Leslie Rae Bega (born April 17, 1967) is an American 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 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. After graduating as valedictorian from Lycée Français de Los Angeles, Bega attended the University of Southern California and got her degree in Cinema.
Career 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. 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.
In addition to acting, Bega works as a real estate agent in Beverly Hills, California.
Filmography
Film +YearTitleRoleNotes1984Breakin' 2: Electric BoogalooDancer1985Tuff Turf1988For KeepsCarlita1991UncagedMickie1991MobstersAnna Lansky1995Get ShortyVikki VespaUncredited1995The American PresidentWhite House Staffer Laura1996Power 98Denise1997Lost HighwayRaquel1997Against the LawLucia the Liquor Store Clerk2000The Last ProducerRestaurant Manager2000Time of Her TimeDenise Gondelman2005Dating Games People PlayMona Evans2019Once Upon a Time in HollywoodCameoUncredited
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1984Silence of the HeartCindyTelevision film1985The Twilight ZoneGirlEpisode: "Dead Woman's Shoes/Wong's Lost and Found Emporium"1985Hardcastle and McCormickBettyEpisode: "You're Sixteen, You're Beautiful, and You're His"1985Highway to HeavenHeather FowlerEpisode: "The Secret"1986Small WonderMaryEpisode: "The Older Woman"1986–1989Head of the ClassMaria Borges68 episodes1990Freddy's NightmaresStacyEpisode: "Interior Loft Later"1990Beverly Hills, 90210Marianne MooreEpisode: "Class of Beverly Hills"199121 Jump StreetStephanie 'Stevie' PlummerEpisode: "Under the Influence"1995SeaQuest DSVSandra KirbyEpisode: "And Everything Nice"1997–1998C-16: FBILaura Sandoval4 episodes1999Martial LawDidi KirkusEpisode: "Trifecta"2002–2003CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationLeah3 episodes2002–2004The SopranosValentina La Paz7 episodes2005CSI: NYGrace WaldersonEpisode: "The Dove Commission"2007Nip/TuckPhotographerEpisode: "Joyce and Sharon Monroe"2008American Dad!Ms. AndersonEpisode: "Pulling Double Booty"2011Bird DogCarmenTelevision film
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