Biography
Who is Laura Harring?
Early life and education
Laura Elena Herring Martínez was born in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, on March 3, 1964. Her mother, María Elena Martínez-Cairo, worked as a spiritual teacher and real estate investor, while her father, Raymond Herring, was a developer and organic farmer. The parents divorced in 1971. Laura lived her first ten years in Guasave, Mexico, before her family relocated to San Antonio, Texas. At age 12, she sustained a head wound from a stray bullet during a drive-by shooting. When she reached age 16, she persuaded her family to let her study in Switzerland at Aiglon College. She also trained in theatre at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, studying Italian commedia dell'arte and Latin dances such as the Argentine tango. Eventually, she settled in El Paso, Texas, where she began participating in beauty pageants.
Pageantry and early acting
Laura Harring won the title of Miss El Paso USA and subsequently captured the Miss Texas USA crown. She went on to win Miss USA 1985, making history as the first Hispanic woman to hold the title. Following her reign, she spent a year traveling through Asia, exploring Europe, and working as a social worker in India. Her national costume during the Miss Universe competition featured a cowgirl outfit. Laura began her acting career in 1987 with a role in the NBC television movie The Alamo: 13 Days to Glory. Producers spotted her during the Miss USA broadcast and offered her the part of Raúl Juliá's character's wife. In 1989, she took on her first feature film role as a flight attendant named Jerri in Silent Night, Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out! She then played a Brazilian princess named Nisa in the 1990 Columbia Pictures release The Forbidden Dance.
Career highlights
In 1990, Laura secured a recurring role as Carla Greco on the ABC daytime soap opera General Hospital. Over the next several years, she appeared in supporting parts in films such as Exit to Eden and Black Scorpion II: Aftershock. She also played Paula Stevens on the NBC soap opera Sunset Beach in 1997. Following her departure from the show, she guest-starred on Frasier and appeared in the comedy film Little Nicky. Her breakthrough came when she starred in David Lynch's 2001 film Mulholland Drive, playing both Rita and Camilla. The performance earned widespread critical acclaim and an ALMA Award for Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film in 2002. She collaborated with Lynch again in the limited series Rabbits and the film Inland Empire. Her later film credits include John Q, The Punisher, Love in the Time of Cholera, and Father of the Bride. She also took on television roles in series such as The Shield and Gossip Girl.
Real name and personal life
Laura Harring's full birth name is Laura Elena Herring Martínez. In 1987, she married Count Carl-Eduard von Bismarck-Schönhausen, who is the great-great-grandson of Otto von Bismarck. The marriage ended in divorce in 1989. Throughout her life, she has lived in Mexico, Switzerland, and various cities across the United States while pursuing her pageantry, modeling, and acting career.
Birthday and age
Laura Harring was born on March 3, 1964, which makes Laura 62 years old today. That birthday falls under the Pisces sign. Laura shares the date with 69 other famous people.
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