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Patricia Velasquez was born in
Guajira, Venezuela, on January 31, 1971. Raised by her educator parents in
a third world country, not to mention the fifth child of six, Patricia's
life was far from luxurious or glamorous.
She attended San Vicente de Paul High School, and after her graduation in
1987, Patricia headed for college to study engineering and accounting.
Although she was being raised to go into the Venezuelan oil industry,
which is practically the only choice for Indian children from Venezuela
(Patricia's mother is of native heritage, from the Wayu tribe in the
Amazon), a chance event led her to switch her plans.
A friend of hers wanted to become a model, and one of the pictures that
she sent to a casting call in Caracas included Patricia. As fate would
have it, the agency wanted exotic Patricia.
After a year of college studies, she left for Milan in pursuit of a
modeling career. Up until that point, the closest Patricia came to a
modeling experience was her participation in beauty pageants in her native
Venezuela, which didn't affect her upcoming modeling gigs.
In 1998, Patricia strutted down catwalks in ready to wear fashion shows
for designers such as Antonio Berardi, Bella Freud, Corinne Cobson, Claude
Montana, Jean Paul Gaultier, Salvatore Ferragamo, Dolce & Gabbana, and
Owen Gaster.
As for print, Patricia appeared in ads for Chanel's Allure, Monsoon,
Roberto Verino's Verino fragrance, as well as everyone's favorite,
Victoria's Secret. She even donned swimsuits for Sports Illustrated's
Swimsuit Edition in 1994.
Signed with Ford in New York, IMG in Paris and Models 1 in London,
Patricia extended her resume from appearing in the pages of Vogue and
Elle, to appearing on the big screen.
Her debut role was as Maya in the 1996 film Le Jaguar, which she followed
up with a role in Eruption (aka Volcano Run) a year later. 1999 was a huge
year for Patricia, as she appeared in Beowulf and No Vacancy; broke out
despite a small role, as Anck-Su-Namun in the sleeper hit, The Mummy; and
finally appeared in Façade (aka Death Valley).
Patricia stole the spotlight from cutey Heather Graham in Committed, in a
comedic turn as a waitress -- she was especially noticed during the
screening at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival. That same year, she appeared
with Pras and Ja Rule in Turn It Up, and then starred in Saint Bernard.
Even with the glamour and glitz of Hollywood, Patricia never forgets the
struggling days of poverty growing up in Venezuela. After her first few
modeling gigs, she bought her family a new home, made sure her 3 brothers
received a college education, and still supports causes such as the
advancement of Hispanics, fair treatment of indigenous peoples, and the
fight against pediatric AIDS. She also launched a foundation to help
Venezuelans.
Patricia was then seen in the anticipated sequel to The Mummy, The Mummy
Returns, as the Pharaoh's untouchable wife. She may be evil in the film,
but it's surely her beauty that makes her untouchable. |
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"CSI: Miami" .... Celia
Gonzalez (1 episode, 2005)
- From the Grave (2005) TV Episode .... Celia Gonzalez
The Twelve Days of Christmas Eve (2004) (TV) .... Isabel Frias
"Rescue Me" .... Nez (2 episodes, 2004)
... aka Rescue Me: FDNY (USA: complete title)
- Orphans (2004) TV Episode .... Nez
- DNA (2004) TV Episode .... Nez
Zapata - El sueño del héroe (2004) .... Josefa
Mindhunters (2004) .... Nicole Willis
... aka Mindhunters (Finland)
"Arrested Development" .... Marta Estrella (5 episodes, 2003-2004)
- Beef Consomme (2004) TV Episode .... Marta Estrella
- Marta Complex (2004) TV Episode .... Marta Estrella
- Storming the Castle (2004) TV Episode .... Marta Estrella
- My Mother the Car (2003) TV Episode .... Marta Estrella
- In Gob We Trust (2003) TV Episode .... Marta Estrella
"American Family" .... Elena (2 episodes, 2002)
... aka American Family: Journey of Dreams (USA: second season
title)
- La Llorona: Part 2 (2002) TV Episode .... Elena
- La Llorona: Part 1 (2002) TV Episode .... Elena
Fidel (2002) (TV) .... Mirta
"Ed" .... Sonja Amata (1 episode, 2001)
- Closure (2001) TV Episode .... Sonja Amata
SSX Tricky (2001) (VG) (voice) .... Marisol Diez Delgado
The Mummy Returns (2001) .... Meela Nais / Anck Su Namun
Turn It Up (2000)
San Bernardo (2000) .... Claudia
... aka Saint Bernard (International: English title)
Facade (2000) .... Juanita
... aka Death Valley
Committed (2000) .... Carmen
... aka Non Stop Girl
No Vacancy (1999) .... Ramona
The Mummy (1999) .... Anck Su Namun
Beowulf (1999) .... Pendra
Eruption (1997) .... Luisa Soares
... aka Volcán en llamas (Peru)
... aka Volcano Run
Jaguar, Le (1996) .... Maya |
