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Paz Vega Profile |
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Birth Date: January 2, 1976
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Birth Place: Seville, Andalucía, Spain
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Birth Name: Paz Campos Trigo
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Height: 5'8"
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Biography |
She was born Paz Campos Trigo on January 2, 1976, in
Seville, the Spanish town famous for Carmen and singing
barbers. The slender and athletic Paz first dreamed of being
a sports star and later aspired to politics. But at age 15,
all it took was a day at the theater to cement her
ambitions; a performance of La Casa de Bernarda Alba set her
sights on acting for good.
At 16, Paz left school and patiently waited for the
prestigious Centro Andaluz de Teatro acting school to accept
her. The fact that she directed a Spanish play in the
meantime certainly didn't hurt.
After two years at the acting school and another two
studying journalism, Paz moved to Madrid, where she sought
fame. She changed her name to Paz Vega (her grandmother's
last name) and worked in bars while auditioning for every
gig she heard about.
Her big break came on TV, where she appeared in three
episodes of the Spanish series Menudo es mi padre. Two other
series, Mas que amigos and Companeros, gained much from her
energy and acting vim.
Paz's efforts eventually paid off. In 1999, she got her
first major movie role in Zapping, in which she played a hot
sex-loving vixen who snagged another woman's husband. That
same year, she also had a minor part in Sobrevivire (I Will
Survive), which finally got her noticed. Paz then returned
to television with the career-making role of Laura in the
series, 7 vidas.
It was that role that endeared her to Spaniards nationwide.
Filmmaker Mateo Gil liked Paz so much that he gave her a
major part in his movie Nadie conoce a nadie (Nobody Knows
Anybody, 1999). As she juggled TV and movies, she quickly
learned the ins and outs of the film industry and soon
became a pro.
Movie director Julio Medem saw her potential and asked Vega
to leave her TV role to dedicate herself to his new project.
His film would be so provocative, steamy and sensual that it
would either be a runaway hit or an embarrassing flop. He
therefore needed the right actress.
In 2001, Lucia y el sexo (Sex and Lucia) hit theaters. It
told the story, in graphic and lurid detail, of an innocent
girl who slowly discovers her sexuality. Paz took it all
off, acting with her whole body in a gush of sensuality. Sex
and Lucia became an international hit and won Paz a Goya,
Spain's biggest movie award, for Best New Actress.
With success guaranteed, Vega was courted by the biggest
names in the film industry. Spain's most important director,
Pedro Almodovar, gave her a part in his award-winning film
Hable con ella (Talk to Her, 2002). Soon after, she was seen
in the musical romantic comedy, El otro lado de la cama (The
Other Side of the Bed, 2002).
After two more movies, including a rendition of Carmen in
2003, Paz started being coveted abroad. James L. Brooks, of
The Simpsons and As Good as It Gets fame, recently signed
her for his new directing project, a comedy called
Spanglish, with Adam Sandler and Tea Leoni. This movie will
no doubt raise her profile in the U.S. and get her more
movie roles, like fellow Spanish actress Penelope Cruz.
She's already on the right track, with 2005's Un angel en la
oscuridad in the pipeline.
In the meantime, Paz Vega lives in Madrid with husband Orson
Salazar. |
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Other
Information |
Took her surname Vega from her grandmother.
Majored in journalism, but dropped out of college after two
years to pursue an acting career.
After two years at the acting school, she moved to Madrid,
where she worked in bars while auditioning for every gig she
heard about.
Was a television star before making it in movies.
Husband is Venezuelan. They met while vacationing on a
Spanish island.
Her stage name translated into English means 'peace meadow'.
Got an "Introducing" credit for Spanglish (2004), despite it
being her 13th film.
Shares birthday with Kate Bosworth, Cuba Gooding Jr., Tia
Carrere, Saint Teresa of Lisieux, and writer Isaac Asimov.
Spanish citizen. |
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