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IMDbPro

April Hernandez Castillo

  • Actress
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
April Hernandez Castillo
Trailer 1
Play trailer2:07
Brownsville Bred (2025)
4 Videos
18 Photos
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.
BornJanuary 31, 1980
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornJanuary 31, 1980
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination total

    Photos18

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    + 13
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    Known for

    Hilary Swank in Freedom Writers (2007)
    Freedom Writers
    7.6
    • Eva Benitez(as April Lee Hernandez)
    • 2007
    Michael C. Hall in Dexter (2006)
    Dexter
    8.6
    TV Series
    • Off. Cira Manzon
    Jim Caviezel and Michael Emerson in Person of Interest (2011)
    Person of Interest
    8.5
    TV Series
    • Andrea Gutierrez(as April Hernandez-Castillo)
    Anthony Edwards, Julianna Margulies, Ming-Na Wen, Noah Wyle, Laura Innes, Alex Kingston, Eriq La Salle, Kellie Martin, Paul McCrane, Michael Michele, Erik Palladino, Maura Tierney, and Goran Visnjic in ER (1994)
    ER
    7.9
    TV Series
    • Nurse Inez(as April Lee Hernandez)

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Actress



    • Brownsville Bred (2025)
      Brownsville Bred
      6.2
      • Ms. Clarke
      • 2025
    • Midnight Hustle (2023)
      Midnight Hustle
      5.1
      • Salina
      • 2023
    • Evan Mock, Emily Alyn Lind, Thomas Doherty, Jordan Alexander, and Whitney Peak in Gossip Girl (2021)
      Gossip Girl
      5.4
      TV Series
      • Carmen Gruben (as April Hernandez-Castillo)
      • 2021
    • Michael Sheen and Tom Payne in Prodigal Son (2019)
      Prodigal Son
      7.7
      TV Series
      • Marshal Emily Ruiz
      • 2021
    • Ryan Eggold in New Amsterdam (2018)
      New Amsterdam
      7.9
      TV Series
      • Inmate Dominique
      • 2019–2020
    • David Schwimmer and Jim Sturgess in Feed the Beast (2016)
      Feed the Beast
      6.7
      TV Mini Series
      • Blanca (as April Hernandez-Castillo)
      • 2016
    • Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu in Elementary (2012)
      Elementary
      7.9
      TV Series
      • Roxanne Ortiz (as April Hernandez-Castillo)
      • 2016
    • The Stockroom (2015)
      The Stockroom
      7.0
      • Tina (as April L. Hernandez)
      • 2015
    • Kevin Bacon and James Purefoy in The Following (2013)
      The Following
      7.4
      TV Series
      • Louise (as April Hernandez-Castillo)
      • 2015
    • Mariska Hargitay in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)
      Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
      8.1
      TV Series
      • Sonya Amaro (as April Hernandez-Castillo)
      • 2015
    • Kelly Reilly in Black Box (2014)
      Black Box
      6.6
      TV Series
      • Elmira Villetti (as April L. Hernandez)
      • 2014
    • Stephen Dorff in Officer Down (2013)
      Officer Down
      5.5
      • Coraline (as April L. Hernandez)
      • 2013
    • The History of Future Folk (2012)
      The History of Future Folk
      7.1
      • Carmen (as April L. Hernandez)
      • 2012
    • Jim Caviezel and Michael Emerson in Person of Interest (2011)
      Person of Interest
      8.5
      TV Series
      • Andrea Gutierrez (as April Hernandez-Castillo)
      • 2012
    • Michael C. Hall in Dexter (2006)
      Dexter
      8.6
      TV Series
      • Off. Cira Manzon
      • 2010

    Videos4

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:27
    Official Trailer
    The History of Future Folk
    Trailer 1:55
    The History of Future Folk
    The History of Future Folk
    Trailer 1:55
    The History of Future Folk
    Brownsville Bred
    Trailer 2:07
    Brownsville Bred
    The History of Future Folk
    Trailer 1:56
    The History of Future Folk

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Alternative names
      • April L. Hernandez
    • Height
      • 4′ 11″ (1.50 m)
    • Born
      • January 31, 1980
      • Bronx, New York, USA
    • Spouse
      • Jose CastilloMay 12, 2007 - present (2 children)
    • Other works
      TV commercial: Appeared (w/Yao Ming) in the "Yo/Yao" commercial for VISA check card.
    • Publicity listings
      • 1 Interview
      • 1 Article

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Started as a stand-up comic and moved on to pursue acting.
    • Nickname
      • April Hernandez-Castillo

    FAQ

    Powered by Alexa
    • How old is April Hernandez Castillo?
      45 years old
    • When was April Hernandez Castillo born?
      January 31, 1980
    • Where was April Hernandez Castillo born?
      Bronx, New York, USA
    • What is April Hernandez Castillo's birth name?
      April Lee Hernandez
    • How tall is April Hernandez Castillo?
      4 feet 11 inches, or 1.50 meters

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