Natalia Marisa Oreiro Iglesias (; born 19 May 1977) is a Uruguayan actress, singer, songwriter, model, television presenter and fashion designer. Oreiro began her career in telenovelas. Since 2008 she has switched to work primarily in films. Oreiro has worked on social awareness shows and events for organizations like Greenpeace and UNICEF, the latter of which designated her as ambassador for Argentina and Uruguay in September 2011. She has been included in Esquire magazine's "The Sexiest Woman Alive" list.
Her most recognized works in cinema are the films I'm Gilda (Gilda, no me arrepiento de este amor), Super Crazy (Re Loca), and the shortlisted for the Oscar Clandestine Childhood (Infancia Clandestina) and The German Doctor (Wakolda). As an actress she has participated in some of the most important film festivals, such as in Cannes, San Sebastian and Venice, winning many awards for her performances including 3 Silver Condor Awards and a Platino Award.
As a singer, she has sold over 10 million records worldwide and has been nominated for the MTV Video Music Awards and the Latin Grammy Awards among others. Likewise, she has also dabbled in television hosting, presenting reality series such as Got Talent Uruguay, La Voz Uruguay and ¿Quién es la Máscara? Argentina.
Life and career
1977–2000: Early life and career beginnings
Natalia Oreiro, daughter of Carlos Florencio Oreiro Poggio and Mabel Cristina Iglesias Bourié, was born on 19 May 1977. She is of Galician descent. Natalia studied drama at the age of eight and at twelve started auditioning for advertisements. During her teens she appeared in more than 30 television commercials for such trade marks as Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Johnson & Johnson. At the age of 16 she moved to Argentina to work there and unleash her ambition to be a star. She worked as an MTV VJ and in 1995, she landed a role in the soap opera Dulce Ana. She was then cast in the TV series 90-60-90 modelos (1996) and next in Ricos y famosos (1997, playing Valeria). Next, she starred in the Argentinian film Un Argentino en New York (1998). After the movie, Natalia launched her first album, Natalia Oreiro and the single "Cambio Dolor" became the opening theme for her next acting project, the prime time show Muñeca Brava (1998–1999). For her performance in Muñeca Brava, Natalia was nominated twice (1998 and 1999) for a Martín Fierro Award as Best Actress in a leading role. In 1998, Natalia Oreiro recorded the theme "Paths of the Soul" next to Kennedy Choir and with more than 120 Argentine artists under the direction of Instrumental pianist and conductor Nazareno Andorno.
In January 2000, Natalia was named "Celebrity of the Century" by E! Entertainment Television. She became popular in Russia and Israel due to the success of Muñeca Brava in that country and was even invited to star in a Russian telenovela. In Israel she performed many times on big stages and on many TV shows and won the Best Telenovela Actress Award and Best Theme Song "Cambio Dolor" on the "VIVA 2000" awards, And in 2002 the Israeli Cable TV had a live competition for finding the Israeli Natalia Oreiro, and she was the guest of honor for the evening.
2000–2005: Tu Veneno and Turmalina
She pursued her musical career with the next album Tu Veneno and presentations in Gala de la Hispanidad, Gala de Murcia (both in Spain) and Festival de la Calle 8 in Miami. Her most important appearance was in the prestigious Latin television show Sábado Gigante Internacional, hosted by Don Francisco. Natalia's major achievement at this time was her music performance in Chile at Viña del Mar Festival 2000 for which she was crowned Queen of that event. The album scored a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Album, but lost to Christina Aguilera's Mi Reflejo. [[File:Natyoreirocom.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Oreiro in 2005]]
On 1 June 2002, her third studio album Turmalina was released by BMG Ariola Argentina. Turmalina was produced by Latin record producer Kike Santander and is a combination of styles such as rock, pop and 50's and 60's sounds. On this album, Oreiro wrote and composed the songs: "Alas De Libertad" which is inspired by kids she met some time ago in the city of Jujuy, Argentina; "Mar" tells the love story between a sailor and his girlfriend. Natalia also contributed to the lyrics of "Cayendo". "Que Digan Lo Que Quieran" is Turmalina's first single. The official Uruguayan 2002 World Cup song "Pasión Celeste" is recorded with Fredy Bessio. "Cuesta arriba, cuesta abajo" was the opening song of the soap opera Kachorra (Runaway Lady). Kachorra ended with a rating lower than 20 points in Argentina.