Elsa Pataky
Birth nameElsa Lafuente Medianu
Birth date18 July 1976 (age 50)
Birth placeMadrid, Spain
Alma materUniversidad CEU San Pablo
OccupationModel · actress
Years active1997–present
SpouseChris Hemsworth (m. 2010)

Elsa Lafuente Medianu (ˈelsa laˈfwente meˈðjanu; born 18 July 1976),[1] known professionally as Elsa Pataky, is a Spanish model and actress. Pataky is known for her leading role of Raquel Alonso in the Spanish teen drama Al salir de Clase (1997–2002), before garnering international recognition as Elena Neves in the Fast & Furious franchise. She has appeared in the films Snakes on a Plane (2006), Giallo (2009) and Give 'Em Hell, Malone (2009). She also starred in the Spanish film Di Di Hollywood (2010) and played Mr. Norton and the Vuvalini General in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024) in a dual role.

Early life

Pataky was born Elsa Lafuente Medianu in Madrid, Spain,[1] the daughter of José Francisco Lafuente, a Spanish biochemist, and Cristina Medianu Pataky, a Romanian publicist.[2][3][4] Her grandmother Rosa was from the Transylvania region of Romania.[5]

Pataky attended the Universidad CEU San Pablo,[6] studying journalism and taking acting classes. In addition to Spanish and Romanian, she is fluent in English, Italian, Portuguese, and French.[7][8]

Career

Pataky was a member of the Madrid theatre company Teatro Cámara de Ángel Gutiérrez. Eventually, she left school when she was cast in the television series Al salir de clase.[3] Some of her subsequent films were co-productions with the UK and France, which introduced her to working in English and French. She was in the cast of the television series Queen of Swords (2000) as Señora Vera Hidalgo, trophy wife of Gaspar Hidalgo and mistress of Captain Grisham, credited in the opening titles but appearing in only 14 of the 22 episodes. She also had a recurring role in the television series Los Serrano, playing teacher Raquel, who fell in love with her student Marcos (Fran Perea).[citation needed]

Pataky has appeared in over 10 Spanish films and co-starred in the French film Iznogoud (2004). She was also on the cover of August 2006 issue of Maxim. She was cast in 2009 in the Mexican series Mujeres Asesinas as Paula Moncada in the episode "Ana y Paula, Ultrajadas". She also starred in the action noir film Give 'Em Hell, Malone and Dario Argento's Giallo.[citation needed]

Pataky became the female face for the first collection of Time Force's jewelry line Ultimate Jewel, opposite football star Cristiano Ronaldo.[9] She played Officer Elena Neves in the movie Fast Five, with Dwayne Johnson as her partner, Luke Hobbs. MTV Networks' NextMovie.com named her one of the Breakout Stars to Watch for in 2011.[10] Pataky was a stand in for Natalie Portman in the post end credit scene in Thor: The Dark World.[11]

Pataky reprised her role as Elena Neves in Fast & Furious 6 (2013), Furious 7 (2015), and The Fate of the Furious (2017), the sixth, seventh and eighth installments of Fast & Furious film series respectively.[12]

In 2018, Pataky starred in the Australian web television series Tidelands as Adrielle Cuthbert. It was released on 14 December 2018 on Netflix.[13]

Pataky played the lead role in Interceptor, directed by Matthew Reilly, which was released in June 2022.[14]

Pataky co-founded a skincare brand called Purely Byron. The brand launched its first product in 2022. In March 2023, Purely Byron was placed in administration and put up for sale.[15] At the time, BWX Group owned a 47.4 per cent stake in the company, while Ido Leffler and Lance Kalish held about 22 per cent each, and Chris Hemsworth's Byron Bay 1st Management owned a 3.2 per cent stake.[16]

Personal life

Pataky dated French actor Michaël Youn from 2004–06 and American actor Adrien Brody from 2006–09.[17] She started dating Australian actor Chris Hemsworth in early 2010 after meeting through their mutual representatives. Pataky and Hemsworth married during the Christmas holidays in 2010.[18] They have three children together: a daughter, India Rose Hemsworth, and twin sons.[19][20][21] In 2015, the family moved from Los Angeles to Byron Bay, Australia.[22][23][24][25][26][27][28]

