Born and raised in Mexico

At age 11, moved with family from Mexico to Texas

Was the victim of a drive-by shooting at age 12 while living in San Antonio, Texas; suffered wound to the head

Stranded in the Philippines for eight months when the owner of the restaurant at which she was working as a cashier confiscated her passport because he was infatuated with her

Returned to USA and lived in El Paso, Texas; entered local beauty pageant in 1984

Won the title of Miss USA, becoming first (and to date only) Latina to hold that honor

TV-movie debut in "The Alamo: 13 Days to Glory" (NBC)

Feature film debut in "Silent Night Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out!"

Had lead role as a Brazilian woman who introduces the Lambada to the USA in "The Forbidden Dance"

Appeared as Carla Greco on the ABC daytime serial "General Hospital"

Had featured role in "Exit to Eden"

Appeared in the film "Black Scorpion II: Aftershock"; aired on Showtime

Portrayed policewoman Paula Stevens on the NBC daytime drama "Sunset Beach"

Cast as Marisleysis Gonzalez in the Fox docudrama "The Elian Gonzalez Story"

Appeared in "Little Nicky"

Made guest appearance on the Sci-Fi series "Black Scorpion"

Starred as a mysterious amnesiac in David Lynch's halucinatory "Mulholland Dr." (originally shot as a 1999 pilot for a potential ABC series; when the network passed, Lynch received funding to turn material into a feature film)

Appeared in the feature "John Q"

Cast as Cathryn in the thriller "Willard"

Played John Travolta's wife in "The Punisher"

Co-starred with Gael García Bernal in "The King," a low-budget American film by the British documentary-maker James Marsh

Cast in the big-screen adaptation of "Nancy Drew"

Had a supporting role in Gabriel Garcia Márquez's "Love in the Time of Cholera"