Estephania Lebaron first appeared on the screen in 2003 in the comedy, 'The Perils of Nude Modeling". The film was made in Austin, Texas and dealt with a failing art student who is suddenly propositioned by a nude model played by Ms. Lebaron. Her talent was recognized immediately-"She's one of those people who has a tremendous presence in person," says movie producer Scott Rice (Perils in Nude Modeling). "What I love about her was this mysterious combination of strength and vulnerability. Sort of a quiet, pained fortitude. There was so much depth there, and she projected it without saying a word."
Collection of Her Works
In 2004 she next appeared in Disney's "The Alamo". Following this were appearances in several short comedies including "The S Word","Sol de Movimiento", and "Gettin It" which received mixed reviews. Most recently she has been involved with "The Disappeared" and the University of Texas at Pan American production filmed in the Rio Grande Valley called "The Red Queen". "The Red Queen" is the story of a woman who searches for the true identity of her deceased mother. Also in the film are Shannon Sauceda and Valente Rodríquez.
Ms. Lebaron has been very active in the Latino community.She was the keynote speaker to the Graduating Class of the Phoenix House in Los Angeles, a guest speaker in the Bancroft School in Washington D.C., a celebrity presenter at the annual Hispanic Foundation of the Arts Gala in Washington, D.C., and a presenter at the Annual Hope for Firefighters in Los Angeles. She served as VIP hostess for CATALINA magazine's 2nd annual Essence of Latinas national tour, sponsored by Wal-Mart and Colgate-Palmolive, helping raise money for the communities. "It's not what you can get in life, but what you can share" she's said. That's why she currently serves on the advisory board for the National Association of Latin Leaders (NALL), founded by Latina leaders including the 41st Treasurer of the United States Rosario Marin. Estephania was one of a handful of Latin Leaders invited to White House for a confidential briefing.
Her past was a bit of a mystery until a recent appearance on ABC's Good Morning America revealed that she was born into a polygamous cult in Mexico. She was one of 52 children from 13 wives to notorious cult leader Ervil Lebaron.
Ervil Lebaron
Several of her close relatives were "blood attoned" (killed) for threatening to reveal the cults secret way of living. Her father died in a Utah prison after his group had killed dozens of people. A paternal sister to the actress, Jacqueline Tarsa LeBaron, remains on the FBI's most wanted list.
Her career is clearly now on an upward path. She has escaped her past and emerged as a prominent Latina actress and civic leader.
by TM
