Leslie Bega

Leslie Rae Bega, born on April 17, 1967, in Los Angeles, is a distinguished American actress renowned for her contributions to theater, film, and television. She hails from a culturally rich background, with her father being Sephardi Jewish and her mother of Russian Jewish descent, and she is fluent in both Spanish and French. Bega excelled academically as valedictorian at Lycée Français de Los Angeles before pursuing further education at the University of Southern California.

Bega garnered acclaim for her role as Maria Borges in the hit sitcom *Head of the Class*. She also made a significant impact in David Lynch’s psychological thriller *Lost Highway* and became a familiar face on the long-running series *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation*. Additionally, she portrayed Valentina La Paz in the critically acclaimed drama *The Sopranos*. Bega's versatility shines through her appearances in the breakdancing classics *Breakin* and *Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo*, as well as in the 1991 film *Mobsters*, where she played Anna Lansky.

Her television resume includes guest roles on popular series such as *21 Jump Street*, *Beverly Hills, 90210*, *The New Twilight Zone*, and *Highway to Heaven*. Bega has also made her mark in theater, performing in productions like *King Lear*, *The Merchant of Venice*, *Gypsy*, *Grease*, *The Sound of Music*, and as Maria in *West Side Story* at the Westchester Theatre.