Gina Cortes

Gina Cortes is a recurring villainess from CBS' Elementary.

She was played by Monique Gabriela Curnen.

Gina Cortes is a detective for the NYPD, who served as the nemesis for Joan Watson. She first appeared in Season Four's "All My Exes Live in Essex," after Joan was warned by one of her old friends that Cortes had been stalking and investigating her. When Joan finally confronted her pursuer, Cortes voiced her dislike of consultants, such as Joan and Sherlock, and stated in her own words that Joan doesn't belong with real cops. The episode ended with Joan agreeing to box against Cortes in an attempt to prove that she's equal to her.

Cortes returned later in the season in "Down Where the Dead Delight," asking for Joan's help in finding an elusive suspect named Hector Mendoza. Joan is warned by Sherlock to be wary of Cortes' intentions, and his warnings turned out to have some merit, as Joan revealed that Hector Mendoza was savagely beaten by Cortes. The witness to the beating stated that a woman with dark hair committed the assault, leading Joan to suspect that Cortes was trying to frame for the crime. Cortes denied the frame-up attempt, but did state that she truthfully didn't know where Mendoza was, until she found him on her own and assaulted him. Cortes explained that Mendoza had beaten and pistol-whipped a young girl, leaving her brain-damaged. He was never brought to justice, so Cortes committed the beating; claiming she was giving him what he deserve.

At that moment, the evil Cortes revealed her true plan for not only Joan, but for Sherlock as well. Noting that Sherlock has done similar things in the past, Cortes stated that she wanted his and Joan's help in her future quests; they would find the suspects and Cortes would dish out her own brand of "justice." Joan confronted Cortes one more time in the end of the episode, claiming that Cortes did what she did not for justice, but for her own pride. She warned Cortes that if she ever committed another of her vigilante acts, or attempted to recruit herself and Sherlock again, she would find evidence of Cortes' crimes and put her away. Cortes responded by claiming that Joan and Sherlock are basically just like she is, and she may be the one who puts Joan away.