Cindy Vela
Cindy Vela (born January 4, 1979) is an American actress and model. She appeared in Black November (2012), Endgame (2015), Camino (2016) and Run Hide Fight (2020).
Cindy Vela | |
---|---|
Born | Brownsville, Texas, U.S. | January 4, 1979
Education | University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College (B.A.) |
Occupation(s) | Actress, model |
Years active | 2000–present |
Partner(s) | Kiefer Sutherland (2014–present; engaged) |
Website | cindyvela |
Early life and education
Vela was born in Brownsville, Texas in 1979.[1] She later lived in Olmito.[2] Vela is the daughter of Lupita and Fred Vela. She has a brother named Freddy Vela.[3] She graduated from Los Fresnos High School.[2] Vela attended the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College,[3] where she was the lead saxophonist in the jazz band and concert band. She later received a bachelor of arts degree in music education.[4]
She became a band director at Memorial Middle School and briefly[5] directed the band at Harlingen High School. In 2000, she won the title of Miss Latina.[6][7] A photographer discovered her while she was in college and Vela moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting and modeling.[4]
Career
Vela has played supporting roles in Mexican-American productions including Harvest of Redemption (2007), Desdemona: A Love Story (2009), and Thou Shalt Not Kill (2014). Vela's first appearance is in 2005 drama Puños rosas, in an uncredited role. In a 2009 film Ready or Not, she played one of Alex Rocco's mistress. She was praised for her role in Desdemona: A Love Story (2009), which won best feature film at the Boston Film Festival.[1][8] Vela appeared in a music video for Kris Allen's "The Truth" in 2010.[8] She had previously been in videos for Carlos Santana, Christina Aguilera and Daddy Yankee.[9]
In 2012, she appeared in Black November, as agent Consuelos.[4] She appeared as a TV reporter in a 2016 film Camino starring Zoë Bell. Vela appeared in the film It's Gawd (2017) as Lucy.[6] One of Ray Bradbury final plays he produced, The Wonderful Ice Cream Suite, featured Vela. Vela appears in the film Run Hide Fight distributed by The Daily Wire and released in 2020 as the character Ms. Nunez, a Spanish teacher caught in the midst of a school shooting.
Exhibit B5
Vela appeared in the short film Exhibit-B5 directed by Kyle Rankin and co-starring Corin Nemec and Mircea Monroe. In the film Vela is shown being hit by a car after being "pranked" by her roommate. The film was shared widely on social media as being real.[10][11] The video was covered by MSNBC Caught on Camera, for which Vela gave an interview. In an interview with Herald de Paris, Vela states that she realised the impact of Exhibit B-5 when she began to be asked for interviews from foreign media outlets.[4]
Modeling career
Vela has taken part in several modeling campaigns. She appeared on boxes of Special K in Mexico, Colombia and Puerto Rico.[2] She was handpicked for the campaign by designer Ximena Valero.[12]
She appeared in campaigns for Motorola, OPI Products and Wells Fargo.[4] She was a cover girl for Bella Petite[13] and L'Estilo magazine.
Personal life
Vela is a trained saxophonist and a fan of Harry Potter.[6] Her brother Freddy is a local news and weather anchor in the Rio Grande Valley.[3][14] Vela began dating actor Kiefer Sutherland in 2014. They kept their relationship private up until 2017.[15][16] Vela goes with Sutherland and his band on tour promoting his album Down in a Hole. Vela and Sutherland became engaged in 2017.[16] As of 2019, Vela resides in Toluca Lake, Los Angeles, with Sutherland.[17]
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Note |
---|---|---|---|
2005 | Puños Rosas | La Gritona | |
2006 | Hollywood Familia | Teen francesca | |
2007 | Harvest of Redemption | Troquero's Daughter | |
2009 | Ready or Not | Don Julio's Girl | |
2009 | Desdemona: A Love Story | Desdemona | Lead actress |
2010 | Exhibit B-5 | Rachel | Viral video |
2010 | Boyle Heights | Girl cop | Short film |
2012 | La Chamba | Pregnant Chola | TV series, 5 episodes |
2012 | Black November | Agent Consuelos | |
2012 | Nuclear Family | Karen | TV movie |
2012 | The Polterguys | Mindy | |
2014 | News Burrito | Cindy | |
2014 | Alma | Becky | Short film |
2014 | Thou Shalt Not Kill | Gabby Pensiero | |
2015 | Endgame | Detention Teacher | |
2016 | Camino | TV Reporter | |
2017 | It's Gawd! | Lucy | |
2020 | Run Hide Fight | Ms. Nunez | |
2024 | Oak | Detective Somers | |
References
- "Movie Starring Valley Actress Wins Top Prize at Boston Film Fest". The Monitor. October 2, 2009. Retrieved May 10, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- Martinez, Marcy (October 13, 2011). "Kellogg's Special "K" model Cindy Vela speaks with Marcy Martinez". Valley Central. CBS 4 News Rio Grande Valley.
- Garcia, Kevin (May 11, 2003). "UTB-TSC graduates awarded degrees". Brownsville Herald. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
- Hernandez, Alan Carlos (February 11, 2013). "Cindy Vela Model, Actor, Musician and quite possibly the next big thing". Herald de Paris. Archived from the original on August 29, 2018. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
- "Valley Actress Cindy Vela's New Movie Includes General Hospital ER Cast Members". The Monitor. September 11, 2009. Retrieved May 11, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- Telling, Gillian; Stone, Natalie (July 12, 2017). "Kiefer Sutherland Is Dating Cindy Vela — 5 Things to Know About the Actress". People. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
- "hall of fame - past titeholders". misslatina.com. Archived from the original on August 26, 2018. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
- Garcia, Brandon R. (August 27, 2010). "Brownsville's Cindy Vela Takes Us Behind the Scenes of Kris Allen's New Music Video". The Monitor. Retrieved May 10, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Top 5 Rising Valley Stars". The Monitor. December 26, 2008. Retrieved May 10, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Exhibit B-5: Girl Gets Hit By Car After Prank Goes Wrong". snopes.com. November 25, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
- "Kiefer Sutherland y Cindy Vela, nueva pareja" (in Spanish). La Vanguardia. July 13, 2017. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
- "Fighting for a chance at stardom has always been a part of Cindy Vela's life". CBS 4 News Rio Grande Valley. October 14, 2011.
- "Model and Talent Industry News: The Bella Petite Hour [petite model]". Bellapetite. December 8, 2010. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
- Villafañe, Veronica (January 26, 2016). "KGBT hires Vela as weekend weather anchor". Media Moves. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
- Nolasco, Stephanie (July 12, 2017). "Kiefer Sutherland 'secretly dating' Cindy Vela, says report". Fox News. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
- Teague, Jack; Hines, Dominique (July 13, 2017). "Kiefer Sutherland 'engaged' to girlfriend Cindy Vela as secret relationship is revealed". Sunday Express. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
- Bertodano, Helena de (February 14, 2020). "Kiefer Sutherland on Hollywood hellraising and bouncing back: 'I am one of the luckiest people I know'". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved April 9, 2020.