In September 2012, Pataky won €310,000 in a ruling by the Supreme Court of Spain against publishing group Ediciones Zeta, owner of the magazine Interviu which in March 2007 published topless photos of Pataky that had been taken with a long lens while she was changing clothes during a photoshoot for Elle magazine. The Zeta group said it would appeal against the decision.[29][needs update]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
1997Solo en la buhardillaChica revistaShort film
2000The Art of DyingCandela[30]
TatawoBlanqui[30]
Less is More Diana[30]
2001Don't Tempt MeWaitress in Hell
Twelfth NightMarta Cuspineda[30]
2002Peor imposible ¿qué puede fallar?Fátima[30]
2003Beyond Re-AnimatorLaura Olney
El furgónNina[30]
Atraco a las 3... y mediaKatya[30]
2004RomasantaBarbara
Tiovivo c. 1950Balbina
2005IznogoudPrehti-Ouhman
Arquitectura efímera deconstruidaVídeo 'Retorciendo palabras'Direct-to-video
NinetteAlajandra 'Ninette'
2006Snakes on a PlaneMaria
2007Manual of Love 2Cecilia
2008MáncoraXimena Saavedra[30]
Skate or DieDany
SantosLaura Luna[30]
2009GialloCeline
Give 'Em Hell, MaloneEvelyn
ShortsAllie HamiltonVoice; Spanish dub[30]
2010Mr. NiceIlza Kadegis
Di Di HollywoodDi Di
2011La importancia de llamarse EnestoShort film
Fast FiveElena Neves
Where the Road Meets the SunMichelle[31]
Snowflake, the White GorillaBruja del Norte / Brumhilda the WitchVoice[30]
2013All Things to All MenSophia Peters
The Wine of SummerVeronicaAlso producer
Fast & Furious 6Elena Neves
2015Furious 7
2017The Fate of the Furious[32]
201812 StrongJean Nelson
2022InterceptorJJ Collins[14]
Thor: Love and ThunderWolf Woman
Poker FacePenelope
CarmenGabrielle
2023Fast XElena NevesArchive footage from Fast Five
2024Furiosa: A Mad Max SagaMr. Norton / Vuvalini GeneralDual role[33]

Television

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
1997Al salir de claseRaquel Alonso192 episodes
1998Tio Willy1 episode
La vida en el aire13 episodes
2000Hospital CentralMaribel2 episodes
Queen of SwordsVera Hidalgo14 episodes
2002ClaraTelevision film
ParaísoLuisaEpisode: "El cebo"
20037 vidasCristinaEpisode: "La jaula de las locas"
Los SerranoRaquel Albaladejo11 episodes
2005Films to Keep You Awake: The Christmas TaleEkranTelevision film[34]
2009Mujeres asesinasPaula MoncadaEpisode: "Ana y Paula, ultrajadas"
2018TidelandsAdrielle CuthbertMain role

Music videos

YearArtistSongRef.
2004Fangoria"Retorciendo Palabras"[35]

