▁She ▁acted ▁in ▁numerous ▁films ▁and ▁television ▁shows , ▁often ▁playing ▁a ▁ma id ▁or , ▁near ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁her ▁career , ▁an ▁all - know ing ▁grand m other . ▁She ▁was ▁nominated ▁for ▁an ▁Em my ▁Award ▁for ▁her ▁work ▁on ▁Des perate ▁House w ives ▁and ▁received ▁critical ▁acc laim ▁for ▁her ▁role ▁in ▁Ch uck ▁& ▁Buck , ▁for ▁which ▁she ▁won ▁the ▁National ▁Board ▁of ▁Review ▁award ▁for ▁Best ▁Support ing ▁Act ress , ▁and ▁was ▁also ▁nominated ▁for ▁an ▁Independent ▁Spirit ▁Award . ▁ ▁Early ▁life ▁Ont iver os ▁was ▁born ▁in ▁El ▁Pas o , ▁Texas , ▁the ▁daughter ▁of ▁Lu z ▁" L uc ita " ▁Cast añ ón ▁and ▁Juan ▁Mor eno , ▁middle - class ▁Mexican ▁imm igr ants ▁who ▁over c ame ▁a ▁lack ▁of ▁formal ▁education ▁to ▁become ▁own ers ▁of ▁a ▁tort illa ▁factory ▁and ▁two ▁restaur ants ▁in ▁El ▁Pas o . ▁ ▁She ▁graduated ▁from ▁El ▁Pas o ▁High ▁School ▁and ▁went ▁on ▁to ▁study ▁at ▁Texas ▁Woman ' s ▁University ▁in ▁D ent on , ▁Texas , ▁where ▁she ▁received ▁a ▁b ach elor ' s ▁degree ▁in ▁social ▁work . ▁She ▁was ▁raised ▁Roman ▁Catholic . ▁ ▁After ▁her ▁marriage , ▁she ▁and ▁her ▁husband ▁moved ▁to ▁California ▁to ▁realize ▁his ▁dream ▁of ▁starting ▁an ▁autom ot ive ▁business . ▁During ▁a ▁period ▁of ▁diss atisf action ▁with ▁her ▁career ▁as ▁a ▁social ▁worker , ▁Ont iver os ▁was ▁trying ▁to ▁decide ▁whether ▁to ▁go