Laura Harring facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Laura Harring
Harring in 2016
Born	Laura Elena Herring Martínez (1964-03-03) March 3, 1964 (age 61) Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1987–present
Title	Miss Texas USA 1985 Miss USA 1985
Spouse(s)	Carl-Eduard von Bismarck ​ ​ (m. 1987; div. 1989)​
Beauty pageant titleholder
Major competition(s)	Miss Texas USA 1985 (Winner) Miss USA 1985 (Winner) Miss Universe 1985 (Top 10)

Laura Elena Harring, born on March 3, 1964, is an American actress. She also won the title of Miss USA 1985. Laura Harring is famous for her main role as Rita in the 2001 movie Mulholland Drive. She has also appeared in many other films and TV shows. Some of her movies include The Forbidden Dance (1990) and The Punisher (2004). On television, she played Carla Greco in General Hospital (1990–1991) and Rebecca Doyle in The Shield (2006).

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, was a spiritual teacher and real estate investor. Her father, Raymond Herring, was a developer and farmer. Her parents divorced in 1971.

Laura lived in Guasave, Mexico, for her first ten years. Then, her family moved to San Antonio, Texas. When she was 12, she was accidentally hit by a stray bullet. At 16, she went to study in Switzerland at Aiglon College. She later studied theater at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. She also learned Italian commedia dell'arte and Latin dances, like the Argentine tango. After her studies, she returned to the United States and started competing in beauty pageants.

Laura Harring's Career Journey

Winning Beauty Pageants

Laura Harring first won Miss El Paso USA. Then she became Miss Texas USA. In 1985, she won Miss USA 1985, making her the first Hispanic woman to win this title. After winning, she spent a year traveling. She explored Asia and Europe and worked as a social worker in India.

Starting Her Acting Career

Laura Harring at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival

Laura Harring began acting in 1987. Her first role was in the TV movie The Alamo: 13 Days to Glory. Producers saw her on the Miss USA broadcast and offered her the role. In 1989, she appeared in her first movie, Silent Night, ... Night 3: Better Watch Out!.

In 1990, she played the main role of Nisa, a Brazilian princess, in The Forbidden Dance. That same year, she joined the TV show General Hospital as Carla Greco. She also had supporting roles in movies like Exit to Eden (1994). In 1997, she played Paula Stevens in the TV show Sunset Beach. She also appeared in the comedy film Little Nicky.

Breakthrough Role in Mulholland Drive

Laura Harring is most famous for her role in David Lynch's 2001 movie Mulholland Drive. She played two characters: Rita, an amnesiac, and Camilla. Film critic Roger Ebert praised her performance. He said she was "slinky and voluptuous." In 2002, she won an ALMA Award for Outstanding Actress for this role. She worked with David Lynch again in Rabbits (2002) and Inland Empire (2006).

Other Notable Roles

In 2002, Laura Harring appeared in John Q. She also starred opposite Jean-Claude Van Damme in Derailed. In 2004, she played Livia Saint in The Punisher. She also had roles in Nancy Drew and Love in the Time of Cholera. In the movie Drool, she played a wife who escapes her husband.

From 2006 to 2007, Harring was on the TV show The Shield. She played Rebecca Doyle, a defense attorney. She also appeared in four episodes of Gossip Girl as Evelyn Bass. She has guest-starred on other popular TV shows like Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and NCIS: Los Angeles. In 2016, she was in The Thinning and Inside. In 2022, she appeared in the romantic comedy Father of the Bride.

Laura Harring 2011

Personal Life

In 1987, Laura Harring married Count Carl-Eduard von Bismarck-Schönhausen. He is the great-great-grandson of Otto von Bismarck, a famous German statesman. They divorced in 1989 after two years of marriage.

Film and Television Appearances

Laura Harring has had many roles in both movies and television shows. Here are some of her appearances:

Film Roles

Television Roles

See also

In Spanish: Laura Harring para niños