Laura Zapata

Family

Zapata (born 31 July 1955 in Mexico City) is the daughter of Guillermo Zapata Pérez de Utrera (a Mexican boxer, model and businessman) and Yolanda Miranda Mange (from her first marriage) and part of the Sodi family. She married Juan Eduardo Sodi de la Tijera. Zapata is the half-sister of music superstar Thalía, Federica, Gabriela and Ernestina Sodi, a well-known writer, and biographer. She has two sons, Claudio Sodi and Patricio Sodi.

Zapata is also a singer and dancer. Laura and Thalía were the first ones of the family to gain international fame by acting and singing. In Maria Mercedes, one of Thalía’s first soap operas, Laura played a villain opposite her sister. In the world of telenovelas, she is as well known for her protagonist roles as for her roles as antagonist.

Kidnapping

In September 2002, Laura and her sister Ernestina were kidnapped and taken to an unspecified location. The news of their kidnapping made headlines across Latin America and among the Spanish-speaking television channels of the United States. Thalía, her half-sister, is married to multi-millionaire Tommy Mottola, so it was speculated that their captors would ask for a large sum of money. Instead, Laura was released 18 days after her kidnapping, and her sister Ernestina was released on the 34th day.