Evelina Fernandez

Evelina Fernández is an actress, producer, and writer working in film, television, and theater. The native Angelino's most significant roles have been collaborations with industry stars from the Chicano community. She made her TV debut on a 1987 episode of the cop drama "Hill Street Blues," and then, the following year, began an eight-episode run as Juanita Herrera over the first two seasons of "Roseanne," the hit sitcom with a decidedly working class character base. Over the course of the '90s, Fernández alternately took on bit player parts in Hollywood and meatier roles in smaller, Chicano-led productions. The former included a role as "Latin Woman" in the sci-fi thriller "Flatliners," an "Airline Employee" in "Postcards from the Edge" (starring Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine), and brief guest stints on the soap "Knots Landing" and the show-biz comedy "The Larry Sanders Show" on television. In 1994, she had a more substantial supporting role in the Paul Rodriguez-starring comedy "A Million to Juan," a comedic take on the Mexican immigrant story, and in 1997, she had another key part in the Edward James Olmos-starring television crime drama, "Hollywood Confidential," which earned her an ALMA Award for Outstanding Actress in a Mini-Series. In 2000, Fernández finally claimed a starring role--albeit in a film for which she penned the screenplay and served as executive producer--as Andrea in the romantic comedy "Luminarias," which co-starred Scott Bakula and Cheech Marin. The film was directed by her husband, José Luis Valenzuela.