Gianella Neyra

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Gianella Neyra Magana (born August 3, 1977, Lima, Peru), is an actress and model who is better known plainly as Gianella Neyra.

Neyra began her acting at the age of seven, in 1985. As a youngster, she went to study at New York City's prestigious acting school, the Lee Strasberg studio.

Back in Peru, she became a famous model, appearing in ads for various important firms. Later on, she would become famous across her home-country as a telenovela actress, starring in many prime-time hits.

It was in 2002, however, that she became an international superstar, when she was hired by Peru's Iguana Productions to star, alongside Segundo Cernadas, in the major international hit, "Bésame Tonto" ("Kiss me, Fool"), as the daughter of a mafia boss who falls in love with a guy whose physical appearance makes many of the characters in the soap opera think of him as a nerd.

"Bésame Tonto" became such a wide international hit, that Neyra became a major celebrity in countries such as Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, the Philippines, Switzerland, Russia and even in Cernares' native Argentina.

"Bésame Tonto" began to be shown in the United States by Univision in 2004, giving Neyra her first exposure in front of an American audience.

That same year, Neyra went to Argentina to star in "Luna Salvaje" ("Savage Moon"), starring with Juan Darthés and acting alongside teenaged star Catalina Artusi, among others.

During 2005, Neyra starred in another major Argentine telenovela, Yago, Pasion Morena ("Yayo, Brown Passion"), alongside Facundo Arana. Neyra played "Morena" in this Telefe production.