Elsa Lafuente Pataky: biography and career

	Elsa Lafuente Pataky (born 18 July 1976) is a Spanish actress. Pataky was born in Madrid, Spain, the daughter of José Francisco Lafuente, a Spanish biochemist, and Cristina Pataky Medianu, a publicist of Hungarian and Romanian ancestry. Her mother's surname Pataky is Hungarian and means "someone who lived near a creek".Elsa was a member of the Madrid theatre company, Teatro Cámara de Ángel Gutiérrez. Eventually, she left school when she was cast in the television series Al salir de clase. With the success of Al Salir de Clase, Pataky received her first film offer, El arte de morir. Fluent in Spanish, French, English and Romanian, Pataky began to broaden her international appeal by taking on roles outside of the Spanish market. Though Pataky was one of the biggest names in Spanish cinema, she remained relatively unknown in the U.S. Gaining a modicum of notoriety in 2006 for reportedly dating Oscar-winner Adrien Brody, Pataky officially (and unknowingly, at the time) crossed over into the mainstream American market by accepting a supporting role opposite Samuel L. Jackson in the much-hyped action flick "Snakes on a Plane" (2006).She played officer Elena Neves in the movie Fast Five. MTV Networks' NextMovie.com named her one of the 'Breakout Stars to Watch for in 2011'.
	FILMOGRAPHY 2011 Copito de Nieve: Bruja del Norte 2011 Where the Road Meets the Sun: Michelle 2011 Fast and Furious 5: Elena Neves 2011 La importancia de ser Ornesto (short) 2010 Di Di Hollywood: Diana Díaz 2010 Mr. Nice: Ilze 2009 Mujeres asesinas (TV series): Paula Moncada – Ana y Paula, ultrajadas (2009)  2009 Give 'em Hell, Malone: Evelyn 2009 Giallo: Celine 2008 Santos: Laura Luna 2008 Skate or Die: Dany 2008 Máncora: Ximena Saavedra 2007 Manuale d'amore 2 (Capitoli successivi): Cecilia 2006 Snakes on a Plane: Maria 2005 Películas para no dormir: Cuento de navidad (TV movie): Ekran 2005 Ninette: Alejandra 'Ninette' 2005 Iznogoud: Prehti-Ouhman 2004 Tiovivo c. 1950: Balbina 2004 I delitti della luna piena: Bárbara 2003-2004 Los Serrano (TV series): Raquel Albaladejo – Yo confieso (2004) – Natalie (2004) – Sólo puede quedar uno (2004) – Casado y monógamo (2004) – El rey de espadas (2004) See all 11 episodes » 2003 Atraco a las 3... y media: Katya 2003 El furgón: Nina 2003 Beyond Re-Animator: Laura Olney 2003 7 vidas (TV series): Cristina – La jaula de las locas (2003) 2002 Paraíso (TV series): Luisa – El cebo (2002) 2002 Peor imposible, ¿qué puede fallar?: Fátima 2002 Clara (TV movie) 2001 Noche de reyes: Marta Cuspineda 2001 Nessuna notizia da Dio: Waitress in Hell 1997-2001 Al salir de clase (TV series): Raquel Alonso – A la sombra de una mentira (2001) – Luz de gas (2001) – A un paso del altar (2001) – Rojo sobre blanco (1998) – El primo inesperado (1998) See all 192 episodes » 2000-2001 Queen of Swords (TV series): Vera Hidalgo – Betrayed (2001) – The Dragon (2001) – Takes a Thief (2001) – The Pretender (2001) – The Return (2001 See all 21 episodes » 2000 Menos es más: Diana 2000 Tatawo: Blanqui 2000 Hospital Central (TV series): Maribel – En la cuerda floja (2000) – Relaciones dificiles (2000) 2000 El arte de morir: Candela 1998 La vida en el aire (TV series) – Episode #1.1 (1998) – Episode #1.10 (1998) – Episode #1.11 (1998) – Episode #1.12 (1998) – Episode #1.13 (1998) See all 13 episodes » 1998 Tio Willy (TV series) – La balada del parado (1998) 1997 Solo en la Buhardilla (short): Chica revista