Venessa Verdugo, a direct descendant of the esteemed Verdugo Family of Los Angeles, and a relative of renowned actress Elena Verdugo and Governor Pio Pico, was born in the City of Angels and spent her formative years in the Orange County area.
As a child, Venessa pursued her passion for gymnastics, earning a spot in the State Finals of the Junior Division. Her elementary school years were spent at Bethany Baptist in Whittier, before she went on to attend Rosary High School in Fullerton.
Despite her early interest in the performing arts, Venessa was initially dissatisfied with the Theatre Arts program at California State University, Fullerton. It was during this time that actor Benicio del Toro took her under his wing, suggesting that she study acting at the prestigious Stella Adler Conservatory West.
Venessa took his advice to heart and finally found her true calling in the world of acting. Her big break came when director Michael Mann allowed her to work as an intern on the 1995 film HEAT, and later hired her as an assistant to casting director Bonnie Timmermann.
Throughout her career, Venessa has drawn upon her unique upbringing as the daughter of a Los Angeles Sheriff's Department homicide detective. Growing up, she would often accompany her father to work and read his murder reports, developing a deep sense of empathy for the victims of crime.
In 2010, Venessa wrote and performed her solo show "Heiress,'69" at the Elephant Stages Theatre. The show is based on the life of Abigail Folger, a coffee heiress who was murdered by the Manson Family, and her return from beyond the grave to speak at her killers' parole hearing. A film adaptation of the show is currently in the works.
In addition to her acting career, Venessa has also worked as a writer for Metro LA and has written a bio short on the life of silent screen actress Barbara LaMarr. She can be seen in various films and entertainment mediums, and in her free time, volunteers at the National Cat Protection Society, a no-kill shelter in Newport Beach, California.
