Daniela Lavender (born in 1975, former name Daniela Barbosa) is a Brazilian actress. On 3 September 2007, she married Ben Kingsley, an Academy Award Winning actor. In 2009 she played Hippolyta/Titania in the British Shakespeare Company's tour of A Midsummer Night's Dream.Lavender is starring in Kingsley's production company's first feature film based on the story of the Taj Mahal titled Taj.

Early life

Born in Bahia, Brazil, Daniela is part of a close knit 30-strong family.Daniela studied Journalism and was awarded her Bachelor of Arts by PUC University and also studied Drama at Dirceu de Mattos College in Rio de Janeiro. Parallel to pursuing her acting career, she studied Journalism by day, continuing drama classes in the evening. It was at this time that a friend suggested she study English in London. Although her mother was a professor of English Daniela had never spoken a word of English. After a year of waitressing and studying English at every available hour she was presented with an opening to audition for London International School of Acting. The chosen audition piece was no less than ‘Queen Anne’ from Shakespeare's ‘Richard III’. Despite the language barrier Daniela persisted and it paid off as she passed the audition. Daniela began training in ballet, jazz and contemporary dance from the age of 8. Daniela has also studied Flamenco under Roberto Amaral and Yolanda Arroyo in Los Angeles.

Acting career

Daniela was approached for a film project titled Emotional Backgammon She auditioned for actor turned director Leon Herbert and was given the leading role for which she was awarded Best Actress at the Denver Film Festival Daniela completed her European tour with the British Shakespeare Company’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream Daniela has starred in film projects alongside actors such as Sacha Baron Cohen and Michael Gambon (Ali G Indahouse) and Jeremy Irons (Longitude). Daniela has also starred in notable TV dramas and soaps such as EastEnders, Casualty In Taj, Daniela will play the character of Princess Kandahari Begum. The film also marks the first project in which both Sir Ben and Daniela will be starring alongside each other.


Film, Theatre & Television


The Scientist Polynation Pictures Zach LeBeau N/A
Paixao Crua (“Raw Passion”)(lead) Independent Tim Reid N/A
Ali G. Inda House Working Title Films Mark Mylod N/A
Emotional Backgammon (lead) Carazon Productions Leon Herbert Winner Denver International World Film Festival
Midsummer Night's Dream The British Shakespeare Company Robert J Williamson N/A
Viva Maria Oval Theatre, London Andre Pink N/A
The Beelzebub Sonata The Gate, London Duncan Wood N/A
Steel Magnolias Troubadour Café, London Scott Williams N/A
Tartuffe Troubadour Café, London Scott Williams N/A
Sexual Perversity In Chicago Troubadour Café, London Scott Williams N/A
Lysistrata Troubadour Café, London Scott Williams N/A
A Voice Screaming to Heaven Troubadour Café, London Scott Williams N/A
Viva O Pova Brazileiro Shanty Towns, Rio Augusto Boal N/A
Lanterna De Fogo Princesa Isabel, Rio Calé Miranda N/A
Eastenders BBC Louise Berridge N/A
Manchild BBC David Eves N/A
Down To Earth BBC John B. Hobbs N/A
Casualty BBC Paul Duane N/A
Trouser Press Independent Paul Duane N/A
Longitude Granada TV Charles Sturridge N/A
Nick Cave BBC Paul Duane N/A
Mulheres De Areia Rede Globo TV, Rio Wolf Maia N/A