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Leslie Bega

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Leslie Bega
Born
Leslie Rae Bega

(1967-04-17) April 17, 1967 (age 57)
Alma materUniversity of Southern California
OccupationActress
Years active1984–2011

Leslie Rae Bega (born April 17, 1967)[1][2] 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

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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.[3] After graduating as valedictorian from Lycée Français de Los Angeles, Bega attended the University of Southern California and got her degree in Cinema.[4]

Career

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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.[5] 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.[6]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1984 Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo Dancer
1985 Tuff Turf
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

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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

References

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  1. ^ Rushton, Prue (April 1992). "Leslie Bega's INXS-ive Love Story" (PDF). Cleo. Retrieved June 22, 2014. Leslie Bega, born in Los Angeles 25 years ago, is an actor.
  2. ^ "The Bat Pack" (PDF). Us Weekly. March 6, 1989. Retrieved June 22, 2014. Leslie Bega, 21, brainy Maria on ABC's Top Twenty hit Head of the Class
  3. ^ Bildstein, Jay (June 11, 2007). "Renaissance woman Leslie Bega" (PDF). Diario de Xalapa. pp. 1E, 8E. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 24, 2013.
  4. ^ Rebello, Stephen (November 2002), "Sultry New Soprano" (PDF), Maxim, p. 204, archived from the original (PDF) on January 24, 2013
  5. ^ Battaglio, Stephen (November 6, 2002). "Tony's new lover remains mistress of her career". NY Daily News. New York Daily News. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  6. ^ Borama, Jennifer (May 19, 2020). "Whatever Happened to Leslie Bega?". TVOvermind. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
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