Vannessa Vasquez
Vannessa Vasquez | |
|---|---|
| Born | 21 December 1983 |
| Alma mater | University of Houston; Stella Adler Studio of Acting |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2010–present |
Vannessa Vasquez is an American actress who was born on December 21, 1983 in Galveston , Texas, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for East Los High (2013), The Brave (2017) and The Fix (2019). She began her singing career performing in local theatres in Houston, Texas, later gaining her first role in television working with singer-songwriter Frankie J on the reggaeton mix of his Billboard Hot 100 hit "Obsessions (No Es Amor)".[1] Later becoming the lead actress in the independent horror and thriller film "Sorrow",[2] as well as an associate producer.
Early life and education
Vasquez's family is from Monterrey, Mexico, but grew in the small town of Richmond, Texas surrounding Houston, Texas. Vannessa was raised by her single mother and grandmother until the age of 10. Since money was scarce for any extra curricular activities she began acting at the age of 6, performing skits for her family while living at grandmother's house. When her mother got married she moved away to the East side of town into Sugar Land, TX. Having to deal with the adversities of growing up in a new town, an integrated home and new stepfather she took part in whatever activities grade school offered. In sixth grade, she read for the role of Becky in the play The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. From there she took dance in middle school and high school along with theatre. She was raised by her mother and step father until the age of 18. At the age of 18 she set off to Mexico to find her biological father. Since then she has worked to maintain a relationship with her father in Mexico. Through love and forgiveness she has built a strong relationship with the both her stepfather and biological father.
Being the first in her family to attend college she knew the importance of having an education. Even though her dreams were in Hollywood, Vasquez went on to study theater and psychology at the University of Houston, graduating with a B.A. in social sciences and liberal arts. After college and unhealthy romantic she set out after her dreams to be an actress and ran away to Hollywood. Not knowing how she was going to pay for acting classes or where she was going to live she set out west in faith. She found shelter couch surfing with acquaintances until she got a job a Mel's diner in Hollywood as a waitress across the street from her dream acting school Stella Adler Academy. She then received a scholarship to the Stella Adler Academy in Los Angeles.[3]
Career
Vasquez began her career by performing in local stage theatres in Houston. One of her first Television gigs was working with singer-songwriter Frankie J on the reggaeton mix of his Billboard Hot 100 hit "Obsessions (No Es Amor)".[1] She was the lead actress in the independent horror and thriller film "Sorrow",[2] as well as an associate producer. She starred as Magdalena Cruz in "Sins of a Call Girl"[4] and as Esperanza in "Narca", directed by R. Ellis Frazier.[5] She co-starred as Gracie in the action film "Misfire", alongside Gary Daniels.[6]
In 2014, Vasquez became one of the lead actresses in Hulu’s East Los High series,[7] the first English-language Hulu series with an all-Latino cast.[8] She plays Camila Barrios, a Mexican teenager dealing with the trials and tribulations of growing up in East Los Angeles.[9]
In 2018 she was cast as one of the lead actors in the ABC pilot The Mission.
Personal life
Vasquez is a member of Sigma Lambda Gamma sorority.[10] She is a dancer, with training in bachata, salsa, cumbia, merengue and hip-hop. She is also fluent in Spanish.[11] In the fall of 2014, Alegria Magazine named her one of its "Top 10 Latinas making waves in Hollywood".[12] In 2016 she was named one the top 8 leading ladies for TV y Novelas Magazine.[13]
Filmography
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Jump Out (Short) | Temelda | |
| 2011 | Asesinas (Short) | Assassin 1 | |
| 2011 | The Darq | Susan | |
| 2013 | The Adventures of Don Juan and Don Tu (Short) | Henchwoman Marisa | |
| 2014 | Sorrow | Mila Sweeney | |
| 2014 | Sins of a Call Girl | Magdalena Cruz | |
| 2014 | The Hours Til Daylight (post-production) | Sarag | |
| 2014 | Narca (post-production) | Esperanza | |
| 2014 | Misfire | Gracie |
Television
| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Los High[15] | 2014 - 2017 | Camila Barrios | 48 episodes lead |
| The Brave | 2018 | Mari Diaz | 1 episode |
| The Mission | 2018 | Officer Ezme Chizo | series regular |
| The Fix | 2019 | Dia Briseño | 2 episodes |
References
- ^ a b Vasquez, Vannessa. "Let It Cast". letitcast.com. Talent Agency. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
- ^ a b "Sorrow the Movie". sorrowmovie.wordpress.com. Wordpress. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
- ^ "Mini Bio". Imbd.com. imbd. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
- ^ "Sins of a Call Girl". www.imdb.com. imdb. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
- ^ "Narca". www.imdb.com. imdb. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
- ^ "Gary Daniels' Misfire". www.influence-film.com. Influence Film. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
- ^ "Meet the Cast". eastloshigh.com. Hulu. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
- ^ Erwich, Craig. "Welcome Back to East Los High". blog.hulu.com. Hulu. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
- ^ Alianette, Alianette Almestica. "East Los High Returns Hotter than ever with a new cast of students". entertainmentaffair.com. entertainmentaffair.com. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
- ^ Arreola, Cristina (2014-10-17). "Sisterhood Bonds: 8 Latinas Who were in Sororities". Latina. Retrieved 2014-11-14.
- ^ "Biography". vannessavasquez.com. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
- ^ "10 Latinas Making Waves in Hollywood". alegriamagazine.com. Alegria Magazine.
- ^ http://www.tvynovelas.com/us/en-exclusiva/16/08/17/estas-estrellas-latinas-se-han-apoderado-de-la-tv/
- ^ "Filmography". www.imdb.com. IMDb. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
- ^ "East Los High". HULU. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
