Natalia Cordova-Buckley

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Natalia Cordova-Buckley
Cordova-Buckley in March 2019
Born (1982-11-25) November 25, 1982 (age 41)
Mexico City, Mexico
EducationCalifornia Institute of the Arts
OccupationActress
Years active2008–present
Spouse
Brian Buckley
(m. 2011)
RelativesPancho Córdova (grandfather)

Natalia Cordova-Buckley (born November 25, 1982) is a Mexican-American actress. She is best known for starring as

Elena "Yo-Yo" Rodriguez / Slingshot in the ABC superhero drama series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013–2020).[1]

Early life

Cordova-Buckley was born in Mexico City and raised in Cancún.[2] Her grandfather was Pancho Córdova, an actor in Mexican and American cinema, whom she never met.[3]

Cordova-Buckley was classically trained as a ballet dancer, training under Fernando Alonso in the dance company Centro de Arte Siglo XXI.[2] Finding the occupation too restricting, she decided to become an actress instead. She had reconsidered acting after trying to avoid it due to being teased about her voice in her youth. She stated: "the kids wouldn’t chase me around when we played tag because they would say that I screamed like a Godzilla. It wasn’t just my voice, but [also] the fact that I have a pretty strong personality and was always very outspoken and opinionated."[4]

At the age of 17, she moved to the U.S. after getting accepted to the drama department of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, a high school program for seniors in fine arts. After graduating, she attended the theatre conservatory at the California Institute of the Arts.[2]

Career

Cordova-Buckley made her acting debut in Mexican comedy-drama series Los simuladores (2008–2009). This was followed by supporting roles in numerous Spanish-language films, such as Sucedió en un día (2010) and Lluvia de Luna (2011). She earned her first major leading role in the drama film Ventanas al mar (2012), opposite veteran actors Charo López and Fernando Guillén.

Cordova-Buckley earned her first American acting role in the sports drama film

Elena "Yo-Yo" Rodriguez in the ABC superhero drama series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013–2020), gaining further recognition in the process.[3] During the series' fourth season, she headlined a 6-episode miniseries, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Slingshot, which debuted online on December 13, 2016.[5] The series was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Short Form Comedy or Drama Series.[6]

In 2017, she guest starred as attorney Julia Ramos in the

Disney-Pixar animated musical film Coco, which went on to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.[4][8]

In 2018, Cordova-Buckley portrayed Det. Gavras in the crime thriller film Destroyer, opposite Nicole Kidman.

Personal life

Cordova-Buckley has been married to musician and actor Brian Buckley since 2011. Together, the couple reside in Los Angeles with their two dogs, Lorca and Bukowski.[2]

One of her inspirations and role models was artist Frida Kahlo, whom she portrayed in Coco.[4]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2010 Sucedió en un día Natalia
2011 Lluvia de Luna Martha
2011 Ella y el candidato Andrea
2012 Ventanas al mar Ana
2014 Yerbamala Bárbara
2015 McFarland, USA Señora Valles
2015 Vámonos Del Short film
2016 Icebox Gabriela Fernandez Short film
2017 Welcome Back Carmen Short film
2017 Coco Frida Kahlo (voice)
2018 Destroyer Det. Gavras
2023 The Portrait Sofia

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2008–2009 Los simuladores Natalia 6 episodes
2008 Terminales Rita 2 episodes
2010 Los minondo Isabel Main role; 10 episodes
2011 Bienes raíces Olga 4 episodes
2016–2020 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Elena "Yo-Yo" Rodriguez
Main role; 61 episodes
2016
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Academy
Herself Episode: "
Commencement
"
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Slingshot
Elena "Yo-Yo" Rodriguez
Lead role; 6 episodes
2017 Bates Motel Julia Ramos 2 episodes
2021 Mayans M.C. Laura 4 episodes
2021 Coyote Paloma Zamora 3 episodes
2022 Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty Lucía Season 1
2022-2023 The Mosquito Coast Isela Season 2, 10 episodes

References

  1. ^ Lovett, Jamie (February 16, 2016). "EXCLUSIVE: Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Casts Natalia Cordova-Buckley As Slingshot". ComicBook.com.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Natalia Cordova-Buckley". ABC. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Cavassuto, Maria (April 14, 2016). "International Star You Should Know: 'Agents of SHIELD's' Natalia Cordova-Buckley". Variety.
  4. ^ a b c Tracy, Brianne (November 20, 2017). "Five Things to Know About Coco Star and Outspoken Mexican Actress Natalia Cordova-Buckley". People. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  5. ^ Schick, Michal (December 28, 2016). "'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.': Natalia Cordova-Buckley talks 'Slingshot' and Yo-Yo's next adventure". Hypable. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  6. ^ "Nominees/Winners | Television Academy". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  7. ^ Birnbaum, Debra (March 21, 2017). "'Agents of Shield' Star Natalia Cordova-Buckley Joins 'Bates Motel' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on July 31, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  8. ^ "The 90th Academy Awards (2018) Nominees and Winners". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). Archived from the original on March 10, 2018. Retrieved August 11, 2020.

External links