Czech Beauty

Background:

“Ever since I was a very little girl, I've dreamed of acting. You can't be a model at age 60, but you certainly can be an actress. So I'd like to be in that profession.” Eva Herzigova

Eva Herzigova is a Czech model and actress. She was once ranked No. 15 on the Channel 5 list of “World's greatest supermodel.” In 2000, she was awarded New York International Independent Film & Video Festival's Grand Jury Prize for her starring role as Christine in the film “Just for the Time Being” (2000).

Herzigova has two sons, George (born 2007) and Phillip (born 2011), with her boyfriend, Turinese entrepreneur Gregorio Marsiaj. She was formerly married to drummer Tico Torres from 1996 to 1998. In 2000, she was romantically linked to music mogul Guy Oseary. An intelligent woman, Herzigova speaks four languages: English, Czech, Russian, and French. In her spare time, she enjoys horseback riding, photography, playing tennis, and cooking. Her other interests include pottery, horseback riding, reading, going to the movies, and riding her Harley Davidson.

Sporty Girl

Childhood and Family:

Eva Herzigova was born on March 12, 1973, in Litvinov, Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic), to an electrician father and a secretary mother. She leaned the values of hard work, perseverance and dedication from her parents. Raised in a Northern Czechoslovakian village, she never dreamed of becoming a model and instead took part in various sports, such as basketball, gymnastics, cross-country skiing and track. Her life subsequently changed following a visit to Prague during her teens. A friend informed a then 16 year old Eva about a modeling contest held by Metropolitan Models, a French modeling agency. She participated in the contest only after her sister, whom she believed had a better model material, refused to do so. Eva ended up winning the contest and the rest is a history.

On September 7, 1996, Eva was married to Bon Jovi drummer Tico Torres. The couple divorced later in June 1998. At age 34, Eva gave birth to her first child. Son George was born on June 1, 2007, in Torin, Italy. Her second son, Philip, was born on March 24, 2011 in London, England.

Just for the Time Being

Career:

Eva Herzigova started her modeling career after winning a modeling contest in Prague in 1989. Her popularity rose following a move to Paris, France. She has worked with top fashion photographers and a number of noted designers, like Versace, Valentino, Laroche and Oldman, among others. Her first major modeling campaign was as Miss Wonderbra for the push-up bra sold by the Playtex Corporation during 1996-1998. During the 1990s, she also modeled for Guess? jeans advertisements (1992-1994), Maybelline cosmetics (1995-1998), Calvin Klein Jeans (1999) and Sports Illustrated (1999). Herzigova later appeared in TV commercial for L'Oreal (2008) and series of 5 Dolce & Gabbana women's fragrances (2009), along with Claudia Schiffer & Naomi Campbell. She is one of the “The Victoria's Secret Angels.”

Herzigova has branched out to acting. She made her debut in the 1992 made for television film “Inferno!”, opposite fellow models Kate Moss and Tyra Banks. It was followed by roles in the French movie “Guardian Angels” (1995), starring Gérard Depardieu, Christian Clavier and Eva Grimaldi and directed by Jean-Marie Poiré, and the Italian movie “L'amico del cuore” (1998), where she starred as Frida Seta. In 2000, Herzigova was cast in the leading role of Christine in the US film “Just for the Time Being,” opposite Patrick O'Neal and Grainger Hines. She won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Actress at the 2000 New York International Independent Film & Video Festival for her performance. In 2004, she played the role of Picasso's wife, Olga, in the biographical film “Modigliani,” starring Andy Garcia as Amedeo Modigliani. The same year, she also starred in an Italian short film, “Twisted Tango,” which she also produced.

Awards:
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