Born and raised in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Iris Peynado spent most of her adult life in Italy where she started her professional acting career in her early twenties. Mother of Laila Petrone, director and screenwriter, and Minerva Mariotti, architect. She has worked with iconic directors and producers in Italian Cinema and Television such as Luigi Magni, Alberto Latuada, Roberto Benigni and Massimo Troisi, starring in celebrated movies such as "Non ci resta che piangere", "State buoni se potete", "Cristoforo Colombo". She received further recognition when When invited to partecipate to the internationally known Sanremo Music Festival. In 1988 she co-hosted "Super Model of the World" with Dick Clark and Ella McPherson in Los Angeles. Iris has spent most of her adult life between Rome, Los Angeles and New York. Her work is recognized with the recipient of awards for her career. In 2017 she was nominated "best actress" for the most prestigious Dominican Artistic Awards "Premios Soberano" and she won as best comedy actress at IRIS Dominicana Movie Awards. She has been in jury of important italian international movie festivals. Alongside her acting career, she has continuously been involved in cultural and social activities.