Elena Sahagun's heritage is a unique blend of Mexican, French-Moroccan, and American roots, shaped by her upbringing in Los Angeles. Her academic pursuits at UCLA allowed her to combine her interests in acting and pre-med courses, laying the groundwork for her future endeavors.
As a dare, Elena auditioned for the Los Angeles Raiders Cheerleading squad alongside 3,000 other hopefuls and surprisingly made it onto the team. For two seasons, she cheered as a Raiderette for the Los Angeles Raiders Football Team, an experience that ultimately led her to realize her true passion lay in acting.
Over the past decade, Elena has appeared in 22 films and several television shows, earning recognition for her outstanding performances. One of her notable achievements includes winning an Alma Award in 1998 for Outstanding Actress in an Ensemble Cast for her portrayal in the PBS special "Fotonovelas" directed by Carlos Avila.
Elena's film debut was as the young villainess "Carmen" in 20th Century Fox's action/thriller "Marked For Death" starring Steven Seagal. She also starred in "Stigmata 44," a critically acclaimed film that deals with moral issues between parents and children, winning five awards worldwide, including Best Film at the Sweden's Children's Film Festival.
In addition to her film work, Elena has been featured in several national magazines, including "People Magazine En Espanol" worldwide. She has also sold her first project to Showtime, a dramedy based on her life experience as an assistant to a major action star, entitled "The Assistant." Renowned writer David Ward, a two-time Academy Award winner, was hired by Showtime to adapt her life story into a dramatic series.
Aside from "The Assistant," Elena has created a one-hour dramedy and produced a pilot presentation entitled "Sideliners," inspired by her experiences as an NFL Cheerleader "Raiderette" with the Los Angeles Raiders. The dramedy is a sexy, bold, and intimate look at a group of charismatic and manic professional cheerleaders, conceptually blending elements of "Sex in the City" and "Entourage" set within the world of professional cheerleading.
