Zulay Henao
Henao at the 2013 Alma Awards
Born (1979-03-22) March 22, 1979 (age 44)
Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
NationalityColombian, American
EducationNew York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts
Occupation(s)Actress, model
Years active2005–present
PartnerKevin Connolly (2019–present)
Children1
Military career
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1997–2000

Zulay Henao (born March 22, 1979) is a Colombian-American film and television actress.[1] She has co-starred in a number of films such as Illegal Tender (2007), Fighting (2009), Takers (2010), Boy Wonder (2011), Hostel: Part III, The Single Moms Club (2014), True Memoirs of an International Assassin (2016). In 2014 she began starring as one of the lead characters in the Oprah Winfrey Network series, If Loving You Is Wrong.

Early life

Henao was born in Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia.[2][3] She and her family emigrated to New Jersey.[1] After high school she served three years with the U.S. Army.[4][5] After the service, Henao enrolled at the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts to study acting.[1][3]

Career

Henao appeared in two small films, and in 2007 made her television debut in an episode of Lifetime drama series, Army Wives. In the same year she also guest-starred on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Also in 2007, Henao had supporting roles in films Illegal Tender and Feel the Noise. In 2008 she starred in the horror film Grizzly Park, and appeared opposite Charles S. Dutton in a Lifetime Original Movie Racing for Time.

In 2009, Henao had the female lead role in the sports film Fighting alongside Channing Tatum, and also appeared in the science fiction film S. Darko. In 2011 she starred in the independent psychological-thriller film, Boy Wonder.[6] Henao also has appeared in Takers (2010) and Hostel: Part III (2011).

In 2013, Henao began starring as regular on the Oprah Winfrey Network sitcom, Love Thy Neighbor.[2] She left the show after a single season.[7] Henao starred opposite Nia Long, Wendi McLendon-Covey, and Amy Smart in the 2014 film The Single Moms Club, directed by Tyler Perry.[8][9] She later was cast in same role of television adaptation of film, called If Loving You Is Wrong.[10][11] Also in 2014, Henao was cast as adult film legend Vanessa del Rio, in an untitled biopic directed by Thomas Mignone.[12][13] She later left the project and was replaced by Vivian Lamolli.[14] In 2019, she had a recurring roles in The Oath and Stumptown.

Personal life

Henao is in a relationship with Kevin Connolly. Together they had a baby girl, Kennedy Cruz, in early June 2021.[15]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2005 Film 101 Unknown Role
Clearview Gloria Rojas
2007 Illegal Tender Mora
Feel the Noise Carol "CC" Reyes
Saturday Morning Unknown Role
2008 The Heart Is a Hidden Camera Natasha Short film
Grizzly Park Lola
Racing for Time Carmen Television film
2009 Fighting Zulay Velez
S. Darko Baelyn Direct-to-video
The Magnificent Cooly-T Angie
2010 Takers Monica Hatcher
2011 Boy Wonder Teresa Ames
Havana Heat Agent Brianna Evans
Hostel: Part III Nikki
2014 White Space Lynn Navarro
The Single Moms Club Esperanza
2015 Destined Giselle Porter
2016 True Memoirs of an International Assassin Rosa Bolivar
Meet the Blacks Lorena Black
2017 Grow House Madison
2018 Beyond White Space Lynn Navarro
2019 Grand Isle Detective Newton
2021 The House Next Door: Meet the Blacks 2 Lorena

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2007 Army Wives Delores Marino Episode: "Only the Lonely"
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Forensics Tech Casanueva Episode: "Svengali"
2008 Fear Itself Christie Episode: "New Year's Day"
2009 The Unusuals Rosa Trumble Episode: "Crime Slut"
2013 Love Thy Neighbor Marianna Perez Series regular, 26 episodes
2014–2020 If Loving You Is Wrong Esperanza Series regular
2017 MacGyver Cynthia Episode: "Large Blade"
2018 Kevin Can Wait Rebecca Romero Episode: "Kevin Can Date"
2019 The Oath Carmen Velasquez Recurring role, 8 episodes
Star Lucia Episodes: "Watch the Throne" and "The Reckoning"
Stumptown Denise Episodes: "Missed Connections" and "Family Ties"

References

  1. ^ a b c "Maxim Monday: Zulay Henao Is 'Fighting' Her Way Into Our Hearts". FOXNews.com. April 7, 2010. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
  2. ^ a b "Love Thy Neighbor: Zulay Henao". Oprah.com. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  3. ^ a b Bohrer, John R. (April 16, 2009). "Zulay Henao Pictures - Sexy Pics of Zulay Henao". Esquire. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
  4. ^ "Elite Interviews Zulay Henao". elitedaily.com. Archived from the original on October 19, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  5. ^ "Another Day with Zulay Henao". zooeymagazine.com. Archived from the original on February 16, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  6. ^ "Boy Wonder". Rotten Tomatoes. October 21, 2011. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  7. ^ Zulay Henao [@Zulay_Henao] (January 9, 2014). "#LoveThyNeighbor fans! Sadly because of scheduling conflicts I couldn't join my amazing cast this season:( But I will be watching! #Family 💛" (Tweet). Retrieved October 15, 2014 – via Twitter.
  8. ^ "Watch First Trailer For Tyler Perry's 'Single Moms Club'(Nia Long, Terry Crews, Eddie Cibrian & Others)". Shadow and Act. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  9. ^ wilsonmorales (November 19, 2012). "Zulay Henao grabs 2nd female lead role in Tyler Perry's Single Mom's Club". Blackfilm.com. Archived from the original on January 11, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  10. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (January 1, 1970). "OWN Sets Cast For New Tyler Perry Drama Series 'If Loving You Is Wrong'". Deadline.com. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  11. ^ "OWN Announces Cast for New Drama Series 'If Loving You is Wrong' From Tyler Perry". Shadow and Act. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  12. ^ Borys Kit (July 29, 2014). "'Single Moms Club' Actress to Star in Vanessa del Rio Biopic (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  13. ^ Tambay A. Obenson (July 30, 2014). "Vanessa del Rio Biopic Casts Zulay Henao to Star + Datari". Shadow and Act. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  14. ^ McNary, Dave (May 31, 2019). "Film News Roundup: Jesse Metcalfe Joins Indie Biopic 'Latin From Manhattan'".
  15. ^ "Entourage's Kevin Connolly, Zulay Henao Welcome 'Sweet' Baby Girl After 'Long and Painful' Birth". People.com. June 9, 2021.

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