Biography
Yvónne López Arenal was born in Havana, Cuba. From 1978 to 1992, she played leading roles in over 20 Cuban and classical plays.
After moving to the United States in 1993, she starred in the leading role of "It Happened in Havana" by Raúl de Cárdenas at Teatro Havana Fama in Los Angeles, California. In 1994, she directed the Cuban masterpiece "Requiem por Yarini" by Carlos Felipe at the Los Angeles Theatre Center, as well as the monologue "De Pelicula" by Carlos Felipe at La Cofradia de Torrance (L.A). In 1998, she both produced and starred in "El Super" by Ivan Acosta.
In 1999, she directed an experimental staging of "Tula the Pilgrim" by Raúl de Cárdenas. In 2002, she directed, produced, wrote, and played the lead in "Seagulls from Havana" at the Los Angeles Theatre Center. In 2004, at Teatro Avante in Miami, Florida, she portrayed Alicia in "El Hombre Inmaculado" by Ramon Ferreira.
Yvónne has held leading roles in feature films such as "Letters from the Park," produced by T.V. Española, directed by Tomás Gutiérrez Alea and written by Gabriel García Márquez; "Crin de Venus," directed by Diego Arché; and "La Victoria," directed by Tomas Piard. In 1998, in Los Angeles, she starred in "The Emerald Cut," directed by Arturo Barquet. In July 2008, she completed a role in a film by Sergio Giral.
She has also led four Cuban TV mini-series: "De tu sueño mi sueño," "Capitan Rolando," "Dia y Noche," and "Cosas de Muchachos." Additionally, she played the lead in Spain's mini-series "Amores Dificiles" and appeared as a guest star in Telemundo's mini-series "Placas."
Yvónne graduated from the Instituto Superior de Arte in Havana, Cuba, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater Arts. She received the National Prize for Best Actress from the Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Cultura in Cuba in 1980, 1982, and 1984. In 1989, she was awarded a special mention in the José Martí Contest. She has also received the Vision Foundation Award for Creative Contribution to Los Angeles as an actress and director, as well as the Cuban American Cultural Festival Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Arts.
Since 1996, she has served as Programming Director and Secretary of the Cuban American Cultural Institute, a non-profit organization in Los Angeles dedicated to promoting Latin American cultural values. She is also the Director of The Avellaneda's Theater Group.
In October 2012, she played the lead role of Magda in the play "Nevada" by Abel González Melo (winner of the Royal Court workshop in London), directed by Alberto Sarraín. The production was by Akuara Teatro, La Má Teodora, and the Digital Archive of Theater at the University of Miami.
