Biography
Bernadette Perez is a Native American-Mexican, LGBT actress, producer, director, and storyteller based in Los Angeles, originally from East Chicago. She began her acting career on stage at twelve. Her first professional role was Edna Arkins in Lynda Barry's "The Good Times Are Killing Me," a coming-of-age story set during racial integration. While continuing her stage work, she won the Original Oratory Optimist Speech Contest, following in the footsteps of Julia Roberts. This achievement motivated her to pursue acting further. During this time, she participated in events like pARTners Performing For Life, which raised awareness and funds for HIV/AIDS research. The chance to use her craft to make a difference inspired her deeply. She later moved to New York, landing a small role in her first film, and shortly after secured the lead in a television pilot filmed in Las Vegas. After completing the pilot, she relocated to Los Angeles to study at an arts conservatory. Bernadette works in film and television and actively advocates for LGBT equality, supports at-risk youth through the Writegirl organization, and promotes diversity and inclusion in the film industry. Her film credits include Meet the Fockers, War of The Worlds, and numerous independent projects for SyFy Channel, Amazon, and Netflix. On television, she appears as Kelly in the OutTV Network series Boystown and in the upcoming series Blackwater, featuring an all-Native cast. Bernadette has studied improv with Stephen Tobolowsky, sitcom technique with Stan Zimmerman, Meisner technique with Janet Alhanti, Stella Adler technique with Marjorie Ballentine, and awareness technique with Julie Arriola.
