Begonya Plaza, born Begoña del Pilar PlazaetxeaGoyenetxe, is a Colombian-born actress with a rich cultural heritage. Her mother's father was Basque, and her father, born in Gernika, Euskadi, was also Basque. The family relocated to Hollywood, California, when Begonya was two years old, but later returned to Gernika, where they lived until she was seven years old. The family then immigrated to Hollywood, California, where Begonya spent her formative years, juggling between her Colombian, Basque, and American backgrounds.
Begonya began her acting career at the age of nine and has since been directed by some of the most renowned directors in the industry, including Clint Eastwood, Michael Mann, Amy Jones, Oliver Stone, Tim Hunter, and Philip Seymour Hoffman at New York's Labyrinth Theater. She has also performed in a one-woman theatre piece, directed by Austrian director Kurt Palm, featuring erotic songs and poems by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill.
Throughout her career, Begonya has acted alongside some of the most talented actors in the industry, including Robert De Niro, Tom Cruise, Willem Dafoe, Klaus Kinski, Carrol O'Connor, Ana Ortiz, and David Zayas.
As a writer, director, and editor, Begonya has created several documentaries, including "Gernika Lives," which explores her Basque heritage and the tragic events that her father experienced during the bombing of Guernica. She has also written and directed the bio-drama "The Real Gernika," which delves into political and cultural issues.
In addition to her work in film, Begonya has written and directed several other projects, including "Souvenir Views," a tribute to the World Trade Center attack of 9/11, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and was shown at several other festivals around the world.
Begonya is currently working on several projects, including the screenplay "The Persistence of Memory," which tells the story of Salvador Dalí and his wife/muse, Gala, seen through the eyes of a young lover. Glenn Close is committed to playing Gala, and Amanda Mackey is currently casting the uncompromising Dalí. Juan Ruiz-Anchia, a director of photography from Bilbao, will make his directorial debut with this project.
Begonya is also writing a one-woman performance piece titled "Passion Flower of Spain," which tells the symbolic journey of Dolores Ibarruri through the Spanish Civil War.
