In 1984, Santiago made her big screen debut appearing in the dance drama film Beat Street,[3] and later that year began starring in the NBC crime drama series Miami Vice playing the role of Detective Gina Calabrese opposite Don Johnson.[4] The series ran for five seasons to 1989. In 1990s, Santiago appeared in a number of made for television movies, including The Cosby Mysteries (1994) and To Sir, with Love II (1996) opposite Sidney Poitier.[5]