Margarita Cordova played Rosa Andrade, the Capwell maid, on Santa Barbara from 1984 to 1987, and from 1991 to 1993. She's the only cast member to appear in the first and the last episode of the show.

Margarita was born on February 26, 1939 in Mexico City and she grew up studying classical and flamenco dancing under Carmen Amaya. She was discovered by Marlon Brando while she was dancing in a TV commercial, and she then signed for the movie One-Eyed Jacks with Brando. She has also appeared in the TV shows Marcus Welby, M.D., Mission Impossible and Police Story.

When Margarita joined Santa Barbara, she was thrilled to break the Mexican-American stereotypes and asserted that one door opening for her would open many other doors for Spanish actors. Her character was eventually paired with Rafael Castillo (played by actor Henry Darrow). Cordova and Darrow had worked together on numerous projects over the years, even though they hadn't seen each other since the '70s.

After SB was canceled, Margarita joined a new daytime drama with the same initials, Sunset Beach. Coincidentally, this show was taped at the same studio Santa Barbara had been. On Sunset Beach, Margarita played fortune teller Carmen Torres from 1997 to 1999.