Patricia Velásquez facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Patricia Velásquez
Velásquez at South by Southwest in 2019
Born	Patricia Carola Velásquez Semprún (1971-01-31) 31 January 1971 (age 54) Maracaibo, Venezuela
Occupation	Actress model author
Years active	1989–present
Known for	The Mummy The Mummy Returns Committed The Curse of La Llorona Liz in September
Height	1.74 m (5 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Children	1

Patricia Carola Velásquez Semprún (born 31 January 1971) is a famous Venezuelan actress and model. She is also known for her work helping others. Patricia became well-known for playing the character Anck-su-namun in the movies The Mummy (1999) and The Mummy Returns (2001).

In 2002, Patricia started the Wayùu Taya Foundation. This group works to make life better for the indigenous communities in Venezuela.

Early Life and Beginnings

Patricia Velásquez was born in Maracaibo, Venezuela. She was the fifth of six children in her family. Her mother is from the Wayuu people, an indigenous group. Both of her parents were teachers. Her father also worked for UNESCO, which meant the family lived in other countries. Patricia grew up in places like France and Mexico. She finished high school in 1987.

In 1989, she joined the Miss Venezuela 1989 contest. She represented the Peninsula de la Guajira, where the Wayuu people live. Patricia finished as the 2nd runner-up in the competition. After studying engineering for three years, she moved to Milan, Italy. There, she began her career as a model. Patricia can speak English, Spanish, French, and Italian very well.

A Career in Acting and Modeling

From 1995 to 2000, Patricia studied acting in Los Angeles and New York. As a model, she walked on fashion runways for many famous designers. She also appeared in print ads for big brands.

Patricia was featured on the covers of popular magazines like Vogue and Marie Claire. She was also the face of Cover Girl for eight years. This made her the first Latin supermodel to become widely known in the mainstream media.

Her most famous acting role was as Meela Nais / Anck-Su-Namun in The Mummy (1999) and The Mummy Returns (2001). She also appeared in music videos for bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers and singers like Rod Stewart.

Patricia has acted in many TV shows. She played Begoña in The L Word in 2008. She also had a role in Arrested Development as Marta Estrella. You might have seen her in CSI: Miami, Rescue Me, Ugly Betty, and Hawaii Five-0 (2010 TV series, season 9). She also lent her voice to characters in video games like SSX Tricky and Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

Helping Others: Philanthropy

In 2002, Patricia Velásquez started The Wayuu Taya Foundation. This is a non-profit group that helps the Wayuu people. The Wayuu are an indigenous group living in Venezuela and Colombia. After a big earthquake in Haiti in 2010, her foundation helped raise money for the victims.

In June 2003, Patricia was named a UNESCO Artist for Peace. This means she became a Goodwill Ambassador. She received this honor for her work protecting the Wayuu people and their culture.

In 2009, she received the “Women Together” award at the United Nations. This award honors people who work to create a more equal society.

Patricia also competed on The Apprentice in 2012. She played for her charity, the Wayúu Tayá Foundation.

In 2015, the LA Femme Film Festival gave her their Humanitarian Award. This award recognizes people who do great work to help humanity.

On August 30, 2018, the Organization of American States (OAS) made Patricia a Goodwill Ambassador. She now helps protect the rights of indigenous peoples across the Americas. The Human Rights Campaign also honored her with the 2018 Visibility Award.

Patricia often speaks at important events. She has shared her message at TED Conference, The Clinton Global Initiative, and the Human Rights Campaign.

Film and Television Roles

Patricia Velásquez has appeared in many films and television shows.

Film Roles

Television Roles

See also

In Spanish: Patricia Velásquez para niños