Discovered by chance at the age of 16 and whisked off to Europe for a highly successful career in modelling, Venezuelan beauty Patricia Velasquez is now also making a name for herself on the big screen. Having landed roles in The Mummy and its sequel, she went on to shoot opposite Heather Graham in Committed and has just finished the thriller Mindhunters with Val Kilmer and Christian Slater.
Here, the New York-based actress models some sexy designs from Europe's hottest labels and talks exclusively to HELLO! about her impoverished childhood and rise to fame.
How did you get your first big breaks in the Big Apple?
"It occurred to me that I had to find a way to become the Hispanic model that featured on magazine covers. Things went well after I was contracted by Cover Girl, which was the first American company to give me that chance. Then five years ago I was tracked down by producers looking for a girl to star in the French film Le Jaguar with Jean Reno. After seeing it was about saving indigenous people, I said to myself: 'This could be interesting'."
Before getting into modelling, what other professional experiences had you had?
"I've been dancing since I was five. Before I left Venezuela I was studying for a career in engineering. It was a guy from a model agency who suggested I went to Italy. That was an amazing opportunity for me, because in our house we didn't even have running water."
You talk about your family's financial straits, yet how did you pay your university fees?
"My parents were teachers and we managed to secure scholarships. I remember we didn't want to tell our classmates where we lived because they all belonged to families that were a lot better off than us. We used to get the bus home secretly."
What did you do with your first serious modelling fee?
"I earned that in Japan. And the money bought my family an apartment in Maracaibo, with hot and cold running water. In fact I still shower in cold water because I can't bear to waste any while it's heating up."
How would you describe your character?
"I'm very sensitive. I like the simple things in life and I'm very hardworking. Like any true Latin girl I like to have fun. I'm also very into my culture and indigenous roots."
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