References

  1. ^ "Elsa Pataky". The New York Times. 2015. Archived from the original on 5 April 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
  2. ^ "La imagen de Elsa Pataky con su madre donde demuestra de dónde ha sacado su belleza". Antena 3. 11 May 2021.
  3. ^ "Elsa Pataky Biography". Yahoo! Movies. Archived 29 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ^ "Elsa Pataky". Vogue Italia. Archived from the original on 29 November 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2010.
  5. ^ Elsa Pataky (2018-05-03). "El secreto de una vida larga y saludable (The secret of a long and healthy life)". Glamour: Elsa Pataky Confidential – El blog de Elsa Pataky. Retrieved 2019-01-25.
  6. ^ "Blog Alumni CEU: Elsa Pataky y Ana Pastor". Universidad de San Pablo CEU. 14 December 2015. Archived from the original on 21 July 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  7. ^ "Actors and Actresses Who Speak Multiple Languages". 5 August 2016. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  8. ^ "20 things to know about Chris Hemsworth's wife, Elsa Pataky". sheknows.com. June 21, 2016. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  9. ^ "Elsa Pataki presented Time Force jewelry collection". Be Global Fashion Network. 6 December 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  10. ^ Evry, Max (5 January 2011). "25 Breakout Stars to Watch for in 2011". Next Movie. Archived from the original on 8 March 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  11. ^ Lee, Esther (3 December 2013). "Natalie Portman: Chris Hemsworth's Wife Elsa Pataky Was Stand-In". Us Weekly. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  12. ^ "Djimon Hounsou Joins Fast & Furious 7". Empire. 12 September 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  13. ^ "Elsa Pataky Will Play A Half-Siren, Half-Human In Netflix's First OG Australian Series". Elle Australia. 26 March 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  14. ^ "Author Matthew Reilly goes from books to big screen in Interceptor directing debut". ABC News Australia. 10 October 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  15. ^ Kruger, Jessica Yun, Colin (2023-03-15). "Purely Byron is for sale, but Pataky's role in brand's future unclear". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  16. ^ England, Cameron (2023-03-14). "Purely Byron, the skincare firm backed by Elsa Pataky and Chris Hemsworth, is in administration". The Australian. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  17. ^ Hello (October 7, 2008). "Adrien and Spanish love Elsa share their 'dream castle' with HELLO!". Hello. Retrieved December 28, 2012.
  18. ^ Jordan, Julie (28 December 2010). "Thor Star Chris Hemsworth Gets Married". People. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  19. ^ Macaluso, Beth Anne (12 May 2012). "Chris Hemsworth's Wife Elsa Pataky Gives Birth to Daughter India!". US Weekly. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  20. ^ Pataky, Elsa. "Cómo he preparado la llegada de los bebés" (in Spanish). Glamour. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  21. ^ Nudd, Tim & Jordan, Julie (25 March 2014). "Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky Name Twin Sons Tristan and Sasha". People. Archived from the original on 21 March 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  22. ^ Kehagias, Melissa (27 September 2014). "Chris Hemsworth has bought himself a $7 million Byron Bay home". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). Archived 24 March 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  23. ^ "Elsa Pataky reveals how her life has changed since moving to Australia with Chris Hemsworth". Hello!. 10 February 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2026. "As there is a tropical climate and hippie lifestyle, you often see people walking barefoot on the street," [Pataky] wrote, adding: "I was quite surprised at first, but now even I walk barefoot sometimes."
  24. ^ Loreto, Maria (3 November 2021). "Elsa Pataky goes shopping barefoot with her kids". Hola! USA. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  25. ^ Briggs, Zoe (16 November 2022). "Elsa Pataky On Falling Utterly In Love With Byron Bay". Beauticate. Retrieved 13 January 2026. While celebrating the launch of her new skincare line, Purely Byron, Elsa sat down with our founder Sigourney and explained why she feels so proud to use the town's name in her range, why living in a place where she can run around in bare feet matters so much to her [...] [Pataky:] I just love to be barefoot and I am all the time here!
  26. ^ James, Faye (15 February 2025). "Elsa Pataky showcases incredibly toned legs as she steps out in Daisy Dukes with new family member". Hello!. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  27. ^ Loreto, Maria (14 March 2025). "Elsa Pataky and Chris Hemsworth share the perks of living in Australia". Hola! USA. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  28. ^ Sanwari, Ahad (7 August 2025). "Chris Hemsworth's twin sons divide fans as they go barefoot in new family photo — see". Hello!. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  29. ^ Govan, Fiona (18 September 2012). "Spanish actress Elsa Pataky wins topless photo case". The Daily Telegraph. Archived 12 January 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  30. ^ "Films". ElsaPataky.com. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
  31. ^ "Paths That Cross in Los Angeles". The New York Times. 28 July 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  32. ^ "Elsa Pataky regresa la gran pantalla con Fast & Furious 8". abc.es. 14 May 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  33. ^ Mazzeo, Esme & Rockson, Gabrielle (17 May 2024). "Chris Hemsworth Explains Why Working with Wife Elsa Pataky on Furiosa Was 'Like Date Night for Us' (Exclusive)". People. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  34. ^ "The Christmas Tale (2005)". Film Reel Reviews. 10 December 2010. Archived from the original on 8 July 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  35. ^ "13 famosos que no recordarás que salieron en un videoclip". Europa FM. May 31, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2026.