Begonya Plaza

Begonya Plaza is a Spanish/American bilingual actor, writer, filmmaker and chanteuse. Her formative years were mostly spent between Northern Spain, Colombia and Los Angeles. At the age of nine she starred in the Hollywood independent film, "Big Sister" and with that salary she lived a year in Colombia after begging her parents to allow her return to her homeland because she had not been there since age two. From two to six the family had been living in Gernika, northern Spain, before moving to Hollywood, California where her father opened a bakery on Hollywood Boulevard and Gower. After years studying abroad, Begonya returned to Los Angles where she represented her high school, John Marshall High, as a television news writer and reporter in a weekly after school program on channel 58. Some of her first acting teachers were Jeff Corey, and Eric Morris, attended Los Angeles City College Theatre Academy, and continued in New York with Herbert Berghof, Geraldine Page, and Michael Howard. She studied dance for several years at Alvin Ailey, and voice with Graham Bernard. Right out of college was cast in the role of "Hooker #2" in 48HRS by director Walter Hill and producer, Joel Silvers. Begonya's only request was that she not be naked as the role had initially been intended. After several weeks of deliberation they accepted, and instead dressed Begonya in an Indian costume, changing her title to "Indian Hooker". Begonya produced, directed, wrote, and, alongside film editor, Jack Tucker, edited "Gernika Lives". In 2003, Begonya filmed and edited, "Souvenir Views", about a young man's self-imposed rite of passage, influenced by the Situationist Movement, premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival, Cuba's Festival International Del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano, Gerona, Spain, and airing for three years on the Independent Film Channel. In 2012, Begonya's full-length three character play, "Teresa's Ecstasy" had its world Off-Broadway premiere at the Cherry Lane Theatre, where she also acted opposite the late, Shawn Elliott, and Linda Larkin. Now published by Broadway Play Publishing, Inc. Begonya has been directed in featured roles by Michael Mann, Amy Jones, Oliver Stone, Tim Hunter, Clint Eastwood, and Philip Seymour Hoffman among others. Begonya has acted alongside actors like, Robert De Niro, Clint Eastwood, Tom Cruise, Willem Dafoe, Klaus Kinski, Roddy McDowall, and Carrol O'Connor. She starred in the CBS series "Dark Justice" shot on location in Barcelona, where her daughter with renown Catalán artist, Xano Armenter, was born. "American Hero" is a 15-minute short, that contemplates the consequences of war on an Iraqi Veteran with PTSD and the relationship with his sister. Begonya continues pursuing her long time dream to produce her film script, "Persistence of Memory" about one year in the life of Salvador Dalí, and his lascivious wife, Gala, seen from the eyes of a young lover.