Tessie Santiago (born August 10, 1975 in Miami, Florida, U.S.) is an American actress of Cuban descent.

Making her television debut in 2000 in the action/adventure syndicated television series Queen Of Swords as Tessa Alvarado/The Queen, Tessie is now an experienced actress. She has starred on television shows such as the first season of Good Morning, Miami (from 2002-2003; after appearing on the first 11 episodes, the series creators decided to drop her character of Lucia from the sitcom, removing Tessie from the show as a regular cast member) and has made guest appearances on Kitchen Confidential, Curb Your Enthusiasm and One on One. In 2001, Tessie landed a co-starring role in the VH1 made for television movie The Way She Moves (opposite Annabeth Gish and Kamar De Los Reyes). Tessie played the role of Christina Juarez, a Latina dancer with the dream of winning a dance exhibition. In the movie, Tessie was given the opportunity to display one of her many talents by exhibiting her dancing skills. In 2004-2005, Tessie was cast as Sarah Marshall in the independent film The Way Back Home. Tessie co-starred opposite Michael King, Julie Harris, Ruby Dee, Danny Nucci and other talented actors and actresses in the spiritual drama about love and loss.

A May 1999 graduate from the University of Miami, she earned a double major in Film and Theater Arts and was able to study Shakespeare in London, England and Film Production with the Faculty of Film and Television of Academy of Performing Arts (FAMU) in Prague, Czech Republic.

Santiago has two younger siblings, an adolescent brother, a younger half-sister and a pet named Zion.

She was ranked #50 on the Maxim Hot 100 Women of 2001.

Graduated from the University of Miami with double Bachelor of Arts degrees in film production and theatre.

Starred in many independent student films while in college.

Her grandfather and grandmother, fled Cuba 40 years ago.

She is of Cuban descent.

She was a restaurant hostess before her life changed overnight.

Her mother works on the University of Miami Medical School Campus and her father is an X-ray Technician at Palmetto Hospital.

She grew up in a tight-knit middle-class family of artists: a sculptor grandfather, musician father and painter mother.

Co-starred with Adam S. Barta in the stage version of "Love Allways" while in college

After a nationwide search, Tessie landed the starring role in the action adventuring series Queen of Swords, this was her first professional audition right out of college.