# Leslie Bega

Leslie Rae Bega (born April 17, 1967) is an American former actress, best known as Maria on Head of the Class (1986–1989), and Valentina La Paz on The Sopranos (2002–2004).

## Early life and education

Bega was born in Los Angeles to a Sephardi Jewish father and Russian Jewish mother. Her paternal grandparents came to the United States from Spain. In addition to English, Bega speaks Spanish and French fluently. After graduating as valedictorian from Lycée Français de Los Angeles, Bega attended the University of Southern California and got her degree in Cinema.

## Career

Bega is known for performances in Head of the Class as Maria Borges, David Lynch's Lost Highway, and as a recurring cast member in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, C-16: FBI and The Sopranos as Valentina La Paz. She is also featured as a dancer in the breakdancing films Breakin and Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo. She played the role of Anna Lansky (née Sitrone) in 1991's Mobsters.
She has appeared as a guest star in the television shows 21 Jump Street, Beverly Hills, 90210, The Twilight Zone, and Highway To Heaven. Her theater work includes King Lear, at the Electric Theatre, The Merchant of Venice, Gypsy, Grease, The Sound of Music, and Maria in West Side Story at the Westchester Theatre.
Since retiring from acting, Bega has worked as a real estate agent in Beverly Hills, California.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1984 | Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo | Dancer | |
| 1985 | Tuff Turf | Dancer | |
| 1988 | For Keeps | Carlita | |
| 1991 | Uncaged | Mickie | |
| 1991 | Mobsters | Anna Lansky | |
| 1995 | Get Shorty | Vikki Vespa | Uncredited |
| 1995 | The American President | White House Staffer Laura | |
| 1996 | Power 98 | Denise | |
| 1997 | Lost Highway | Raquel | |
| 1997 | Against the Law | Lucia the Liquor Store Clerk | |
| 2000 | The Last Producer | Restaurant Manager | |
| 2000 | Time of Her Time | Denise Gondelman | |
| 2005 | Dating Games People Play | Mona Evans | |
| 2019 | Once Upon a Time in Hollywood | Cameo | Uncredited |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1984 | Silence of the Heart | Cindy | Television film |
| 1985 | The Twilight Zone | Girl | Episode: "Dead Woman's Shoes/Wong's Lost and Found Emporium" |
| 1985 | Hardcastle and McCormick | Betty | Episode: "You're Sixteen, You're Beautiful, and You're His" |
| 1985 | Highway to Heaven | Heather Fowler | Episode: "The Secret" |
| 1986 | Small Wonder | Mary | Episode: "The Older Woman" |
| 1986–1989 | Head of the Class | Maria Borges | 68 episodes |
| 1990 | Freddy's Nightmares | Stacy | Episode: "Interior Loft Later" |
| 1990 | Beverly Hills, 90210 | Marianne Moore | Episode: "Class of Beverly Hills" |
| 1991 | 21 Jump Street | Stephanie 'Stevie' Plummer | Episode: "Under the Influence" |
| 1995 | SeaQuest DSV | Sandra Kirby | Episode: "And Everything Nice" |
| 1997–1998 | C-16: FBI | Laura Sandoval | 4 episodes |
| 1999 | Martial Law | Didi Kirkus | Episode: "Trifecta" |
| 2002–2003 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Leah | 3 episodes |
| 2002–2004 | The Sopranos | Valentina La Paz | 7 episodes |
| 2005 | CSI: NY | Grace Walderson | Episode: "The Dove Commission" |
| 2007 | Nip/Tuck | Photographer | Episode: "Joyce and Sharon Monroe" |
| 2008 | American Dad! | Ms. Anderson | Episode: "Pulling Double Booty" |
| 2011 | Bird Dog | Carmen | Television film |