Heather Hemmens was born as the youngest child to her supportive parents.
Talking with Bello about her family, Hemmens highlighted her pleasant relationship with her parents, “I didn’t have much conflict with my parents because I told them everything and they were always very supportive, just like now.”
The Come Fly with Me star also shared that her biggest challenges were working after-school jobs while maintaining good grades in school.
The American actress grew up in the woods of Waldo, Maine, a town of less than 1,000 people. Heather’s father, Jim, built a wood-heated home that experienced frequent water and electricity cuts.
Jim worked as a carpenter, and Heather’s mother, Ravelita, was a domestic engineer and a housewife who took care of her family.
View this post on Instagram
Coming from a small town, now appearing in Hollywood, Heather is grateful for her parents and mentor, who played a pivotal role in keeping her from the wrong path with drugs and shaping her career.
When she landed a plum role in a new cable TV series, Hellcats, being supportive parents, her father and mother visited their friend’s house every Wednesday night to see their daughter.
The love between them is two-way. Heather tries to visit her family back in Maine, and she mentions that her favorite place to visit is the woods where she grew up.
“When I was growing up, all the peace and quiet seemed like a suffering. Now it’s a necessity, given the craziness of my life,” the actress says.
Her Parents’ Love Story
Jim and Ravelita reportedly met in 1974 in Boston, when racial discrimination was at its peak; Blacks and Whites didn’t speak to each other.
Ravelita, from Costa Rica, was not used to the racism prevalent at the time, which led her to befriend Jim.
View this post on Instagram
Her openness and friendly nature surprised Jim, making him relentlessly pursue her until she agreed to marry him.
In 2024, the couple sets an example, still head over heels for one another. They have been happily married for over four decades and are blessed with four kids and four grandkids.
Heather’s Journey To Stardom
Heather discovered her knack for the arts when she was very young. As a fifth grader, she played Dorothy in the “Wizard of Oz” and started performing in community theater, following encouragement from her teacher, Dale Breau.
She attended the performing arts high school Walnut Hill School for the Arts for her final two years of high school.
Upon graduating, Hemmens headed for a bigger dream to Hollywood. A rookie in the industry, she started taking small parts before getting a break with the TV series Hellcats in 2010.
Following the series, which lasted only until 2011, she started making guest appearances in several shows, such as “CSI: NYC,” “CSI: Miami,” “Vampire Diaries,” and “Grey’s Anatomy.”
Growing up as a Fresh Prince of Bel Air fan, she was excited to work in the family comedy show starring opposite Jamie Fox in the Netflix comedy “Dad Stop Embarassing Me!”.
Solidifying her stance in the industry, in 2022, Roswell, New Mexico star signed a multiple original films exclusively for Crown Media Family Networks.
Heather Hemmens Identifies Herself As A Latino
Heather is a Latino daughter of a Costa Rican mother, Ravelita, and a white father, Jim. While opening up about her roots to Latina.com, she said, “I’m Latina…There’s not much more to it.”
Being a Latina, the 39-year-old actress admitted that she has a sass for which she makes no apologies.
Tracing back to her heritage, she has rich English, Irish, and Scottish roots from her father’s side.
The Actress Used To Perform With Her Father & Brothers
Heather is the youngest of the four kids born to her parents, Jim and Ravelita. After high school, she followed her elder brothers and father with their band.
Her elder brothers, Jason and Nathan, used to perform with their father in the Hemmens family band.
She joined the family band and used to sing with her brothers, but she was destined for acting and could not stay long in The Big Easy.
Following her passion, the If Loving You Is Wrong actress went to LA and looked for an agent to find work.
Later, her brothers also came to California, pursuing their musical career. The only sibling who isn’t in the arts and music field, her sister, Natalie, also ended up in the same place, looking for a job as a realtor.
View this post on Instagram
The Hemmens siblings share a close bond and frequently appear in one another’s social media posts.
Recently, their whole family gathered to celebrate Ravelita’s birthday in January 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who Are Heather Hemmens’ Parents?
Heather is the daughter of a white father, Jim, and a Costa Rican mother, Ravelita.
How Many Siblings Does Heather Have?
She has three siblings: two elder brothers, Jason and Nathan, and one elder sister, Natalie.
Is The Actress From Come Fly with Me Married?
No, the Come Fly with Me star is not married.
