Natalia Cordova-Buckley


Natalia Cordova-Buckley, sometimes credited as Natalia Córdova, is a Mexican-American actress best known for portraying Elena "Yo-Yo" Rodriguez on Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Career

Cordova-Buckley began her career as a ballet dancer, training under Fernando Alonso. 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. "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 the fact that I have a pretty strong personality and was always very outspoken and opinionated." She looked up to artist Frida Kahlo whom she would portray in voiceover in Coco. Her grandfather is Pancho Córdova, an actor in Mexican and American cinema, whom she never got to meet.
She moved to the U.S. and studied at University of North Carolina School of the Arts and later earned her first American role in McFarland, USA. She almost quit acting until she won the role of Elena Rodriguez on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., gaining recognition in the process. During the show's fourth season, she headlined a 6-episode miniseries, , which debuted online on December 13, 2016.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
2008TerminalesRita2 episodes
2008–09Los SimuladoresNatalia6 episodes
2010Los MinondoIsabel10 episodes
2011Bienes raícesOlga4 episodes
2016–presentAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D.Elena 'Yo-Yo' RodriguezSeries regular: season 5-present, 32 episodes; Recurring guest star: season 3, 5 episodes and season 4, 8 episodes.
2016Elena 'Yo-Yo' RodriguezWeb series
2017Bates MotelJulia Ramos2 episodes