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Leonor VarelaChilean actress and model
Date of Birth: 29.12.1972
Country:  Chile |
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Biography of Leonor Varela
Leonor Varela Palma, a Chilean actress and model, was born on December 29, 1972. She gained fame for her role as Cleopatra in the successful 1999 film "Cleopatra." In addition to her acting career, Varela is also a representative of the society "Save Whales Again," which fights for the preservation of whales.
Early Life and Family
Leonor Varela was born in Santiago, Chile, to massage therapist Leonor and renowned Chilean biologist and neuroscientist Francisco Varela Garcia. She has a sister named Alejandra and two brothers, Javier and Gabriel. Her father's ancestors include Spaniards, Greeks, and Syrians, while her mother's roots trace back to French, Italian, and Argentinean heritage.
During the years when the military regime came to power in Chile, the Varela family moved to Costa Rica when Leonor was still a young child. However, her childhood years were marked by frequent relocations, including Germany, the United States, and France. In the early 1990s, Varela's parents returned to Chile, while she remained in Paris, where she was already studying acting at Neils Arestrup, The Ecole de Passage, and Conservatoire Superieur de Paris.
Acting Career
Varela's first acting opportunity came in 1995 when she played Annette in the children's film "Pony Trek," which was filmed in Iceland. She had to learn horseback riding for three months to prepare for the role. Following "Pony Trek," a dentist recommended Varela to a French film director, leading her to appear in the movie "Shooting Stars" (1997).
Upon returning home, Varela starred in the Chilean soap opera "Tic Tac," which further increased her popularity as an actress. After working on several television projects in the late 1990s, Varela landed a minor role in the series "The Man in the Iron Mask." In 1999, she portrayed the Egyptian queen in the television film "Cleopatra." During the filming, Varela fell in love with actor Bill Zane, who played Mark Antony. The couple had a relationship but eventually broke up after two years.
In 2001, Varela appeared in two films, "The Tailor of Panama" and "Blade II," where she played the role of a vampire princess. She also worked on projects such as "Paraíso B" and "Pas Si Grave." Varela is fluent in Spanish, English, and French.
Activism and Personal Life
Aside from her career in the entertainment industry, Varela is a passionate advocate for whale conservation and creating a favorable environment for their survival. She is also a vegetarian. On April 13, 2008, Varela married philanthropist and musician Kevin Duane Taylor.
