Daniela Lavender was born in Bahia, Brazil, and grew up in a close-knit family of thirty strong members. At the tender age of eight, she began training in various dance forms, including ballet, jazz, contemporary, and Flamenco. She later honed her skills under the tutelage of renowned instructors Roberto Amaral and Yolanda Arroyo in Los Angeles.
As she entered adulthood, Lavender's interests shifted towards journalism, and she went on to receive a degree from PUC University. She then pursued her passion for drama at Dirceu de Mattos school in Rio de Janeiro, where she further developed her skills. To broaden her horizons, she spent a year studying English in the United Kingdom.
Lavender's foray into the world of performing arts began when she auditioned for the London International School of Performing Arts, impressing the judges with her portrayal of 'Queen Anne' from Shakespeare's Richard III, despite the language barrier. Her talent and dedication soon landed her roles in several films and television shows, including the independent film "Emotional Backgammon," which earned her the 'Best Actress' award at the Denver Film Festival.
In 2003, Lavender appeared in the comedy film "Ali G Indahouse" and went on to feature in several BBC series, such as "Longitude," "EastEnders," and "Casualty." Her impressive range and versatility led her to tour with the British Shakespeare company production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream," playing the dual roles of Hippolyta and Titania.
In 2011, Lavender took center stage as 'Maria' in a one-woman show, "A Woman Alone," written by Dario Fo. Her subsequent projects included co-owning a film production company, Lavender Pictures, which began developing a slate of scripts, including "Taj," "Zorra," and "Jutland."
Lavender's most recent endeavors include her role as 'Juliana Santos' in the film "A Birder's Guide to Everything," which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2013 and won the Heineken first runner-up audience award. She will also appear as 'Mata' in Isabel Coixet's upcoming film "Learning to Drive" and as 'Clara' in "Zipper," produced by Darren Aronofsky, set to release in 2014.
