Teresa Mendoza Biography
Teresa Mendoza is a fictional character of the series Queen of the South. She plays the main character in the series. She appears with a Mexicana citizenship and as a poor lady who then turns out rich even with the hardships.
In real life, she is Sandra Ávila Beltrán.
Teresa Mendoza Early Life
Mendoza was born in Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa. She was a salesgirl in the Buelna Mercado. Mendoza became a money changer at the age of fifteen, and by the age of sixteen, she ran her own block. She spent five years as a money changer on Calle Juarez before being picked up by Guero.
Her family was murdered by the cartels. Her mother was a nurse before she was born and used to say that “a bed is only as clean as its corners.
Teresa Mendoza Appearance
She has long, wavy brown hair and is considered to be very pretty by all who meet her. Teresa has a scar hidden by her hair that she received after being punished by her boss for taking counterfeit bills while she was working in Sinaloa; she was in the hospital for five weeks.
Teresa is often seen wearing shirts with three-quarter sleeves. She also keeps a necklace with the patron saint Malverde on it but does not wear it. Mendoza has mercury fillings in her teeth, which are only used in Mexico.
Teresa Mendoza Personality
Mendoza is a survivor. She thinks quickly on her feet and does what it takes to make it out alive. She alters ego, The Queen of the South, often appears to her and gives her advice when she is in dangerous situations, and she almost always obeys. Teresa is resourceful and uses what is given to her, as proven when she uses any sort of weakness or distraction to her advantage. She is stubborn and wants to prove herself to Camila in order to keep herself safe.
Teresa is kind, as shown by the way that she deals with Tony, bandaging up Sandra’s son, and by getting medicine for a girl with a fever. She fights for the people she loves, as evidenced by how far she goes to try to protect Guero and Brenda.
Mendoza doesn’t want people to die when there’s another way to do things — like using the time she can see to get out of the cave. James thinks that this is impossible but later joins her cartel hoping that it’s true.
She is hesitant to kill people because that’s not who she is. There are lines that she doesn’t want to cross. She tries to save Travis, first by trying to free him then by flashing the headlights of James’ car to try to distract Eric so that the man could escape. Teresa is shaken by his death and calls Brenda telling her that she needs to get out of there.
She doesn’t like to do cocaine, refusing what is offered to her by Chris and later Russell, telling Russell that she doesn’t mix work and play. Teresa also doesn’t do coke with Leo but is later forced to by La Capitana, and nearly overdoses. Mendoza is good in numbers, observes more, talks less, can analyze a situation, and thinks fast.
Teresa Mendoza Skills
- Teresa was a money changer in Sinaloa for five years, so she can tell the difference between real and counterfeit money, which comes in handy when Lopez’s goon
- Lucian tries to pay them in fake cash.
- She speaks both English and Spanish fluently.
- Teresa is very persuasive and can usually talk her way out of situations, making bold deals that leave both parties satisfied.
- While she was in Europe, Teresa took flying lessons.
Teresa Mendoza Friends
Her best friend was Brenda Parra, whom she loves and is protective of. They became friends after meeting through Guero. When Brenda first saw Teresa, she told her husband Chino to come to look at her because she’s so pretty.
Tony, Brenda’s son, is her godson. She is shown to care for Tony and plays an intermediary between them when they argue after Tony disappears for a few hours. After the death of Brenda, Teresa decides that she is responsible for the boy and promises him that she’ll get them away from all of this.
Leo: Leo was Guero’s ex-girlfriend. She sent the Commander after them, which led to Teresa nearly overdosing on cocaine. Teresa later punched her for trying to kill her. They speak about Guero and Leo says that they both deserve better than him. One of the last things that Leo says before she dies is a plea for Guero to let Teresa go.
Javier Jimenez joins up with Teresa and James late in season three. He helps recover King George and decides to stay with Teresa after James leaves.
King George is fond of Teresa and they have a good partnership. Teresa goes to great lengths to recover him after he and Bilal are kidnapped by Cortez.
Russell is a client of Camila’s and an immigration lawyer. She attempts to get immigration papers from him so that she can get herself, Brenda, and Tony somewhere safe. He pays her extra cash every month in return for a guarantee that if there is ever a supply shortage, he will be the first to receive his shipment.
