You probably know the face. It’s that sharp, authoritative look that’s graced our TV screens for over two decades. Whether she’s taking down a cartel in CSI: Miami or running the show at the New York field office in FBI, Alana de la Garza has this weirdly specific ability to make you believe she’s actually the smartest person in the room. But there's a lot of confusion out there lately. Honestly, if you search for "de la Garza actress" right now, you’re just as likely to find news about Madison De La Garza—Demi Lovato’s sister—as you are about Alana.
It's a bit of a mess.
But Alana is currently at a massive crossroads in her career. As we move into 2026, the FBI fandom is basically in a state of mild panic. If you caught the end of Season 7, you know why. Isobel Castille, her character, literally collapsed. No pulse. It was the kind of cliffhanger that makes you want to throw your remote at the wall.
The Isobel Castille Mystery and the 2026 Shift
People keep asking: Is she leaving?
Here’s the deal. Season 8 of FBI kicked off with some heavy answers. After that scary health crisis where she was slurring her words and hitting the floor, Isobel didn’t just survive; she’s looking at a massive promotion. The buzz right now is all about her transition to the Assistant Director in Charge (ADIC) role. It’s a huge move for the character, but for fans of Alana de la Garza, it feels a bit bittersweet. A promotion often means less screen time, or worse, a "graceful exit" from the daily grind of the show.
She’s been the SAC (Special Agent in Charge) since Season 2. That’s a long time to stay in one spot. In the recent episode "Fadeaway," we saw her wrestling with the idea of who replaces her. She’s pushing for Jubal, played by Jeremy Sisto, but it’s a struggle.
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It’s interesting to see how she plays this transition. She’s always been the "tough but compassionate" type, a vibe she perfected way back on Law & Order.
Why We Still Can’t Forget Connie Rubirosa
Before she was bossing people around at the Bureau, she was Connie Rubirosa.
If you grew up watching the original Law & Order, she was the backbone of those final seasons. She wasn't just another ADA. She had this chemistry with Sam Waterston’s Jack McCoy that felt real. She stayed with that franchise through the bitter end in 2011 and even hopped over to the short-lived Law & Order: LA.
Most actors get stuck in the "procedural loop" and disappear. Alana didn’t.
She did Forever—that show about the immortal medical examiner that everyone is still mad got canceled after one season. She did Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders. She even did a stint on CSI: Miami as Marisol Delko-Caine. Basically, if there is a badge or a legal briefcase involved, Alana has probably carried it.
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The "Other" De La Garza (And Why it Matters)
We have to talk about the name confusion. It’s a thing.
Madison De La Garza is a totally different story. She was the kid, Juanita Solis, on Desperate Housewives. She’s Demi Lovato’s half-sister. And she’s had a really rough road lately. In late 2024, Madison shared the heartbreaking news that she lost her daughter, Xiomara, after an emergency C-section. It was devastating.
By 2026, Madison has pivoted. She’s not just "the actress from that one show" anymore. She’s directing horror now. Her movie Sara Sarita is expected to drop in the second half of this year. It’s a Mexican folklore-inspired flick that apparently features some of Michael Madsen’s final work.
So, when people talk about the "de la Garza actress," they’re usually either looking for Alana’s latest FBI career move or checking in on Madison’s journey through grief and her new directing career. Two very different paths, but both are making headlines right now.
What's Next for Alana?
Alana lives between coasts with her husband, Michael Roberts, and their kids. She’s famously low-key. You won't find her in the tabloids much.
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But with FBI already renewed through Season 9 (which takes us into 2027), she isn't going anywhere fast. The real question is how much we’ll see of her if Isobel moves upstairs to the ADIC office. Usually, in the Dick Wolf universe, that means fewer scenes in the "War Room" and more scenes in wood-paneled offices.
Whether she stays or eventually moves on to a new project, Alana de la Garza has proven she’s one of the most reliable leads in TV. She doesn't need to be flashy. She just shows up and does the work.
What you should do next:
If you’re a fan, keep a close eye on the mid-season episodes of FBI Season 8. The casting calls for "new leadership roles" are the biggest tell-tale sign that Isobel’s promotion is permanent. Also, if you’ve never seen her in Forever, go find it on streaming. It’s arguably her best performance outside of the badge-and-gun genre.
Fact Check & Sources
- FBI Season 8 and 9 renewal status via CBS/Paramount Press Express.
- Madison De La Garza directorial news via Cinema Express (2025/2026 production).
- Career history and roles verified via SAG-AFTRA records and IMDb.