How does Roselyn Sanchez find the time to relax these days? The hard working actress is presently in Toronto shooting more episodes of "Kojak," the new television show that pulled in 4.5 million viewers when it premiered on USA Network in March.

Her solid work ethic has also landed her in six films this year alone where she works a range of actors from heavyweights Morgan Freeman and Kevin Spacey to newcomers Freddie Prinze, Jr. and Nick Cannon. Aside from the big and smalls screen, Sanchez is dabbling in endorsements as well. She is the national spokeswoman for Activate, a line of hair-care products for Latinas and is a new spokesperson for the soft drink Sierra Mist.

But Sanchez is used to multi-tasking. After all she was a student studying marketing at the University of Puerto Rico when she decided to follow her passion and become an entertainer. Her first gig was also full of various roles: a dancer, choreographer and co-host of "Que Vacílon," the islands' top-rated variety show. She simultaneously went onto compete (and win) two beauty titles, Miss Petite Puerto Rico and Miss Petite America.

With all this success, it's hard to believe that when Sanchez first moved to New York City in the early 1990s, she didn't know any English, let alone what a headshot or resume was. However, a year after arriving she got her first acting gig on the CBS soap opera "As The World Turns" as the show's first Latina character. A year later, she moved to Los Angeles to film "Fame LA", a short-lived show about struggling entertainers living in Venice Beach. "I see episodes nowadays and go 'Oh my God that's crazy!' Sanchez says laughingly of her then-strong accent.

Even after 10 years as a working actress, Sanchez still faces challenges because of her accent. On a recent film audition, Sanchez says the director expressed concern over her accent. The former beauty queen often finds herself between this rock and hard place: should she read for a role or simply tell the director off? Even though she acknowledges she is "blessed...to have worked nonstop" she can't help but wonder..."I don't know if (my accent) is the thing that is pulling me back a little bit," Sanchez shares.

But the challenges haven't stopped her. The patriotic beauty released her first album, Borinqueña, last year. Sanchez is so loyal to her native home she went against industry advice when naming her CD, which translates into 'Puerto Rican woman' and is taken from the islands' indigenous name, Borinquen.

A Latina to the core, Sanchez acknowledges and embraces the opportunity to help other Latinos. She is particularly interested in Puerto Rico's thriving cinematic scene. "I want to do movies in Puerto Rico so that I can show the world that it is a beautiful place and that we can do quality work," she says.

She was convinced it was time to help the cause when, as a favor to a family friend, Sanchez read for the independent film Cayo, by Pedro Muñiz, whose movie Lo que le pasó a Santiago, is the only Puerto Rican film to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Picture. It wasn't long before Sanchez was back home shooting her first Spanish-language film.

Sanchez is interested in following in the footsteps of another head-turning Latina, Salma Hayek. "I can't wait to produce!" she exclaims. "I know that if I keep waiting for Hollywood to give me the role that I think I deserve, I will never get it. Salma did it. It took her seven years to do Frida and it was the most amazing thing for her." Sanchez has already accomplished so much by boldy asserting her whole self -accent and all- in the face of adversity.

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