April Hernandez Castillo

One of the most respected Latina actresses in Hollywood, April Hernandez-Castillo's personal life story is one of victory. Her feature film debut as Eva Benitez in the Image Award-nominated MTV film, Freedom Writers (2007), alongside Academy Award-winner Hilary Swank, put her in the ranks of some of the biggest names in the industry. An actress with a blend of unlimited expression and humor, the Bronx (NY) native made her stage debut at the famous New York Comedy Club in New York City as a stand-up comedienne. As an actress, April expanded her stage experience to television. She got her first acting break as the Yo/Yoa Girl alongside NBA All-Star Houston Rockets center Yao Ming in the 2004 Super Bowl Visa Check Card national commercial. Next came major television roles that would include NBC's Emmy-award winning series ER (1994), Law & Order (1990) and 30 Rock (2006). Keeping an eye on the big screen, in 2007 she tried out for the role of a lifetime and got it--in "Freedom Writers". She would co-star alongside one of Hollywood's biggest stars, Hilary Swank. It was in this role that April would catch the attention of The View (1997) producers, who invited her to co-host the show. Reaching critical heights, her portrayal of Eva Benitez earned her recognition and critical acclaim confirming her status as one of the more talented up-and-coming actresses. Displaying the talent and drive to parlay success into a career as a respected actress, April garnered roles in the pilot Blue Blood (2008) on Fox and Showtime's Nurse Jackie (2009), CBS' Person of Interest (2011) and received a SAG Award nomination for her role as Officer Cira Manson in Showtime's award-winning drama Dexter (2006), a role in John Mitchell's sci-fi comedy The History of Future Folk (2012), guest-starred as Danny Pino's sister on NBC's drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) and appeared in two episodes of FOX's hit show The Following (2013). April has demonstrated her versatility as an actress. However, her latest role is not in front of the camera but as a motivational and inspirational speaker.