Kamala Lopez facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kamala Lopez
Lopez in 2019
Alma mater	Yale University
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1980–present

Kamala Lopez is an American filmmaker, actress, writer, and director. She is also a political activist. This means she works to make changes in society. She has starred in many TV shows and movies.

Some of her well-known roles were in Black Jesus, Medium, and 24. She also appeared in films like Born in East L.A. and Clear and Present Danger.

As a filmmaker, Kamala Lopez has made important movies. Her first feature film, A Single Woman, was about Jeannette Rankin. Rankin was the first woman elected to the U.S. Congress. This film won an award in 2009.

In 2013, her short film Ese Beso won two awards. Later, in 2016, her documentary Equal Means Equal won an audience award at Michael Moore’s TCF Festival. The New York Times also praised it. This film helped start a movement. It aimed to add the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the U.S. Constitution. The ERA would make sure everyone has equal rights, no matter their gender.

Kamala Lopez's Early Life

Kamala Lopez was born in New York City on April 15, 1964. She went to Yale University. There, she studied philosophy and theater. She earned a bachelor's degree from Yale.

Kamala Lopez's Career in Entertainment

Lopez has worked as an actress in many films and TV shows. She has been in over thirty feature films. These include I Heart Huckabees (2004) and Born in East L.A. (1987). She has also appeared in more than seventy TV shows. Some of these are 21 Jump Street and Star Trek: Voyager.

In 2007, Lopez hosted a show called Wired Science on PBS. This show was made with Wired magazine. She hosted it alongside comedian Chris Hardwick.

Directing Films and Shows

Kamala Lopez also directs films. She directed the short film Ese Beso in Madrid, Spain. She also directed A Single Woman (2008). This film tells the story of Jeannette Rankin. Rankin was the first woman in the U.S. Congress. The film was based on a play written by Jeanmarie Simpson, who is related to Lopez.

During the Writers Guild of America strike of 2007, Lopez produced a web series. It was called Speechless Without Writers. She worked with director George Hickenlooper on this project.

Kamala Lopez's Political Activism

In 2009, Lopez started the ERA Education Project. This project uses media to teach people about the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). The ERA is a proposed change to the U.S. Constitution. It would guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens, regardless of gender. Lopez interviewed women across the country. She asked them how issues like equal pay and domestic violence affected their lives.

In 2013, she started a Kickstarter campaign. This was to fund her documentary Equal Means Equal. The film looks at the status of women in America. It also aimed to bring back public support for the ERA. Famous activist Gloria Steinem appears in the film. More than 100 other people were also interviewed for the movie.

Lopez also writes articles for The Huffington Post. She shares her views on important topics there.

Awards and Recognition

Kamala Lopez has received many awards for her work.

• 2019 - YaleWomen Impact Award for Excellence
• 2016 - Champion of Justice - Equal Rights Advocates
• 2016 - Best U.S Documentary Audience Award - Traverse City Film Festival
• 2016 - Latino Spirit Award for Achievement in Advocacy and Entertainment - State of California
• 2015 - Woman of the Year Award - Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the Women's Commission
• 2013 - Jury Award - Senorita Cinema Festival
• 2013 - Audience Award - Boyle Heights Latina Film Festival
• 2012 - Named one of the 21 Leaders for the 21st Century by Women's eNews
• 2011 - Woman of Courage Award from the National Women's Political Caucus
• 2009 - Retrospective for Work as an Actor and Director - Museum of Latin American Art
• 2009 - Exceptional Merit Media Award for "A Single Woman" - National Women's Political Caucus

See also

• List of female film and television directors