Jennifer Paredes is an American actress who appeared as Hero in Denver Center for the Performing Arts' production of Much Ado About Nothing, Helena in Stages Repertory Theatre's The River Bride, and Matilde in Portland Stage's The Clean House. Paredes won a Craig Noel Award for Actor of the Year for her performances in Diversionary Theatre's production of Ballast and as Viola in Old Globe's tour of Twelfth Night.
Early life
Paredes grew up in Chula Vista, California after her parents immigrated from Peru and Tijuana. She became interested in acting during her senior year before graduating from Otay Ranch High School in 2008.
Career
Early in her career, Paredes performed in The House Theatre of Chicago's West Coast premiere of The Nutcracker with Edred Utomi and in Manifest Destinitis, a Herbert Sigüenza adaptation of The Imaginary Invalid. In 2016, she appeared in the film South of 8 with Brian Patrick Butler and was nominated for two Craig Noel Awards for her performances in Lydia and Seven Spots on the Sun.
After studying acting at University of San Diego, Paredes made her Old Globe Theatre debut in 2017, portraying Viola in Twelfth Night and winning a Craig Noel Award for Actor of the Year, Female. The following year she performed in American Mariachi with Doreen Montalvo and in El Huracán by Charise Castro Smith at Yale Repertory Theatre under the direction of Laurie Woolery and co-starring Maria-Christina Oliveras.
Paredes contributed music to the film Weigh Down. She did the same in theater for American Mariachi and played a ukelele in Logan Heights.