April Lee Hernández
| April Lee Hernandez | |
|---|---|
| Born |
January 31, 1980 The Bronx, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2003–present |
April Lee Hernandez (born January 31, 1980)[1] is an American film and television actress. She has also been credited as April L. Hernandez and April Hernandez Castillo. She is a born-again Christian.
Personal life
Hernandez grew up near the Grand Concourse in The Bronx. She is of Puerto Rican descent and has described herself as a "strong Latina".[1] Hernandez studied nutrition in Hunter College, but dropped out to pursue a comedy career after being inspired by John Leguizamo's off-Broadway production Mambo Mouth.[1] Hernandez is married to Jose Castillo. The couple welcomed a daughter, Summer Rose, on September 30, 2012.[2]
Acting career
Television
Aside from performing stand-up comedy, she has also appeared in several commercials, as well as on the television series ER, Law & Order, and 30 Rock. In June 2010 she was cast for the American cult series Dexter.[3] [4] She appeared in the television series Person of Interest episode "Legacy", which aired on January 18, 2012, in which she played an attorney who had turned her life around after a checkered childhood.
Movie
She is known for her role in the 2007 drama Freedom Writers, in which she played Eva, based on real-life high school student Maria Reyes.[5] Hernandez has said that she was "determined" to be cast in Freedom Writers.[1] She admires Jennifer Lopez, and has stated that Lopez "opened the door for me so that I don't have to take certain roles" as a Hispanic-American actress.[1]
Filmography
Film
- Rap War One (2004)
- Freedom Writers (2007)
- The Big Wes (2009)
- The History of Future Folk (2012)
- Officer Down (2013)
Television
- Law & Order (2004)
- Blind Justice (2005)
- Johnny Zero (2005)
- ER (2005-2006)
- 30 Rock (2007)
- The View (2007)
- Nurse Jackie (2009)
- Dexter (2010)
- Person of Interest (2012)
- Black Box (2014)
- Law and Order: Special Victims Unit (2015)
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Bastidas, Grace (2007-01-10). "April Rules: Bronx-Born Beauty the New J. Lo?". New York Post. Retrieved 2007-01-10.
- ↑ "April Hernandez-Castillo Welcomes Daughter Summer Rose". People. 2012-10-03. Retrieved 2012-10-03.
- ↑ Miska, Brad (2010-06-16). "More New Blood for Dexter: ER's April Lee Hernandez Joins". Dread Central. Retrieved 2010-06-16.
- ↑ Barton, Steve (2010-06-16). "TV: 'Dexter' Gains One More Regular for Fifth Season". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved 2010-06-16.
- ↑ Vincent, Mal (2007-01-05). "Will Freedom Writers earn Swank another Oscar?". Hampton Roads. Retrieved 2007-01-06.