Tasha de Vasconcelos
| Tasha de Vasconcelos | |
|---|---|
| Born |
15 August 1966 Beira, Mozambique |
| Modeling information | |
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) |
| Hair color | Chestnut |
| Eye color | Brown |
| Website | |
| http://www.tashadevasconcelos.com | |
Sandra de Vasconcelos Mota e Cunha, better known under the name Tasha de Vasconcelos, is a Mozambique-born Canadian model, actress, and humanitarian.
Biography
Childhood
De Vasconcelos was born in Beira, Mozambique. Her family was forced to flee from two revolutions: a first, in that country, when she was 8 years old, and then a second at 14 from Rhodesia. They moved to Canada in 1980, where de Vasconcelos studied International Relations at the University of British Columbia.[1][2]
Modeling career
At the age of 19, de Vasconcelos was discovered by a scout from Elite Model Management and began her modeling career. She started in New York City and adopted the name Tasha on the suggestion of her agent.[2][3] She worked for many different brands, including Dolce & Gabbana and Van Cleef & Arpels, and notably for Dior and Yves Saint Laurent.[1][4]
Acting
De Vasconcelos' acting career began with a role in the French film Riches, belles etc., in 1998. She then joined the cours Florent, then the Central School of Speech and Drama, in London, and the Actors Studio in Los Angeles.[5]
She appeared in several television series at the beginning of 2000. She acted in the BBC One series Sunburn and portrayed Lauren in five episodes of Perfect World in 2000. The following year she appeared in Largo Winch and in the remake of Murder on the Orient Express for Columbia Broadcasting System. She appeared in Relic Hunter and the television series Dinotopia in 2002, and as Countess Alexandra in the feature film Johnny English, directed by Peter Howitt and released in 2003. The same year, she appeared in Fatal Attraction and Dot the ill.[5][6] She appeared in the telefilm Une suite pour deux, aired in September 2008 by French channel. TF1[5][6]
She acted in the play Camino Real from Tennessee Williams, at the Tristan Bates theatre in London.[5]
Humanitarian work
During the 1990s, de Vasconcelos began humanitarian work. She attended missions with UNICEF in Bolivia, Algeria, and to Mozambique with UNAids. In 1996 she collaborated with Nelson Mandela Children's Fund. She was given a humanitarian honor by UNESCO in 2005.[1][4]
In March 2006, the model founded AMOR (Aide Mondiale Orphelins Réconfort), a foundation to reduce the rate of maternal mortality in Kasese, Malawi, and the transmission of AIDS from mother to child. In 2009, the maternity hospital was opened. AMOR was first supported by American actor Paul Newman and Prince Albert II de Monaco. De Vasconcelos was nominated as the first and only ambassador to Institut Pasteur in April 2009, and the following year on march, the 8th., was appointed by president José Manuel Barroso to be ambassador of the European Union to Combat Poverty and Social Exclusion.[1][2][4] In November 2010, Tasha de Vasconcelos spoke at the Women's Forum Deauville. In March 2011 at the International Women's Day in Paris, as well as on June 23, 2012 at Villepinte, Tasha de Vasconcelos spoke in favor of the Achraf Refugees.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Mulholland, Tara (December 28, 2009). The New York Times, ed. "Fashion Models Start Getting Their Hands Dirty".
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Aeberhardt, Chloé (January 20, 2011). "La belle apeurée" [The beaty, afraid]. Libération (in French). FR.
- ↑ Steinlen, Claire (January 23, 2011). "Tasha de Vasconcelos. Un top très modèle" [Tasha de Vasconcelos, a top very model]. Le Télégramme de Brest (in French). FR.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 de Kinkelin, Anne (June 28, 2010). "Tasha de Vasconcelos : sois belle et ouvre-la !" [Tasha de Vasconcelos: be beautiful and open it!]. In Aufeminin.com. Portraits de femmes (in French).
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "Des podiums au 7 ème art" [From catwalks to the 7th art]. Le Parisien (in French). FR. March 4, 2010.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Tasha de Vasconcelos". Internet Movie Database.