Yvonna Wright
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SOAP STAR STATS
Yvonna Wright (Mel, GL)
Vital Statistics
- Birthday:
- January 8
- Hails From :
- Fresno, CA
- Marital Status:
- Wed director Brett Wright on July 19, 2003
- Children:
- Daughters Lola (b. 8/2002) and Marley (b.1/2004)
The 411
Born in England to a Polish father and West Indian mother, Yvonna Wright née Kopacz immigrated with her parents as a child and grew up in central California, where she attended a performing arts high school. When she was 18, Wright entered a Seventeen magazine modeling competition and snagged a coveted contract with the famous Wilhemina Agency in New York. She spent two years working as a model before relocating to California to attend college at Berkeley. She quit after her sophomore year. In 1996, she scored a short-lived role on DAYS.
After meeting her husband, Brett, Wright moved back to New York, where she dabbled in prime-time TV and appeared in numerous print and TV ads before landing the role of GL's Mel Boudreau in 2001. In 2007, Wright was nominated for a NAACP Image Award in the category of Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series. The actress also has appeared in several stage productions including Five A.M., Dreamgirls and Working.
Et Cetera
— Wright's cooking specialty is Thai coconut curry.
— She purchased her wedding dress from Loehmann's department store.
— Her best friend is Rebecca Gayheart (ex-Hannah, LOVING; ex-Toni, 90210)
— Wright is a big fan of reggae music.
— She received her American citizenship in 2003.
— Wright is a yoga enthusiast and makes jewelry.
Career Highlights
Other Soap Roles
DAYS OF OUR LIVES (Wendy, 1996-97)
Movie Roles
My Father's Will (Jennifer, 2008)
Perfect Stranger (Ro's mother, 2007)
Anywhere But Here (Assistant Hotel Manager, 1999)
The Hardest Part (Cynthia Cleveland, 1994)
Television Appearances
WIFEY (Jacqueline Etienne, 2007)
LOVE MONKEY (Rosie Parker, 2006)
MIRACLE'S BOYS (Wilma, 2005)
THE CHRONICLE (Atlantean Woman, 2001)
ALI: AN AMERICAN HERO (2000)
COSBY (Sheila, 1999)
NASH BRIDGES (Elizabeth Wilson, 1998)
CONAN (Regala, 1997)
BETWEEN BROTHERS (Sheila, 1997)
NEW YORK NEWS (Heather, 1995)
Memorable Quotes
"One of the reasons I took it is because Sharon Leal [ex-Dahlia, GL], who's one of my best friends, told me that it was a really nice cast without a lot of egos. I have to say, there were a few attitudes [at DAYS]."
— On why she accepted the GL role, Soap Opera Digest, 3/24/03
"I'm not a big planner. To be honest, I told my husband I didn't want to do anything, I just wanted to show up. He and a friend of his decided to do the whole thing. He has really good taste."
— On her wedding day, Digest, 6/26/06
