Elsa Pataky, born Elsa Lafuente Medianu on July 18, 1976, in Madrid, Spain, is a Spanish actress, model, and film producer. Her father, José Francisco Lafuente, was a biochemist, and her mother, Cristina Pataky Medianu, worked as a publicist. Pataky adopted her maternal surname as her professional name.

She enrolled at CEU San Pablo University in Madrid to study journalism. While pursuing her degree, she developed a growing passion for acting. This newfound interest led her to take acting classes at Teatro Cámara de Ángel Gutiérrez, a theatre company in Madrid. When a role in the Spanish TV series Al Salir de Clase was offered to her, Pataky made the bold decision to leave college and pursue acting full-time—an early career move that marked the beginning of her journey in the entertainment industry.

Breakthrough Roles in Film and Television

Elsa Pataky is perhaps best known for her recurring role as Elena Neves in the internationally successful Fast & Furious film franchise, beginning with Fast Five (2011) and continuing in several sequels including Fast & Furious 6 and Furious 7. Her performance in these high-octane action films significantly raised her profile worldwide.

In 2000, Elsa appeared in the television series Queen of Swords, where she gained experience performing in both English and French—a reflection of her multilingual abilities. Prior to that, she gained popularity in Spain through her role in the hit TV series Los Serrano, in which she portrayed a young teacher entangled in a romantic storyline with a student.