Paz Vega

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Biography

Spanish-born actress Paz Vega studied at the Centro Andaluz de Teatro stage school before getting her first break on the Spanish TV series Menudo es Mi Padre. Her screen presence and acting ability were just as apparent as her beauty, and she soon appeared on the series Más Que Amigos, as well as in the films Perdón, Perdón and Zapping. Vega arrived on the scene as a recognizable name and face in 1999 with a role on the domestic sitcom 7 Vidas, also known as the "Spanish Friends." At the age of 23, Vega had become a star, and director Mateo Gil took such notice of her that he gave her a substantial role in his slick thriller Nadie Conoce a Nadie. She soon afterward made waves with a provocative title role in the erotic drama Lucía y el Sexo -- winning her a Goya award (the Spanish equivalent of an Oscar) and effectively making her a sex symbol overnight. Vegatackled several high-quality and high-profile roles in the following few years, including a battered wife in Sólo Mía and scientist in the award-winning Hable con Ella. Her arrival in Hollywood came in 2004, however, with a role in the Adam Sandler dramatic comedy Spanglish. The film had only a modest run at the box office, but U.S. audiences were taken with the Spanish beauty. She was soon afterward offered a role in Oliver Parker's old-Hollywood thriller Fade to Black, playing Italian actress Lea Padovani. ~ Cammila Albertson, Rovi
Paz Vega
Born Paz Campos Trigo
(1976-01-02) 2 January 1976 (age 36)
Seville, Andalusia, Spain
Occupation Actress
Years active 1997–present
Spouse Orson Salazar (m. 2002-present) 3 children
Website
http://www.paz-vega.com/

Paz Campos Trigo (born 2 January 1976), better known as Paz Vega, is a Spanish actress.

Contents

Early life

Vega was born in Seville, Andalusia, Spain to a homemaker mother and a retired bullfighter father.[1] Vega's younger sister has performed as a flamenco dancer.[2] Vega has described her family as "traditional" and Catholic.[1] She took her stage name from her grandmother. After attending a performance of Federico García Lorca's La casa de Bernarda Alba at the age of 15 she was convinced that she wanted to become an actress. After completing compulsory education at 16, she was accepted at the prestigious Centro Andaluz de Teatro stage school. After two years at the stage school and two more years studying journalism, Vega moved to Madrid.

Screen career

Vega made her television debut in the Spanish TV series, Menudo es mi padre, which starred rumba singer El Fary. After appearing in two other series in 1997 - Mas que amigos and teen drama Compañeros - she went on to grace the silver screen in 1999 in Zapping. The same year she also had a minor role in the David Menkes movie I Will Survive (Sobreviviré) alongside Emma Suárez, Juan Diego Botto and a cameo from Boy George.

Vega at the 10 Items or Less premiere in Madrid with co-star Morgan Freeman.

Vega found success in 1999's 7 Vidas. The series was billed as a Spanish Friends and went on to become one of the country's best-loved domestic sitcoms. Vega played Laura, a perky Andalusian girl who had come to stay with David, who had recently come out of a coma. The series was broadcast on Telecinco and finished on 12 April 2006, albeit without Vega. The 2001 film Sex and Lucia brought the actress to the attention of a larger audience. She then became much better known in the United States after appearing in a supporting role in the 2004 James L. Brooks film Spanglish opposite Adam Sandler. In 2006, she co-starred with Morgan Freeman in the independent film 10 Items or Less. In 2008, she co-starred with Gabriel Macht, Samuel L. Jackson, and Scarlett Johansson in The Spirit. Vega is also a model; she is signed to 1/One Management in New York City. In 2011, Paz Vega had a role in the Italian movie The Flower of Evil by Michele Placido. On May 2011 Paz Vega replaced Penélope Cruz as the face for L'oreal Spain.[3]

Personal life

Vega and her Venezuelan husband, Orson Salazar, had their first child, son Orson, on 2 May 2007.[4] Her second child, daughter Ava, was born on 17 July 2009.[5] Their third child, son Lenon, was born on 13 August 2010.[6]

Filmography

Year Movie Role Notes and Awards
1997 Más allá del jardín
1998 Perdón, perdón María
1999 Zapping Elvira
Sobreviviré Azafata
2000 Nadie conoce a nadie Ariadna
El chico en la puerta (short film)
2001 Lucía y el sexo Lucía
Sólo mía Angela
2002 Hable con ella Amparo
El otro lado de la cama Sonia
Novo Isabelle
2003 Carmen Carmen
2004 Di que sí Estrella Cuevas
Spanglish Flor Moreno
2006 10 Items or Less Scarlet
Los Borgia Caterina Sforza
Fade to Black Lea Padovani
2007 Teresa, el cuerpo de Cristo Santa Teresa de Jesús
La Masseria Delle Allodole Nunik
2008 The Human Contract Michael
The Spirit Plaster of Paris
2009 Not Forgotten Amaya
The Six Wives of Henry Lefay Veronica
Triage Elena Morales
Burning Palms Blanca Juarez
Wanted: Weapons of Fate Araña[7] video game
2010 Castro's Daughter Alina Fernandez
2011 The Flower of Evil Antonella D'Agostino
2011 Cat Run Cat

Awards and nominations

Premios Goya
Premios Unión de Actores
  • 2001, Best actress in a leading role, Sólo mía, NOMINATION
  • 2001, Best breakthrough actress performance, Lucía y el sexo, NOMINATION
Fotogramas de Plata
European Awards
  • 2003, Viewers award best actress, Carmen, Nomination
Cannes Festival
Imagen Foundation
Phoenix Film Critics Society
  • 2004, Best breakthrough performance, Spanglish, WON
Círculo de Escritores Cinematográficos
  • 2001, Best actress, Sólo mía, WON
Sant Jordi Awards
Ondas Award

References

External links


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Copyrights:

Mentioned in

The Human Contract (2008 Drama Film)
Not Forgotten (2008 Thriller Film)
Jim Parsons (Actor, Comedy Drama/Horror)
Zapping (1999 Film)
The Other Side of the Bed (2002 Comedy Film)