Biografía
Iva was born in Carson City, Nevada, and raised in Clovis, California. She has four older brothers, all Martial Arts instructors, as well as three half-brothers and two half-sisters. Iva has one daughter. At 24, she worked as an EMT on ambulances and in emergency rooms in Los Angeles and Fresno, California. With over 28 years of professional acting experience, Iva was accepted into the prestigious Sal Dano Actor's Workshop, led by the late legendary acting coach Sal Dano. She also trained with the Groundlings and studied various acting techniques for more than 14 years. Her credits include appearances in over 25 independent feature films and guest and recurring roles on shows such as "Blood Relatives," NBC's "Las Vegas" alongside James Caan, FOX's sci-fi series "Space: Above and Beyond," and "Tim and Eric's Awesome Show, Great Job."
As a writer, Iva has created a one-hour dramatic television series titled "Under Surveillance," inspired by her eight-year experience with a stalker. Her stalking case was featured on Discovery's show "Stalker," InTouch magazine, and other media outlets. Alongside her writing partners Matthew Singer and David Garin George, she co-wrote an action-adventure comedy called "All the Best Field Trips," which was slated for pre-production in 2016. Iva is also developing a documentary about the Khmelnitsky massacre that took place between 1648 and 1656, during which tens of thousands of Jews were killed in Ukraine. This tragic event is regarded as one of the most devastating in Jewish history prior to the Holocaust.
Iva is deeply involved in animal rescue and various charitable organizations. In 2008, she was among the top fundraisers for the City of Hope's Underwear Affair, an event supporting cancer research focused on cancers below the waist. She serves on the Board of Directors for "Jodi's Voice," an anti-stalking organization, and collaborates with victims' rights advocates to promote legislative changes that enhance protections for victims of violent crimes and improve the victims' notification system. Their efforts extend beyond California to the entire United States. Additionally, Iva is on the Board of Directors for the Los Angeles Women's International Film Festival, overseeing all documentary film selections. She is also the co-founder of Squrrul Gurl Productions.
