Gabriela Spanic Biography: Sister, Height, Husband, Ethnicity, Movies, Age, Books, Parents, Marriage, Net Worth, Controversy

Gabriela Spanic is a Venezuelan actress, model and singer who rose to international prominence through her role as twin sisters in the 1998 telenovela La Usurpadora. That pivotal part not only introduced her to Latin American audiences, but also opened up work in Mexico and beyond, making her one of the more recognizable faces in Spanish-language soap operas.

Profile

• Full name: Gabriela Elena Španić Utrera
• Nickname: Gaby
• Date of birth: December 10, 1973
• Age: 52 years old
• Gender: Female
• Place of birth: Ortiz, Guárico, Venezuela
• Nationality: Venezuelan
• Profession: Actress, model, singer, producer, author
• Height: 5 ft 8½ in (1.74 m)
• Eye color: Brown
• Hair color: Dark brown
• Parents: Father – Casimiro Španić (Croatian descent); Mother – Norma Utrera (Venezuelan)
• Siblings: Twin sister – Daniela Spanic; Sister – Patricia Spanic; Brother – Antonio Spanic
• Spouse: None (divorced; previously linked to Neil Pérez)
• Children: Gabriel de Jesús Spanic (born July 7, 2008)
• Relationship status: Single
• Ethnicity: Venezuelan of Croatian-Venezuelan descent
• Net worth: US$10–12 million

Early Life and Education

Gabriela Elena Španić Utrera was born on December 10, 1973, in Ortiz, Guárico, Venezuela, to a multicultural family of Croatian and Venezuelan heritage. Her father, Casimiro Španić, was of Croatian descent, while her mother, Norma Utrera, is Venezuelan.

Gabriela and her identical twin sister, Daniela, grew up alongside their siblings Patricia and Antonio in a middle-class home where education and hard work were deeply valued.

Initially, Gabriela studied psychology at Andrés Bello Catholic University in Caracas, but after her first year, she decided to follow her passion for acting. She trained in dramatic arts and speech and joined several acting workshops at Venezolana de Televisión, where she developed her foundation in stage and screen performance.

Personal Life

Gabriela Spanic is the proud mother of her only child, Gabriel de Jesús Spanic, born on July 7, 2008, in Miami, Florida. She has maintained her independence and is currently single.

Her romantic life has often attracted media attention due to her high-profile status, but she has consistently emphasized her devotion to her son and her artistic career.

In 2008, she was briefly linked to Argentine producer Neil Pérez, though she has not remarried since. Gabriela divides her time between Mexico City and Miami, balancing her acting projects with motivational speaking and writing.

Career

Gabriela Spanic first came into the spotlight as Miss Guárico in the Miss Venezuela 1992 pageant, where her charisma caught the attention of television producers.

Her acting debut came shortly after, with early roles in Mundo de Fieras (1991) and Morena Clara (1993). By 1994, she landed her first major protagonist role in Como Tú Ninguna, a hit Venezuelan telenovela that made her a household name.

Her global breakthrough came in 1998 with Televisa’s “La Usurpadora,” where she played dual roles—the kindhearted Paulina Martínez and the manipulative Paola Bracho. The show aired in over 120 countries and was dubbed in more than 25 languages, establishing Spanic as an international star.

Following this, Gabriela continued to work in both Mexico and the United States, starring in major telenovelas such as:

• La Intrusa (2001)
• La Venganza (2002–2003)
• Prisionera (2004, Telemundo)
• Tierra de Pasiones (2006, Telemundo)
• Soy Tu Dueña (2010, Televisa)
• Emperatriz (2011, TV Azteca)
• La Otra Cara del Alma (2012)
• Siempre Tuya Acapulco (2014)

In addition to acting, Spanic has recorded music, performed in theater, and written books on self-improvement and emotional resilience. She has appeared as a guest and contestant on reality shows, including Dancing with the Stars Hungary (2021), where she finished among the top finalists.

Her enduring popularity across Latin America and Eastern Europe has earned her recognition as one of the most iconic telenovela actresses of her generation.

Awards

• Orquídea Award (2005) – Career trajectory and artistic excellence
• FAMAS Award (2006) – Best Actress (Tierra de Pasiones)
• TVyNovelas Award Nominee (1999) – Best Actress (La Usurpadora)
• Premios Bravo (2012) – Artistic Contribution in Television
• People en Español Recognition (2020) – “25 Years of La Usurpadora Legacy”

Net Worth

Gabriela Spanic’s estimated net worth is between US$10–12 million.
Her wealth has been accumulated through: acting roles, endorsements and modeling campaigns, paid public appearances and conventions etc.

Controversy

Spanic’s life has occasionally been marked by controversy. In 2010, her former personal assistant María Celeste Fernández Babio was accused of poisoning Spanic, her son, and her mother with ammonium-based toxins over several months. The incident made global headlines; Fernández was convicted and sentenced in Mexico.

She has also been involved in legal disputes with her family, particularly with her twin sister Daniela, though both have since expressed intentions toward reconciliation. Spanic has used her experiences as advocacy points for resilience and awareness against abuse and manipulation.

Social Media

• Instagram: @gabyspanictv
• TikTok: @gabyspanictv
• YouTube: Gaby Spanic Oficial

Filmography

• La fuerza de los humildes (1989)
• Adorable Mónica (1990)
• Mundo de Fieras (1991)
• La Loba Herida (1992)
• Divina Obsesión (1992)
• Rosangélica (1993)
• Morena Clara (1993)
• María Celeste (1994)
• Como Tú Ninguna (1994–1995)
• Quirpa de Tres Mujeres (1996)
• Todo por tu Amor (1997)
• La Usurpadora (1998)
• Más allá de La Usurpadora (1999)
• Por Tu Amor (1999)
• La Intrusa (2001)
• La Venganza (2002–2003)
• Prisionera (2004)
• Tierra de Pasiones (2006)
• Soy Tu Dueña (2010)
• Emperatriz (2011)
• La Otra Cara del Alma (2012)
• Siempre Tuya Acapulco (2014)
• El Final del Paraíso (Guest, 2020)
• Dancing with the Stars Hungary (2021)

Discography

• Gabriela Spanic Total (2005)
• En Carne Viva (2014)

Books

• Mi vida entre amores, lágrimas y risas (2007) – Autobiographical reflections and life lessons
• Ser Mujer: Mi Verdadera Historia (2012) – Self-empowerment and resilience memoir