Biografia
Yvonne Maria Schaefer is a German-American actress and producer based in Frankfurt, Germany, and New York City.
She began her career early as an actress and model, working with agencies across Europe, Asia, and South Africa for designers and sports brands.
In the 1990s, Yvonne studied at Johann Wolfgang Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Due to her involvement in extreme sports and global travels, Maxim Lifestyle Magazine named her "Action Girl." She appeared in the annual Maxim Calendar as one of the Most Beautiful Women of the Year alongside Pamela Anderson, Elisha Cuthbert, and Carmen Electra. Throughout the 1990s, Yvonne pursued acting in international films, TV series, and stage productions. She also provided background vocals for bands including Joe Cocker and Vanessa-Mae. She lived part-time in various Asian countries, as well as Mallorca and Malaga, Spain, working in Spanish film productions such as the thriller Trece. In 2008, she moved to New York City to continue her acting and producing career. That same year, she founded YMC Films Productions in New York, followed by YMC Entertainment in Frankfurt am Main in 2012. During her travels, Yvonne deeply studied physics theories connecting the spiritual and material worlds and attended international seminars on metaphysics, epigenetics, and healing sciences.
Her film credits include Forget Me Not (2009) opposite Peter Greene, The Bounty Hunter (2010), The Mask (1994), and appearances in Pulp Fiction (1994). In The Brooklyn Banker (2016), she worked alongside David Proval (Smokin' Aces, 2006; Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous, 2005) in a film directed by Federico Castelluccio. Other credits include Made (2001), The Sopranos (1999), The Pink Panther 2 (2009) with Paul Sorvino, GoodFellas (1990), and Gangster Squad (2013) with Troy Garity. She portrayed an Arabic mother and wife of a strict diplomat in the comedy TV pilot Man of the House, directed by Christopher Backus, featuring Mira Sorvino and Fergie. In 2012, she starred as the female lead in the festival film Checkmate and appeared in Keep Your Enemies Closer (2013) alongside Manny Perez (La soga, 2009; The Ministers, 2009) and William Sadler (The Green Mile, 1999; The Shawshank Redemption, 1994). This film premiered in 2013 at the Albuquerque Film and Media Experience, supported by Robert Redford. She also appeared in APT.5K with connections to Carlito's Way (1993) and Smoke (1995). Yvonne co-produced the thriller The Child (2012), based on Sebastian Fitzek's bestselling novel, starring Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight, 2008), Sunny Mabrey, and Ben Becker. In The Child, she played Sophie Stern, the ex-wife of Eric Roberts' character. She starred in the Texas film production Voodoo (2014) and Mi Hijo (2015), directed by John Hoyt. Yvonne co-produced a segment of Berlin, I Love You (2019), featuring Hayden Panettiere.
In 2008, Yvonne met actor and painter Federico Castelluccio. The couple resides in New York City. On a trip to Frankfurt, Germany, Federico discovered and purchased a painting by 17th-century Italian Baroque artist Guercino at auction. This discovery was documented in a six-part German documentary series titled This Can Only Be a Real Guercino, featuring both Federico Castelluccio and Yvonne.
Yvonne also serves as an advisor for international film productions and consults for companies and start-ups in various industries.
She is also known as Yvonne Schäfer.
