In his breakthrough
Heroes role as a heroin-addicted, lovesick artist able to paint the future, this Latino hunk seduced viewers with his moody, manly charm, even though his character didn't live past the first season. Born in Chile but raised in Toronto, Madrid, London and Romania due to his father's work as a diplomat, Cabrera initially planned on becoming a soccer player. In fact, after high school he played semi-pro ball in London before focusing on his other passion: performing. While studying at the Drama Centre at Central St. Martin's College, he landed his first gig on the British TV show
MI-5 and in 2005 he snagged his first role stateside as Julius Caesar's nephew in the Roman miniseries
Empire.
Although it was fairly cheesy, Cabrera cut quite a figure in a toga. But it was his
Heroes alter ego — with his long hair, bad choices and broken soul — that confirmed him as an up-and-comer.
Santiago Cabrera Fast Facts:
- Worked as a rickshaw driver while studying in London to earn money and to stay in shape.
- Fluent in Spanish, English, French and Italian.
