Talisa Soto Biography

American actress and model Talisa Soto is perhaps best known for her work in the Mortal Kombat series as well as 2001’s Piñero. She is also known for her high profile marriage to a fellow big name actor in 2002.

Miriam Soto, known popularly as Talisa Soto, was born March 27, 1967 in Brooklyn, New York. Her parents were of Puerto Rican descent. The family subsequently moved to Northampton, Massachusetts when Soto was still very young.

Moving to a neighborhood where Puerto Ricans were scarce, Soto felt she and her family were discriminated against, and she became a self-confessed “loner.”

Soto began her professional career from an early age, modeling from the time she was fifteen on. By 1985, she had three years of experience under her belt, and she attempted to come under contract with Ford Modeling Agency. They rejected her, however, because they felt her look was simply too Latina.

Upset but determined, Soto found success with Click Model Management. They signed her immediately, and she traveled to Europe to begin her modeling work in earnest. Throughout the 80s, Soto graced the covers of many fashion magazines from Glamour to Vogue to Mademoiselle.

Deciding to diversify her career interests, Soto entered the world of acting. She made her onscreen debut in 1988’s Spike of Bensonhurst. The film starred Sasha Mitchell, Ernest Borgnine, and Anne De Salvo.

She increased her visibility in the following year when she appeared opposite Timothy Dalton and Carey Lowell in the classic James Bond film License to Kill.

Bouncing around film and television, her acting career received a much needed break in 1993 when she landed a recurring role on Harts of the West. She appeared through 1994 as Cassie along with series regular Beau Bridges.

Hitting her stride in the mid-90s, she also showed up in the romantic comedy Don Juan DeMarco beside acting greats Marlon Brando, Johnny Depp, and Faye Dunaway.

She took another notable role in the tepidly received 1995 fantasy Mortal Kombat. The video game to big screen adaptation also featured Christopher Lambert, Robin Shou, Bridgette Wilson, and Trevor Goddard.

She reprised her role as Princess Kitana in 1997’s Mortal Kombat: Annihilation with series newcomers Sandra Hess and Musetta Vander.

One of her most notable roles came in the 2001 biopic Piñero. Directed and written by Leon Ichaso, the production starred Benjamin Bratt and featured Giancarlo Esposito, Rita Moreno, and Nelson Vasquez.

Her last project was 2002’s Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever with Antonio Banderas and Lucy Liu.

Others may recognize Soto for her work in Marc Anthony’s music video for the single “I Need to Know.”

She is also noted for being chosen as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People according to People magazine in 1990.

In her personal life, Soto married Costas Mandylor in mid 1997. They divorced shortly after in 2000.

She subsequently married here Piñero costar Bratt on April 13, 2002. They have two children and are currently still together.