Leonor Varela

Leonor Varela (born December 9, 1972) is an actress from Chile.

Related Topics:
December 9 - 1972 - Chile

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She was born in Santiago, Chile. Her parents are the famous biologist Francisco Varela and Leonor Palma (dancer). She has one sister Alejandra and two brothers, Javier and Gabriel.

Related Topics:
Santiago - Francisco Varela

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Varela's family fled to Costa Rica in her early childhood when her homeland was overtaken by a military regime. She subsequently resided in Germany, the U.S., and France. In the early 1990s her parents moved back to Chile, while she remained in Paris where she studied acting at the Neils Arestrup's School, The Ecole de Passage, and Conservatoire Superieur de Paris.

Related Topics:
Costa Rica - Overtaken by a military regime - Germany - U.S. - France - 1990s - Chile - Paris - Neils Arestrup's School - The Ecole de Passage - Conservatoire Superieur de Paris

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Her first 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 The Shooting Stars (1997). Varela found her popularity on the rise at home when she was cast in the Chilean TV series Tic Tac.

Related Topics:
1995 - Pony Trek - Iceland - The Shooting Stars - 1997 - Tic Tac

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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 hit the screen as Cleopatra, the Egyptian queen. She fell in love with actor Billy Zane (Mark Antony) on the set, but they split up two years later.

Related Topics:
The Man in the Iron Mask - 1999 - Cleopatra - Billy Zane - Mark Antony

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Roles in The Tailor of Panama and Texas Rangers (both in 2001) followed shortly thereafter, and as the fanged vampire princess and love interest of Wesley Snipes in the action film Blade II. After that came Paraíso B and Pas Si Grave.

Related Topics:
The Tailor of Panama - Texas Rangers - 2001 - Vampire - Wesley Snipes - Blade II - Paraíso B - Pas Si Grave

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Varela also had a short recurring role in the Fox Television series Arrested Development as the original Marta.

Related Topics:
Fox Television - Arrested Development

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Her latest projects are Americano, Casas de Cartón and Gigola where she plays feminist Laure Charpentier.

Related Topics:
Americano - Casas de Cartón - Gigola - Laure Charpentier

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