Elsa Pataky

Hollywood better look out. The Spanish invasion that began years ago with Penélope Cruz and Paz Vega is now heading into hyper-drive thanks to the ambitious efforts of Elsa Pataky. The stunning Madrid native worked with Samuel L. Jackson to make her first splash in Tinseltown with 2006's skin-crawling cult thriller, Snakes on a Plane.

Although the popcorn flick might have marked Elsa’s debut on these shores, she is no stranger to the industry. The Universidad San Pablo grad began her career in 1997 with recurring roles in the popular Spanish television series Al salir de clase (1997-99) and Tio Willy (1998).

Her well received performances in the shows led to roles in a succession of films, including Menos es más (2000), Tatawo (2000) and the box office sensation El Arte de morir (2000). Since then, Elsa has showcased her impressive acting and multilingual range in the French film Iznogoud (2005) and she was signed to appear in Astérix aux jeux olympiques (2007). The star-studded film also features Gérard Depardieu, David Beckham and Michael Schumacher.

Elsa’s high profile on the silver screen has naturally led to a number of modeling opportunities. To date, the sizzling senorita has appeared on the covers of Glamour, GQ, Woman, Marie Claire, In Style, and Telva.