If you've ever spent your youth immersing in the sweet songs of the musical series Glee, surely you cannot forget the c...
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If you've ever spent your youth immersing in the sweet songs of the musical series Glee, surely you cannot forget the charismatic cheerleader, the bright LGBT+ icon Santana Lopez, starring Naya Rivera. However, that was not the actress' only prominent role before passing away at Lake Piru, California. Let's look back at her career and honor the short-lived talent.
Solid acting since kindergarten
Naya Rivera started her career very early. At the age of 4, she had her first television role in The Royal Family. Playing Hillary Winston, the youngest one on the show, she impressed the audience at that time with a lovely and natural expression. The film itself was also an unexpected success in terms of ratings, earning her a Best Young Actor nomination at the Young Artist Awards 1992. However, the series was canceled after season 1 as the male lead - Redd Foxx died following a heart attack.
The quick end of The Royal Family did not stop Naya Rivera from continuing her acting career. The 4-year-old child star still regularly appeared in other hit movies like Disney's Baywatch or Even Stevens.
The shining LGBT+ role model in Glee
At the age of 22, Naya Rivera "escaped" from the innocent image. She gained huge popularity through the role of beautiful cheerleader Santana Lopez in the hit musical series Glee, which tells the unfinished stories of the New Directions music club at William McKinley High School.
Santana Lopez was originally a piece in the hot-girl trio alongside Quinn (Dianna Agron) and Brittany (Heather Morris). Later, she gradually control her bossy characteristic, becoming more and more mature thanks to the power of music, turning into an outstanding individual with the motto "to live true to yourself" that many viewers admired. The love between Santana and Brittany was also a big inspiration, as they were an admirable LGBT+ couple no less than Kurt - Blaine.
New challenge with the big screen
Not only TV series, Naya Rivera also participated in a number of film projects, most notably the horror film At The Devil's Door (2014). In the film, she plays Vera, standing amid a series of mysterious supernatural events after her sister Leigh (played by Catalina Sandino Moreno) sold a mysterious house with a dark past.
Also in 2014, she married Ryan Dorsey and had a baby boy. 2 years later, she suddenly filed for divorce. Experiencing a long legal battle, Naya eventually won custody of baby Josey, opening a new chapter for the actress as a single mom.
Most recently, she participated in the High Water project adapted from the blockbuster movie Step Up. Here, she was completely free to show her choreography and artistic skills. After two successful seasons, the series invested by Channing Tatum is expected to continue for the third season as announced in May.
Sadly, Naya Rivera couldn't go on with her glorious career anymore. Farewell to a talented actor, a great mother, Naya Rivera!
