitch Perfect 3 (2017), playing a Soldier Singer. She followed that with a string of supporting television appearances including Ray Donovan (2019), The Outsider (2020), and The Purge (2019).
She earned broader recognition through her 25-episode run as Weecha Xiu in The Blacklist, the NBC crime drama, from 2021 to 2023. That role marked her first major recurring part on a network series.
Weecha Xiu became her calling card in the industry.
In 2022, she appeared in The Valet, a Hulu romantic comedy film alongside Eugenio Derbez, Samara Weaving, and Max Greenfield. She played Natalie, the owner of a neighbourhood bike shop and a vocal community organiser fighting gentrification. Her other film credits include The Suicide Squad (Warner Bros., 2021) and Night Teeth (Netflix, 2021).
Also in 2022, she took on the lead role of Mason Holt in three episodes of Long Slow Exhale. That same year, she appeared in The Resident on Fox.
Recent Work
In 2024, Rodriguez joined the cast of Teacup, the Peacock thriller series, playing Valeria Shanley across six episodes. She also made an appearance in The Equalizer on CBS that year.
Her biggest career milestone arrived with NCIS: Origins, the CBS prequel to the long-running NCIS franchise. She plays Special Agent Vera Strickland, described as a sharp-witted, no-nonsense Brooklynite.
The character is a younger version of the Vera Strickland originally played by Roma Maffia in NCIS Season 11.
NCIS: Origins premiered on October 14, 2024, on CBS. Rodriguez appeared in all 18 episodes of the first season. Season 2 began in October 2025, and in January 2026, CBS renewed the series for a third season set for Fall 2026. Rodriguez is expected to return for Season 3.
She also appeared in the Netflix mini-series Zero Day (2025), playing Diana Moore in one episode.
Diany Rodriguez Filmography
Rodriguez’s credited film and television work spans over 30 projects since 2005. Her film credits include Pitch Perfect 3 (2017), The Suicide Squad (2021), Night Teeth (2021), and The Valet (2022).
Diana’s television credits include The Vampire Diaries (2011), Survivor’s Remorse (2015), NCIS: New Orleans (2017), Lodge 49 (2018), Ray Donovan (2019), The Purge (2019), The Outsider (2020), The Blacklist (2021 to 2023), Law & Order: Organized Crime (2021), Long Slow Exhale (2022), FBI: Most Wanted (2023), Twisted Metal (2023), Teacup (2024), The Equalizer (2024), Zero Day (2025), and NCIS: Origins (2024 to present).
Her IMDb profile lists 33 credits across her career.
Diany Rodriguez Boyfriend
Diany Rodriguez is in a long-term relationship with Lee Lyons, who identifies as a Movie Exhibition Professional. The couple has kept their relationship largely private over the years.
In 2024, Rodriguez posted a tribute to Lyons on his birthday, writing that nearly twelve years in, she loved him more than when they first got together.
The two are not publicly married, and Rodriguez has not confirmed any engagement.
Diany Rodriguez Net Worth
Diany Rodriguez’s estimated net worth is $2 million as of 2026. Her income derives primarily from her acting work across film, television, and theatre.
Her recurring role across all 18 episodes of NCIS: Origins Season 1, along with her continued presence in Season 2, represents her most sustained and commercially visible engagement to date.
Prior to NCIS: Origins, her consistent television work on shows such as The Blacklist, Twisted Metal, and Teacup contributed steadily to her earnings over several years.
Diany Rodriguez Social Media
Rodriguez is active on Instagram under the handle @dianysaurusrex. She uses the platform to share updates on her projects, personal milestones, and social advocacy work.
Her posts reflect both her professional life and her commitment to causes including representation and community activism.
She does not maintain widely known public profiles on other platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Diany Rodriguez’s net worth?
Diany Rodriguez’s estimated net worth is $2 million as of 2026. Her earnings come from over two decades of acting work in film, television, and theatre.
How old is Diany Rodriguez?
Diany Rodriguez is 44 years old as of June 11, 2026, born in 1982 in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. Her exact birth date has not been publicly confirmed.
Who is Diany Rodriguez dating?
Rodriguez is in a long-term relationship with Lee Lyons. In 2024, she publicly celebrated nearly twelve years together with him in an Instagram birthday post.
What is Diany Rodriguez’s height?
Rodriguez stands 5 feet 4 inches (1.65 metres) tall.
What movies and projects has Diany Rodriguez been in?
Her most notable projects include NCIS: Origins (2024 to present), The Blacklist (2021 to 2023), The Valet (2022), The Suicide Squad (2021), Night Teeth (2021), Teacup (2024), and Zero Day (2025).
Where was Diany Rodriguez born?
Rodriguez was born in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, and grew up in Jacksonville, Alabama.
The Bottom Line
Diany Rodriguez landed her biggest role to date as Special Agent Vera Strickland in NCIS: Origins, which premiered on CBS in October 2024 and earned a third-season renewal in January 2026.
She came to acting through a national Dora the Explorer tour, years of theatre, and over a decade of building a television career role by role.
Her bilingual background and Puerto Rican heritage have shaped both the parts she pursues and the platform she uses off-screen.
Season 2 of NCIS: Origins aired on CBS and Paramount+ from October 2025, with Rodriguez returning as Vera Strickland.
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