Emmy-winning actress America Ferrera will speak at N.C. Central University at 7 p.m. Monday in the H.M. Michaux Jr. School of Education, 700 Cecil St. Doors will open at 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
Ferrera played Betty Suarez on ABC's “Ugly Betty,” which earned her an Emmy, a Golden Globe award, a Screen Actors Guild award, an American Latino Media Arts (ALMA) award and an Imagen award.
She made her film debut in 2002 in “Real Women Have Curves” by Patricia Cardoso, which screened at the Sundance Film Festival. Her performance earned her a Special Jury award as well as Independent Spirit and Young Artist award nominations.
She recently completed production on the film “End of Watch,” starring opposite Jake Gyllenhaal, and “It’s a Disaster,” opposite Julia Stiles and David Cross. Ferrera’s additional film work includes “Our Family Wedding,” starring Lance Gross, the animated feature-film “How to Train Your Dragon” and “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” franchise.
She is the executive producer of the first-ever interactive telenovela for MTV, titled “Pedro & Maria.”
Ferrera served as an artist ambassador for the global humanitarian organization Save the Children and recently raised more than $44,000 to build a new elementary school in Mali. She was the 2010 recipient of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation's Inspira award and the recipient of the 2011 Global Action award for Childhood Development and Education for her work with Save the Children in Mali.
In March 2011, Ferrera was named the recipient of the Cesar E. Chavez Legacy award for her commitment to helping lead underprivileged families and youth to a better life and education.
This event is part of the NCCU Lyceum series, “Passion Behind Our Progress: The Impact of Women and Girls in Our Communities” and is hosted by the University College and the Women’s Center.
