Biography for
Laura Harring More at IMDb Pro »

Date of Birth

3 March 1964, Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico

Birth Name

Laura Elena Herring

Height

5' 6" (1.68 m)

Mini Biography

Ever since astounding audiences and critics alike with her breakthrough performance in David Lynch's award winning "Mulholland Drive" for which she received an Alma Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture, Laura Harring has been one of Hollywood¹s hottest rising stars.

The International Herald Tribune compared her to Ava Gardner and film critic, Roger Ebert likened her to Rita Hayworth.

Born in a small town in Mexico, Laura or "Laurita" as her family called her, grew up an extremely shy as well as a reclusive fragile young girl. Sick most of her childhood, Laura's mother found an alternative medical doctor that helped Laura get over the illness and this transformed her life forever. Laura who was taking adult dosages of medicine, abandoned them ambitiously to start dancing and imagine herself as an actress. On her journey to newfound health she jumped in feet first to an play an angel in the Christmas play ,"The Nativity Story".

In her teens Laura went abroad to study at the prestigious boarding school, Aiglon College in Switzerland. It was here that Laura met the brother of her future husband of 2 years, before having an amicable separation to pursue her dream of becoming a talented and versatile actor. After graduation, pursuing her passion to travel, Laura took on the task of becoming a social worker in India, where she performed manual labor work, including building schools, planting trees and carrying heavy rocks to fix the extreme soil erosion problem, that hit the foothills of the Himalayas in the mid eighties.

Last June, Laura played the mystery in the Warner Brothers feature "Nancy Drew: The Mystery in Hollywood Hills" starring alongside Emma Roberts for director Andrew Fleming and producer Jerry Weintraub.

Last November, she starred opposite Javier Bardem in New Line's "Love in the Time of Cholera" from the award winning novel written by Nobel Prize Winner, Gabriel Garcia Marquez and directed by Mike Newell.

A versatile actress who has played a great diversity of roles in her career, Harring's film credits include "John Q" with Denzel Washington, "The King" opposite William Hurt, and "The Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory," opposite the legendary Raul Julia. Laura always held her own.

Last summer, she stole our hearts with the heartfelt and real performance of a suburban mom in the HBO feature "Walkout," directed by Edward James Olmos. It was based on the true story of the 60's injustice in the school system of East Los Angeles.

Harring was featured on Season 5 of FX¹s critically acclaimed hit series, "The Shield" as Becca Doyle, a defense attorney who willingly commits to pro bono cases for people she feels are redeemable. She played opposite Forrest Whittaker.

In his last film, David Lynch honored her femme fatale character from Mulholland Drive in "Inland Empire." Another dark and mysterious abstract film of the masterful director.

Her last film opposite Frank Langella and Elliott Gould is called "The Caller" and Laura plays, "The Sophisticated Lady" a classical jazz singer, which premieres in this year's Tribeca Film Festival.

Laura was the first Latina to ever win the Miss USA crown! Her passions include dancing, world traveling and Commedia Dell' Arte. She resides in Los Angeles, California.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Brit Reece at PMK/HBH Public Relations

Spouse

Count Carl-Eduard von Bismarck-Schönhausen

(1987 - 1989) (divorced)

Trivia

Miss USA 1985.

She was married to Count Carl-Edward Otto Wolfgang Jayme Anders von Bismark and although they divorced, she still retains the title of countess.

She became the first Latina to win the Miss USA title, and at only 21 years of age.

Prior to entering show business, Laura thought about becoming a gemologist.

Grandfather Isauro Cairo, Mexican champion in Equestrian and Fencing 1954.

Professional Tango dancer.

Social Worker in India at 18 years old.

She wore a $25,000,000 dollar necklace and $1,000,000 dollar heels to the 2002 Oscars (Academy Awards)and was surrounded by 4 bodyguards. [2002]

Was shot in the head at the age of twelve while riding in her parents car in a parking lot when the two cars behind them got into a gunfight. The bullet missed hitting her brain by one millimeter.

Measurements: 33-23-34 (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine).

Not only was she the first Latina to be crowned Miss USA, she is the first of five consecutive Miss Texases who, from 1985 through 1989, went on to become Miss USA.

Wears a size 7.5 shoe.

Former sister-in-law of Gottfried von Bismarck.

Former niece by marriage of Gunilla Gräfin v. Bismarck.

Former great-great-granddaughter-in-law of Otto von Bismarck.

Personal Quotes

Unless you have a real passion for making movies, then don't bother. I had to carry energy and light into every meeting, only to be told, 'We don't want you.' I couldn't take it personally. You just have to wait, and live for those moments when the casting director likes you. Those words ;You're hired; are the best. I would try to remember what I learned in India - everything that happens is a mirror of how you are feeling. If you don't feel good about yourself, people don't feel good about you either. When you feel good, people see that and want to help you.

In private, I'm a hippie who follows Buddhism, does yoga, meditates and loves to dance wildly. But when I'm on show, I become a different person. Some actors do not understand that difference, and resent it. I say, 'Let them give you the jewels, go around with your bodyguard, let them dress you. If you are promoting a film, don't be afraid of glamor.'

It is important to know the difference between the hard work of acting and play-acting at events like this. The only difference between me and some other actresses is that I don't mind playing the game.

Some may think fashion is frivolous, but the way I see it, when you dress well, you add beauty to the world. And there's nothing wrong with that, right?

Life is wonderful beautiful journey. Every episode of my life is like a dream and I am at peace and happy with what life has given me.

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