Talisa Soto (born March 27, 1967) is an American model and actress.

[edit] Early life

Born Miriam Soto in Brooklyn, New York,^[1] Soto is the youngest of four children born to Puerto Rican-born parents.^[2] Her parents later relocated to Northampton, Massachusetts where Soto and her siblings were raised and educated. Soto's family was one of the few Puerto Rican families that resided in her neighborhood.^{[citation needed]} As a result, she felt that people were prejudiced against her and she became a loner.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Career

[edit] Modeling

At the age of 15, Soto signed with Click Model Management and began modeling during summer vacations. Weeks after being signed, she traveled to Paris where she appeared in a layout for Vogue shot by Bruce Weber. She returned to Northampton after the summer to resume her schooling and would continue to model on occasion until she graduated from high school.^[3] She later appeared on the covers of American and British Vogue, British Elle, Mademoiselle, Glamour and Self magazines.^[4]

She also appeared in her first music video with former boyfriend Nick Kamen, Madonna's "Each Time You Break My Heart", directed by Tony Viramontes.^[3] Soto and Kamen were often used as models by Ray Petri: the late fashion stylist and creator of the 80's London "Buffalo Boy" look.^[5]

[edit] Acting

In 1988, when Soto returned to the United States, she auditioned and landed the role of "India" in her feature debut, Spike of Bensonhurst, a comedy which starred Sasha Mitchell and Ernest Borgnine. In 1989, she was cast as Lupe Lamora, in the James Bond movie Licence to Kill starring Timothy Dalton and as Maria Rivera in The Mambo Kings.^[6]

Soto has participated in more than twenty movies, among which are: Mortal Kombat (1995) as Kitana; Island of the Dead as Melissa O'Keefe; Piñero (2001) as Sugar, starring Benjamin Bratt; and Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever (2002) as Ryne alongside Lucy Liu and Antonio Banderas. Soto also made two guest appearances on the television series C-16: FBI. In 1995, she played the role of Doña Julia, one of Johnny Depp's many love interests in the tongue-in-cheek romantic comedy Don Juan DeMarco, Depp playing the title role. She also made an appearance in Marc Anthony's music video for "I Need to Know". In 1996, Soto played the title role in the campy movie Vampirella based on the comic book character.^[6]

[edit] Magazine covers

In 1990, Soto was chosen by People as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World.^[7] In 1995, she was featured in the Sports Illustrated "Swimsuit Issue".^[4] She was ranked #58 on the Maxim Hot 100 Women of 2002.^[8]

[edit] Personal life

During the 80s, Soto dated singer Nick Kamen.^[3] In 1997, Soto married Costas Mandylor and they were divorced in 2000.^[6]

She met actor Benjamin Bratt while the two were filming Piñero and they were married on April 13, 2002.^[9] The couple has two children: daughter Sophia Rosalinda Bratt, born December 6, 2002,^[10] and a son, Mateo Bravery Bratt, born October 3, 2005.^[11]

[edit] Filmography

[edit] Awards and nominations

[edit] See also

Puerto Rico portal

• List of famous Puerto Ricans

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Talisa Soto at the Internet Movie Database
• Talisa Soto at Fashion Model Directory