Patricia Carola Velásquez Semprún (born 31 January 1971) is a Venezuelan actress, model, public speaker, and philanthropist. She is best known for portraying Anck-su-namun in the 1999 film The Mummy and its 2001 sequel The Mummy Returns.
In addition to her work in film and fashion, Velásquez has participated in public speaking engagements at international forums and academic institutions, including TED-related events, focusing on topics such as leadership, authenticity, personal transformation and resilience.
In 2002, she founded the Wayuu Taya Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the living conditions of the Wayuu people and supporting sustainable community development while preserving cultural traditions.
Early life Velásquez was born in Maracaibo, Venezuela, the fifth of six children of a mestizo father and a mother of indigenous Wayuu heritage.
She is fluent in English, Spanish, French, and Italian.
Career
Acting & modelling From 1995 to 2000, Velásquez studied acting in Los Angeles and New York. She walked runways in ready-to-wear fashion shows for designers including Chanel, Chloé, John Galliano, Claude Montana, and Dolce & Gabbana, among others. Velásquez also appeared in print advertisements for Chanel's Allure, Monsoon, and Roberto Verino's Verino fragrance, among others.
During her modeling career, she appeared on the covers of magazines such as Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and Marie Claire. She served as the face of CoverGirl for eight years, becoming the brand’s first Latin supermodel to transition into mainstream media.
Velásquez portrayed Meela Nais / Anck-Su-Namun in the 1999 film The Mummy and its 2001 sequel The Mummy Returns.
She made special appearances in music videos, including "Breaking the Girl" by Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Leave Virginia Alone" by Rod Stewart, "Para Llorar" by Ricardo Montaner, and "Spinning the Wheel" by George Michael.
In 2006, Velásquez was recognized for her debut stage performance in the lead role of School of the Americas at the Public Theater in New York City.
In 2012, she competed on behalf of her charity, the Wayúu Tayá Foundation, on the twelfth season of The Apprentice.
Velásquez played Begoña in several episodes of The L Word during its fifth season (2008). She had a recurring role as Marta Estrella on Arrested Development. On CSI: Miami, she guest-starred as Celia Gonzalez in the episode "From the Grave". She also had a recurring role as Nez in the first season of Rescue Me and guest appearances on Ugly Betty and Hawaii Five-0. Additionally, she voiced Marisol Díez Delgado in SSX Tricky and Unuratu in Shadow of the Tomb Raider.
In 2019, she played Patricia Alvarez in the horror film The Curse of La Llorona.
In 2020, Velásquez appeared as Nurse Velasquez in Malignant, Mariela Vicuna in Brut Force.
In 2024, she starred in the lead role of Maya, a film addressing human trafficking, directed by Julia Verdin. In 2025, she appeared in No Address, a film highlighting homelessness.
Philanthropy In 2002, Velásquez founded The Wayuu Taya Foundation, a non‑profit organization dedicated to assisting the Wayuu, an indigenous people located in northwestern Venezuela and northern Colombia. In 2010, after the devastating Haiti earthquake, the Wayúu Tayá Foundation commissioned a special symbol of hope to raise funds for the victims of the earthquake, sold with the slogan *Keep the "H" Close to Your Heart—Help Haiti Hope*.
Velásquez was appointed a UNESCO Artist for Peace (Goodwill Ambassador) in June 2003, during the International Decade for the World's Indigenous People, in recognition of her work to protect the Wayúu indigenous people and safeguard their cultural heritage.
On August 30, 2018, the Organization of American States (OAS) appointed Velásquez as Goodwill Ambassador for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples of the Americas during a ceremony at its headquarters in Washington, D.C.
In 2024, Velásquez was featured in Time magazine.
Speaking Velásquez has spoken at TED Conference, The Clinton Global Initiative, The Human Rights Campaign, and other venues.
Awards Velásquez was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the 2022 Imagen Awards, for her role as Meg in List of a Lifetime.
In 2009, Velásquez received the Women Together Award at the United Nations, an event recognising individuals and institutions dedicated to creating a more equal society.
In 2015, the LA Femme Film Festival presented Velásquez with its Humanitarian Award for her philanthropic efforts.
In 2018, Velásquez was honored by the Human Rights Campaign with the Visibility Award in New England.
Personal life In February 2015, Velásquez released her memoir Straight Walk, recalling her journey from poverty to international acclaim, saying that she wanted to set an example of honesty for her daughter.
Velásquez is in a relationship with social venture philanthropist Alison Lawton.
Filmography Film YearTitleRoleNotes1995UnzippedHerselfDocumentaryCatwalk1996Le JaguarMaya1997EruptionLuisa Soares1999BeowulfPendraThe MummyAnck-Su-NamunNo VacancyRamonaFacadeJuanita2000CommittedCarmenSaint BernardClaudiaTurn It Up2001The Mummy ReturnsMeela Nais / Anck-Su-Namun2004MindhuntersNicole WillisZapata: El sueño del héroeJosefa12 Days of Christmas EveIsobel Frias2011Cenizas eternasAna2014Liz in SeptemberLiz2016Guys Reading PoemsMother2017Little HeroesPilar2019The Curse of La LloronaPatricia Alvarez2021MalignantNurseBrut ForceMariela Vicuña List of a Lifetime Meg 2022Free Dead or AliveSoledadSatanic HispanicsMaribel2025 No Address Gabrielle
Television YearTitleRoleNotes2001EdSonja AmataEpisode: "Closure"2002FidelMirta Díaz-BalartTelevision filmE! Historias verdaderas: El peso de una coronaHerselfTelevision documentary2002–2004American FamilyAdela / Elena15 episodes2003–2004Arrested DevelopmentMarta Estrella5 episodes2004Rescue MeNez2 episodes12 Days of Christmas EveIsobel FriasTelevision film2005CSI: MiamiCelia GonzalezEpisode: "From the Grave"2008The L WordBegoña / Karina5 episodes2010Ugly BettyVictoria VelezEpisode: "Chica and the Man"2011Almighty ThorJárnsaxaTelevision film2012The ApprenticeContestant14 episodes2019Hawaii Five-0Teresa EstradaEpisode: "Pupuhi Ka He'e O Kai Uli"
Video games YearTitleRoleNotes2001SSX TrickyMarisol Diez DelgadoVoice2018Shadow of the Tomb RaiderUnuratu
References
External links