Gabriela Spanic (born Gabriela Elena Spanic Utrera, 10 December 1973) is an award-winning Venezuelan actress best known for her roles in telenovelas. Her twin sister is model/actress Daniela Spanic. She has a younger sister Patricia, and two brothers Antonio and Adiel. Spanic's father is Croatian, having moved to Venezuela with his parents in 1960. Her mother is English , Norma Ultera and she was born in London. Her career started in the Miss Venezuela pageant in 1992 as Miss Guarico. Spanic began her university studies in psychology, but always had a latent desire for acting. Her career received a major boost in the mid 90s when she started having leading roles in Venezuelan soaps. In 2002, she became the protagonist for La Venganza, where she played a skilled boxer armed with a myriad of colored boxing gloves and swimsuit atires. She won the Orquidea Award in 2005 for her trajectory as an actress, as well as the prestigious FAMAS Award for Best Actress for her role in 'Tierra de Pasiones'.