CCM Hollywood alumna reminisces on her Cincinnati roots over Skyline
CCM Acting alumna Diana Maria Riva talks about her upbringing & career with the Cincinnati Enquirer
Hollywood actress Diana Maria Riva (BFA, ’91; MFA, ’95) recently sat down with the Cincinnati Enquirer to discuss her career over a Cincinnati staple — Skyline chili. The CCM Acting alumna has worked in Hollywood since the '90s, but she grew up on Cincinnati's West Side.
Diana Maria Riva, CCM ’91, ’95. Photo/Provided
A receipient of the UC Alumni Association's 2025 Marian A. Spencer Mosaic Award, Riva credits CCM for preparing her for a career in Hollywood.
"I went in very green," Riva told the Cincinnati Enquirer. "I didn't come from a performing arts high school and a lot of those kids do. But they took a chance on me and I got trained and I matured and I gained responsibility and professionalism."
"So, when I went out to LA, which was suddenly the Wild West, I went in with maturity and taking everything seriously and audition with professionalism."
In an impressive career spanning over three decades, Riva has distinguished herself through dozens of memorable roles in television, film and theater. She has received many prestigious awards and nominations for
her work and appeared opposite a variety of Hollywood’s top actors. Known for her comic timing and characterizations, her TV credits include "Dead to Me," “Man with a Plan,” “The Good Guys,” “The West Wing,” “CSI,” “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “The X-Files," "Castle,” “Ghost Whisperer,” “Reba,” “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch,” “Philly,” “The Drew Carey Show,” “Party of Five,” “Murder One,” “Common Law” and “NYPD Blue,” among many, many others.
In recent years, Riva co-founded LATINAS ACTING UP, a group of SAG-AFTRA members active in support of their fellow Latinas working in film and television, and who look to grow the visibility and representation of Latinas in the entertainment industry. A previous recipient of CCM's Distinguished Service Award, she continues to be involved with the college and CCM graduates following in her footsteps, acting as a mentor to many who come to Los Angeles to make it in the business.
About CCM Acting
Our Acting BFA program is internationally recognized for its quality and history of training successful actors. Our graduates follow careers in theatre, film, television and digital media.
Training for the BFA in Acting at CCM includes:
- broad actor training in Meisner, Stanislavski, Michael Chekhov, improvisation and classical text;
- specialized voice training in voice-over, phonetics, dialects, singing, vocal violence and voice production;
- comprehensive movement training in Viewpoints, Suzuki, Mask, Clowning, LeCoq and motion capture;
- unparalleled stage combat training with our full-time SAFD certified Fight Master;
- extensive training in acting for the camera;
- performance training in heightened and poetic text, devised work and contemporary productions;
- master classes and seminars with acclaimed professionals from around the world;
- a robust digital showcase for agents, managers and casting directors, with potential performances in Cincinnati, Chicago and/or New York.
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