Naya Marie Rivera was an American actress, singer and model. She began her career as a child actress and model, appearing in national television commercials before landing the role of Hillary Winston on the short-lived CBS sitcom
The Royal Family (1991â1992) at the age of four and earning a nomination for a Young Artist Award at five. After a series of recurring television roles and then guest spots as a teenager, Rivera got her breakthrough role in 2009 as lesbian cheerleader Santana Lopez on the Fox television series
Glee (2009â2015). For the role, she received critical acclaim and various awards, including a SAG Award and ALMA Award, as well as earning three Grammy Award and one Brit Award nominations.