BORN

10 January 1967 in New York City, NY, US of A
as a child to flamenco performers, Spanish-born singer Domingo Alvarado and Puerto Rican dancer Sylvia Alvarado.

STARTED ON STAGE...

Appeared first time on stage in New York at the age of seven as a dancer in her parents' flamenco performance troupe.

First professional acting performance at nine in stage musical Becca.

Television debut at the age of nine in NBC's "Unicorn Tales" series.
(Although some sources claim that she'd begun on TV as early as at seven, without more accurate info I can't be certain...)

First Broadway leading role at 11 in Joseph Papp's musical Runaways.

First feature film role at the age of 11 in Rich Kids.

For stage works, see Trini's stage performances and for movies, Trini's filmography.

EDUCATION

As one might guess, Trini also went to a school that supported her blooming career and talent, the Professional Children's School in NYC.

After that, she has studied at the Fordham University in New York (most obviously at the Performing Arts branch at the Lincoln Center).

TELEVISION

Appeared first time nationwide in 1977 in the fairy tale musical The Magic Pony Ride, an episode of NBC network's educational "Unicorn Tales" series for children.

Appeared in 1987 on episode 5 ("Sleepless Dreams") of Lifetime Television's "Spenser: For Hire", a series of investigations by Bostonian ex-boxer private eye Spenser (Robert Urich). Trini plays Laurie Kincaid, a book illustrator who attempts suicide by jumping from her apartment opposite Spenser's. With aide Hawk (Avery Brooks) Spenser investigates the dark secret Laurie has about the murder of her mother which she witnessed at the age of 14.

Has also guested in such TV series as "Kate and Allie" (as Mindy on Episode 50, "Winning" in 1986), "Kay O'Brien" and "The Human Factor" in 1992.
In 2004, after a lengthy pause from the limelight, guest appeared in episodes of both "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and "The Jury".

Was featured on "E!" cable network's half-hour program "Behind the Scenes" on August 4, 1996, when the program featured a visit to the filming set of The Frighteners.

MUSIC RECORDINGS

Performed on the cast recording for stage musical Runaways in 1978, leading on the song "Lullaby From Baby To Baby" (the musical's "theme song", as Swados comments on the album).

Performed the song "Your Daughter Is One" with Robin Johnson on the Times Square soundtrack record in 1980.

Lead on the cast recording for stage musical Yours, Anne in 1986.

Performed the short song "For the Beauty of the Earth" with Kirsten Dunst and Claire Danes on the Little Women soundtrack record in 1994.

Sang the background vocals on songs "String of Pearls", "Caged Rat" and "Tell Me When" on Soul Asylum's Let Your Dim Light Shine album in 1995.

Appeared on the soundtrack album for Paulie in 1998.

OTHER MEDIA

Narrated in works like an audio book of Tamora Pierce's book Alanna: The First Adventure (2000).

RUMOURED

According to the The Saint News (1997), one of the writers working on the rumoured The Saint sequel has stated that Trini has shown interest in the part of the new love interest of The Saint. Although the first script draft is said to be now complete, the actual filming may be delayed to indefinite future. And, of course, Trini may not be in the final cast at all -- but let's hope.
[A dead end.]

According to the piece of info FilmFan has got and forwarded to me, Trini may appear in John Roberts's film Paulie, due to be released on 20 March 1998. Although Trini's name has not been mentioned in any released cast listings, she may well
make a cameo appearance, perhaps as the main character, Marie, at an older age, like the source thinks...
(I was suspicious at start about her appearance at all (after all, casting of Trini is a truly rare event), but she made it, although once again her perfo was to remain in shadows...)

21 April 1999:
According to the Movie News from October 1998 and January 1999, Trini has been in talks to co-star in The Gelfin, a horror-comedy about a malicious supernatural demon. Trini would play a hospital nurse (The Frighteners revisited?), who helps to fight the creature.
The film is scheduled for a Fall 2001 release, not sooner...
[Another dead end, I'd say.]

21 May 2000:
A scoop provided by an undisclosed source stated that Trini will co-star in the CBS Television feature The Last Dance with Maureen O'Hara (Miracle on 34th Street) and Eric Stoltz (Little Women) (again).
Various web sources have stated the filming to have started in late April, with the finished product being aired "later this year" (16 June: according to the IMDb, the date will be 20 September).
(7 Oct: No, make it 29 October...)
(Oh, whatever)

RECOGNIZED

Nominated in the juvenile film actress category for the 1978-1979 Youth in Film Awards for her role in Rich Kids.

Nominated in the crossover film actress category for the 1999 ALMA (American Latino Media Arts) Awards for her role in Paulie.

PRESS ARTICLES ABOUT TRINI

There are fortunately at least a number of newspaper and magazine articles made about Trini in the course of years, although I can't claim that the amount is staggering...
Here are the feature articles I know of so far:

Baron, David: "A battle royal for 'Stella'", Times-Picayune, 1990.

Morice, Laura: "Star quality: A 'Stella' performance", Us, 1990.

Sanz, Cynthia: "Holding her own against the Divine Miss M, Trini Alvarado is tugging heartstrings in Stella", People Weekly, 1990.

Drachman, Steven: "Alvarado's acting style matures in 'Babe'", Washington Times, 1992.

Newman, Peter: "Little sacrifices...", Maclean's Magazine, Vol. 107, 6/6/1994.

Camara, Jorge: "Camara en Hollywood: Trini Alvarado, actriz latina sin limites en sus", La Opinion, 12/23/1994. (in English)

Stark, Susan: "Trini Alvarado dresses down for her role as a star", Detroit News, 7/13/1996.

Hobson, Louis B.: "Trini Alvarado gets into the spirit of things", Sun Entertainment, 7/14/1996.