Merediz with Lin-Manuel Miranda and Chris Jackson.
Olga Merediz (b. 1956) is an actress who played Maria's childhood friend Gloria Montoya on Sesame Street in Episode 3045.
Merediz originated the role of Abuela Claudia in Lin-Manuel Miranda's In the Heights and worked with him again in the Disney animated feature Encanto (as the singing voice of Abuela Alma). She appeared in Broadway productions of Man of La Mancha, Les Misérables, and Mamma Mia!
Her film credits include Angie (with Geena Davis), Evita (with Madonna), Marvin's Room (with Meryl Streep), Requiem for a Dream (with Jennifer Connelly), and K-PAX (with Alfre Woodard). For television, she has appeared on The Cosby Show, The Sopranos, Law & Order, and Orange is the New Black.