Laura Urgelles

Laura Urgelles is a Cuban-American actress and former professional ballet dancer. Her credits include the film Who Are You? by Salvador Carrasco, Like A Dirty French Novel by Mike Cuenca, for which her performance was called "hair-raisingly good", The War Within by Marta D'Ocon, which premiered at Cannes Film Festival 2022, as an official selection of the American Pavilion Emergent Filmmakers Showcase, Butter by Jesica Janos, and the Immersive Theater productions Theatre Macabre and The Lust Experience: Anointed, both directed by Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II, III, IV, Spiral). She has also worked with playwright Heather McDonald and choreographer Susan Shields in the production of the play Stay that premiered at The Lansburgh Theatre in Washington DC, and in various occasions with Tony award winner Christopher Wheeldon (An American in Paris). Known for her big smile, infectious laugh with a deep dark voice and dancing eyes, she is your enigmatic woman, confident and sensual, yet emotionally vulnerable. Laura started acting in children's plays at her elementary school before enrolling in Ballet School in her native Cuba. At 16 years old she was among the first ballerinas to win a Gold medal for Cuba in an International Ballet competition. With two decades of stage experience described as "powerful, deep, heartfelt performances that takes audiences on a journey", she danced the principal roles of Swan Lake, Giselle, Coppelia, Romeo and Juliet, The Nutcracker as well as the works of choreographers like Twyla Tharp, Paul Taylor, Mark Morris, and William Forsythe. She studied acting at The Shakespeare Theatre in Washington DC with the late PJ Paparelli, at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, and continues to train with renowned mentor and coach Ivana Chubbuck in Los Angeles.