Laura Urgelles
- Actress
- Producer
Laura Urgelles is a Cuban American actress and dancer. Her work includes the film The War Within by Marta D'Ocon (Cannes 2022 AmPav Emergent Filmmaker Selection), Like A Dirty French Novel by Mike Cuenca, Butter by Jessica Janos (Seduced, Prettyface), and the immersive theater productions The Lust Experience: Anointed, and Theatre Macabre, both directed by Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II, III, IV, Spiral). She has also worked with playwright Heather McDonald and choreographer Susan Shields in the production of the play Stay that premiered at The Lansburgh Theatre in Washington DC, and in various occasions with Tony award winner Christopher Wheeldon (An American in Paris).
Laura started acting in children's plays at her elementary school before enrolling in Ballet School in her native Cuba. At 16 years old she was among the first ballerinas to win a Gold medal for Cuba in an International Ballet competition. With two decades of stage experience described as "powerful, deep, heartfelt performances that takes audiences on a journey", she danced the principal roles of Swan Lake, Giselle, Coppelia, Romeo and Juliet, The Nutcracker as well as the works of choreographers like Twyla Tharp, Paul Taylor, Mark Morris, and William Forsythe.
She studied acting at The Shakespeare Theatre in Washington DC with the late PJ Paparelli, at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, and with mentor and coach Ivana Chubbuck in Los Angeles.