Natalia Verbeke
Natalia Carolina Verbeke Leiva, (born February 23, 1975 in the neighborhood of Caballito, Buenos Aires, Argentina) is a Spanish actress, of Argentine and Flemish origin. Biography. Verbeke spent her childhood in Argentina until she was 11 years old, when she moved to Madrid, Spain to join her family, a decision made by her father due to the political and social crisis that Argentina experienced during that time. In Madrid, Verbeke studied at the Real Escuela Superior de Arte Dramático and at the Escuela Guindalera with Juan Pastor (director). Verbeke also attended "Interpretation for professionals" by John Strasberg, in  addition to studying contemporary dance with Josefina Tomás and flamenco dance with Miguel Sandoval, Carmen Romera, and Victor Ullate. In 1998, Verbeke debuted in cinema with "Un buen novio" (A Good Boyfriend), in which she starred alongside Fernando Guillén Cuervo. For her role, she received the Max Factor Award for the prettiest face in a Spanish-language film. Other films, such as "Nadie conoce a nadie" (Nobody Knows Anybody), "El hijo de la novia" (Son of the Bride) and especially "El otro lado de la cama" (The Other Side of the Bed), catapulted Verbeke to fame. She received two Ondas  Awards for the latter two films. She was nominated for Best Actress by the Actors' Union for her performance in "El otro lado de la cama". In 2005, she starred as Maria in "A golpes". In 2011 she played a leading role (as a Spanish maid who shakes up the world of her "patron") in a French film, "The Women on the 6th Floor" with Fabrice Luchini and Sandrine Kiberlain. Onstage, Verbeke has performed in a production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in England. On television, she has starred in El pantano (The Reservoir), Al filo de la ley  (At the Edge of the Law), and Los Serrano (The Serranos).