Father Ramon helps Teresa get her friends across the border by telling her where the tunnel they use is.
Teresa Mendoza Relationships
With Guero
She was in a relationship with Guero for a number of months and they lived a relatively wealthy lifestyle as Guero was making good money as a pilot for the Vargas cartel. In a flashback, she told Guero that she “would do anything to protect [him].” In a flashback, Teresa told Guero that she would do anything to protect him, giving him the Molverde necklace; she almost overdosed, almost drowned, ate a poisoned beetle, and was almost choked to death to protect him, but he’s still jealous of her relationship with James.
Guero was supposed to meet up with her and Pote when they were fleeing Mexico, but he didn’t make it in time and was captured by Cortez. He spent eight months being tortured for information about her, but he wouldn’t give her up. Guero dies with his head on her lap, though she doesn’t notice the moment that he dies.
With Camilla
Camila statesman and Teresa have a rather tense relationship. In season one, Camila protects Teresa as a result of she believes that Teresa has one thing that Epifaño desires. He seems to like Teresa after she proves her loyalty, first by swallowing the cocaine balloons that were prone to bursting. Then by not revealing that she is tied to Camila when she is attacked by DEA agents who are working for Camila.
Camila says that she would be disappointed if she had to kill Teresa if she tried to run because she’s starting to like her and that she doesn’t have to worry about Epifaño because she’ll take care of it. Teresa promised her loyalty to Camila, but not her life. Camila is set on killing Teresa because she blames her for the death of her husband.
With Aveline
Teresa only knew Aveline for a matter of minutes before Aveline died from bags of cocaine bursting in her stomach. She replaces Aveline as the mule for the drop-off at the airport that day and later does her other runs.
With Eddie Bucks
Eddie Brucks is her piano teacher in Season 4 and they are interested in each other. They sleep together.
With Pote Galvez
Her relationship with Pote Galvez is complicated. Pote was present when Gato was raping her and tried to tell Gato to stop. He owes Teresa his life for deciding not to shoot him and decides to stay by her side because she had done more for him in the short span that he knew her than Epifaño had ever done. Pote goes with her to Malta and they develop a closer relationship. When Pote’s hand is mauled, he tells her that he might not be able to shoot, but he can still take a bullet for her, and he will.
With James Valdez
James Valdez and Teresa have saved each other’s lives a number of times and they are often on missions for Camila. He advises her to be careful and only does what to do so that Camila will get sick of her. This making it easier for her to get out of this life. At first, he wanted to use Teresa as leverage with Epifaño. However, after spending more time with her, he begins to worry about her. To the extent of even offering to find her when she is kidnapped by Batman.
After Teresa goes back for him after their deal is busted by the DEA and they are separated. James appears to see her in a new light and is shown to be upset. When it is suggested that they sell Mendoza to Epifaño to pay off Camila’s debts. James loses Teresa’s trust after he shoots at her in the train depot, but she decides to let him back into her life a few months later.
Teresa and James kissed and slept together. After the death of Guero, Teresa pushed him and everyone else away in her grief. In celebration of taking Phoenix and eliminating La Comisión, James and Teresa slept together again. After Teresa and Pote suspect James is the mole, James is upset and tells Teresa that they should probably have some time apart. James officially leaves in the season 3 finale in order to protect Teresa, unbeknownst to her.
Teresa Mendoza Quotes
- “You understand driving sort of a pendejo’s not gonna facilitate, right?” -Teresa to James, in the car, while he’s driving erratically on the way to the airport
- “Nothing wrong with beauty when there are brains beneath it.” -Teresa to Camila
- I’ll fight until I die, but I’m not running anymore. -Teresa to Camila
- “Shit, you got more guts than you could hang on a fence.” -Sandra
- “I’ve seen plenty of ladies in my time United Nations agency area unit bother. And you… are trouble.” -James Valdez
- Brains, balls, and booty! If Rico Suave here didn’t already have dibs, I might just make you my queen. -King George to Teresa about James
- “Camila’s lucky to have you. You one bad bitch.” – Lil