Julia Migenes, born on March 13, 1949, in New York City, is an acclaimed American soprano and actress known for her work in both opera and musical theatre. Raised in a culturally diverse family with Greek, Irish, and Puerto Rican roots, Migenes began her stage career at a young age, debuting as Dolore in Puccini's "Madama Butterfly" at the Metropolitan Opera. She attended the High School of Music & Art in New York City and was selected as a soloist by Leonard Bernstein for his Young People’s Concerts.

Migenes' Broadway career took off when she replaced Anna Maria Alberghetti in "Carnival!" and played Maria in the City Center revival of "West Side Story." She originated the role of Hodel in the original Broadway cast of "Fiddler on the Roof." Her operatic success continued in Europe, where she studied under Gisela Ultmann and performed at the Volksoper Wien in roles such as Despina and Susanna.

Returning to the United States, she performed at the San Francisco Opera and made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Jenny in "Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny." Her portrayal of Lulu at the Met in 1985 was particularly acclaimed. Migenes also gained fame for her role in the 1984 film adaptation of "Carmen," alongside Plácido Domingo, which became a classic.

Throughout her career, Migenes has recorded over twenty albums, covering a range of genres from musicals to opera. Her television and film work includes appearances in "The Twilight Zone" and a one-woman opera, "La voix humaine," directed by her then-husband Peter Medak. Julia Migenes remains a versatile and celebrated performer in both the operatic and theatrical worlds.