Ms. Santiago has been blessed with a powerful training background in film, theater, television and in the voice over industry. Some of her popular credits include, Disney's High School Musical 1, One Tree Hill, Iron Man, Secrets and Lies, Assassinaut and multi - award winning film, Providence. She has several voice over and commercial credits domestic and worldwide.

In 2017, her acting efforts were recognized when she was awarded Best Supporting Actress and Audience Favorite, for the Christian film, Providence. Working alongside her husband, Producer Del Baron, on the independent Christian film, Adrenaline, she acted and co-executive produced adding something new to her list of credits.

She started her career out as a professional dancer and choreographer then later as a singing telegram for Eastern Onion Singing telegrams in Salt Lake City, UT. She was discovered doing a singing telegram. The bartender loved her routine and got an appointment to see a top agent in SLC. Her business skills in the industry led to being hired as the New Faces Director/Agent and Talent Scout for the same agency.

Always working on her craft, she was invited many times as a guest artist to work and perform at the Sundance Institute Filmmakers Lab. During her years at Sundance, she was mentored by distinguished Oscar and Emmy/directors and winners such as, Robert Redford, the late, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Joan Darling (MASH). She also studied voice over with Ginny McSwain, (Jimmy Neutron) and VO Producer, Leigh Gilbert.

Her parents, Cruz and Ramonita Santiago, (a diesel mechanic and a factory worker), came from Yabucoa, Puerto Rico and raised 8 children - 5 girls and 3 boys, in Kearns, Utah. Since 2017, Irene sought out and found her half-sister, who was raised in Puerto Rico with her paternal grandmother from a prior relationship before her father married her mother. This would make 9 Santiago siblings. They are friends today.

She and her husband, Del live in Wilmington, NC with their 2 children and their very chubby kitty, Phoebe. When available Ms. Santiago teaches acting to at risk youth and donates her time and talents performing charity Shakespeare Brunch performances, where a portion of the proceeds are donated to different theatrical outreach programs for children.

She looks forward to her next character where she can travel to new places and relish in a role that she can sink her teeth into.