Fernández is a highly acclaimed and accomplished actor, writer, and poet. Born and raised in East Los Angeles, she developed a strong passion for the arts from an early age. She attended Garfield High School, East L.A. College, and Cal State University, Los Angeles, where she discovered her niche in Chicano Theater.
Fernández's impressive filmography includes starring roles alongside renowned actors such as Edward James Olmos, Paul Rodriguez, and Cheech Marin. She has received numerous awards and nominations for her performances, including the Desi Award, the Golden Eagle Award, and the Alma Award. Her standout roles include Julie in American Me (1992) and her performance in Luminarias (1999),for which she won the Best Actress award at the Ibero-American International Film Festival in Huelva, Spain.
In addition to her work in film, Fernández has had a successful stage career, starting with her debut in Luis Valdez's Zoot Suit as Della, the female lead. She has toured nationally and internationally with El Teatro de la Esperanza and has performed at esteemed institutions such as the New York Shakespeare Festival and the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Fernández is also a founding member of the Latino Theater Company (LTC),with which she has acted in numerous productions, including La Victima, King Lear, Etta Jenks, Roosters, Stone Wedding, August 29, and the stage production of Luminarias.
As a writer, Fernández has made significant contributions to the world of theater and film. Her play Premeditation has been produced throughout the United States, and her screenplay for Luminarias (1999) earned her a Golden Eagle Award for Outstanding Writer. She is currently adapting her stage play Dementia, commissioned by the Mark Taper Forum, for the big screen. Fernández's writing credits also include the play How Else Am I Supposed To Know I'm Still Alive, which has been adapted into an award-winning film for the Universal Hispanic Film Project.
Fernández is not only a talented artist but also a motivational speaker and poet. She has performed and spoken at schools and community centers throughout California and the Southwest, inspiring and empowering young people and communities. She is married to José Luis Valenzuela, Artistic Director of the Latino Theater Company and Professor of Drama at UCLA, and they have two children. The family resides in East Los Angeles, where Fernández continues to pursue her passion for the arts and make a lasting impact on the world.
