Fernández is an award-winning actor and writer. Born and raised in East Los Angeles, she attended Garfield High School, East L.A. College and Cal State University, Los Angeles, While at Cal State, she found her niche in Chicano Theater. Ms. Fernandez has starred in film roles with Edward James Olmos, 'Paul Rodriguez' and Cheech Marin in _Million to Juan, A_ (1994)_ and in _Luminarias (1999)_ with Scott Bakula, Robert Beltran & Cheech Marin. She was nominated for a DESI AWARD and is the recipient of the prestigious Nosotros GOLDEN EAGLE AWARD for her critically acclaimed portrayal of Julie in American Me (1992) and the ALMA AWARD for Hollywood Confidential (1997) . She recently won the best actress award at the Ibero-American International Film Festival in Huelva, Spain for her performance in _Luminarias (1999)_ and her second GOLDEN EAGLE AWARD for Outstanding Writer for _Luminarias (1999)_. Her Professional acting career began in Luis Valdez' ZOOT SUIT as Della, the female lead in the original stage production at the Mark Taper Forum. After ZOOT SUIT, she toured nationally and internationally with El Teatro de la Esperanza. Among her many appearances she has performed at the New York Shakespeare Festival and the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. A founding member of the Latino Theater Company, Evelina acted in several productions at the Los Angeles Theatre Center, including LA VICTIMA, KING LEAR, ETTA JENKS, ROOSTERS, STONE WEDDING, AUGUST 29 which she starred in and wrote with members of LTC and the stage production of LUMINARIAS. Evelina's writing credits also include the plays PREMEDITATION and HOW ELSE AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW I'M STILL ALIVE, the later which has been produced throughout the U.S. and adapted into an award-winning film for the Universal Hispanic Film Project (CineFestival Special Jury Award). Her screen writing credits include LUMINARIAS, screenplay for Columbia Pictures, OUR LADY OF TARZANA, and a sitcom pilot MARCEY POR VIDA, for Disney. She co-wrote a television pilot TWO FUNNY GUYS for ABC and Olmos Productions, and is adapting her stage play DEMENTIA (commissioned by the Mark Taper Forum) to the screen. Published by Routledge Press in CONTEMPORARY PLAYS BY WOMEN OF COLOR for HOW ELSE AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW I'M STILL ALIVE, Evelina is also a poet and a motivational speaker, performing for and speaking to youth and adults in schools and community centers through California and the Southwest. She, and husband José Luis Valenzuela, Artistic Director of the Latino Theater Company and Professor of Drama at UCLA, have two children. They reside in East Los Angeles. Show less «