Leonor Varela
Leonor Varela | |
---|---|
![]() Varela | |
Born |
Leonor Varela Palma December 29, 1972 Santiago, Chile |
Occupation | Actress, spokesperson, model |
Years active | 1995 – present |
Children | Matteo (b. 2012) and Luna Mae (b. 2015) |
Leonor Varela Palma (born December 29, 1972) is a Chilean actress and model. She played the title role in the 1999 television film Cleopatra, and vampire princess Nyssa Damaskinos in the 2002 film Blade II.
Early life
Varela was born in Santiago, Chile, the daughter of Leonor Palma-Keller, a massage therapist, and biologist and cognitive neuroscientist Francisco Varela García.[1][2] She has a sister, Alejandra, and two brothers, Javier and Gabriel. Her mother was of French, Hungarian, and Syrian descent.[3] When Varela was a child, her family fled Chile when it was overtaken by a military regime.[4] In the early 1980s, her parents moved back to Chile while she remained in Paris where she studied acting at the Niels Arestrup School, L'École du Passage, and Conservatoire Supérieur de Paris.
Career
Varela's first acting job was in 1995, playing Anette in Pony Trek, a children's film. Filming was in Iceland and Leonor was riding horses for three months. Then, referred to a French filmmaker by her dentist, she played in Shooting Stars (1997). Varela found her popularity on the rise at home when she was cast in the Chilean soap opera Tic Tac.
After appearing in a few more television productions in the late 1990s, Varela was cast in a small role in The Man in the Iron Mask. In 1999, she played the title character in the TV movie Cleopatra.
Roles in The Tailor of Panama and Texas Rangers (both in 2001) followed shortly thereafter, before playing vampire princess Nyssa in the 2002 blockbuster film Blade II. After that came Paraíso B and Pas Si Grave.
Varela also had a short recurring role in the Fox Television series Arrested Development as the original Marta. She was nominated for the Ariel Award in 2005 in the category of Best Actress for Innocent Voices (2004). She also had a non-recurring role in Stargate: Atlantis.[5]
She appeared in Americano and played journalist Jordana Garcia in the film Goal II: Living the Dream.
In 2012, she appeared as Marta Del Sol on the TNT television series Dallas.[6]
Personal life
Varela was engaged to Billy Zane, her co-star in the 1999 television film Cleopatra.[7]
In November 2012, Varela and producer Lucas Akoskin welcomed their first child together, a son named Matteo.[8] They also have a younger daughter, Luna Mae, born on February 25, 2015.
Varela, a vegetarian,[9] is a marine life activist who is concerned with the welfare of whales, working with groups such as Save The Whales Again.[10]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1997 | Shooting Stars | Vanessa | |
1997 | Bouge! | La danseuse | |
1998 | Man in the Iron Mask, TheThe Man in the Iron Mask | Ballroom Beauty | |
1999 | Les parasites | Fidelia | |
1999 | Les infortunes de la beauté | Annabella | |
2001 | Tailor of Panama, TheThe Tailor of Panama | Marta | |
2001 | Texas Rangers | Perdita | |
2002 | Blade II | Nyssa Damaskinos | |
2002 | Paraíso B | Gloria | |
2003 | No Big Deal | Angela | |
2003 | Ruby & Quentin | Katia / Sandra | |
2004 | Voces inocentes | Kella | English title, Innocent Voices |
2005 | Americano | Adela | |
2006 | The Curse of King Tut's Tomb (2006 film) | Azelia Barakat | |
2007 | Goal II: Living the Dream | Jordana Garcia | |
2007 | Where God Left His Shoes | Angela Diaz | |
2008 | Sleep Dealer | Luz Martinez | |
2008 | Hell Ride | Nada | |
2008 | Hindsight | Maria | |
2008 | All Inclusive | Miranda | |
2009 | Balls Out: Gary the Tennis Coach | Norma Sanchez | |
2009 | Wrong Turn at Tahoe | Anna | |
2010 | Que pena tu vida | Alma Subercaseaux | |
2011 | Blind Alley | La Madre | |
2013 | Odd Thomas | Odd's Mother | |
2013 | Deseo | Muchacha | |
2014 | Fine Step, AA Fine Step | Liliana Bolivar | |
2014 | Ride | Danielle | |
2015 | Captive | Sgt. Carmen Sandoval | |
2017 | The Solutrean |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1995 | Extrême limite | Marie | "Sacrifice" |
1995 | Pony Trek | Anette | TV film |
1996 | Sous le soleil | Jeanne | "Comportement modèle" |
1997 | Le juste | Pregnant Girl | "En transit vers l'espoir" |
1997 | Tic Tac | Pola Santa María | Main role |
1997 | Inca de Oro | Flor de I'nca | TV film |
1997 | 13th Rider | Anette | TV series |
1998 | Jeremiah | Judith | TV film |
1999 | Cleopatra | Cleopatra | TV miniseries |
2003 | Arrested Development | Marta Estrella | "Bringing Up Buster", "Key Decisions" |
2004 | Stargate Atlantis | Chaya Sar | "Sanctuary" |
2005 | E-Ring | Lt. Col. Cat Rodriguez | "Pilot" |
2006 | Curse of King Tut's Tomb, TheThe Curse of King Tut's Tomb | Dr. Azelia Barakat | TV film |
2007 | Como Ama una Mujer | Sofia Marquez | TV miniseries |
2010 | Feroz | Laura Palma | Recurring role |
2010 | Monsterwolf | Maria | TV film |
2010-2011 | Human Target | Maria Gallego | "Salvage & Reclamation", "A Problem Like Maria" |
2012 | Dallas | Marta Del Sol | Recurring role |
2012 | Inland Empire | Poopy | TV film |
2013 | Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. | Camilla Reyes | "0-8-4" |
2015 | Murder in Mexico: The Bruce Beresford-Redman Story | Monica | TV film |
References
![]() |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Leonor Varela. |
- ↑ "FilmReference". Film-Reference. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
- ↑ http://www.revistapolis.cl/8/yen.htm
- ↑ Leonor Varela
- ↑ "Interview: Leonor Varela". San Antonio Current. December 10, 2010. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
- ↑ http://www.gateworld.net/wiki/Chaya_Sar
- ↑ "Leonor Varela tras confirmación de "Dallas": "Tuve que pelear este papel"". El Mercurio (in Spanish). El Mercurio SAP. July 12, 2011. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
- ↑ "Billy Zane - Billy Zane Refers To Girlfriend As 'Wife'". Contactmusic.com. April 6, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
- ↑ "Leonor Varela Welcomes Son Matteo". People. November 20, 2012. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
- ↑ Archived October 11, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "Leonor varela aboga por las ballenas". YouTube. Retrieved January 30, 2011.