In honor of Canada, during our full coverage of Canadian Olympic Trials, we had to profile Ontario-born movie star, Victoria Secret and Sports Illustrated super-model, Estella Warren.
Estella is legit in the aquatic world, a Canadian National Team member and a three-time National Champion in synchronized swimming. Her segue from athletic star, to modeling, and on to the silver screen was smooth and quick, but let’s not go there yet.
Estella began her synchro career when she was only eight years old in 1986. By 1991 she moved to Etobicoke, Ontario to join the National Team and train at the famous Olympium Synchro Club. Estella dreamed of going to the Olympics and almost got there. She won silver at the World Championships before she got sidetracked by her modeling career.
“I really wanted to go to the Olympics,” Estella explained, “but everyone wanted me to model for them, so I said what the hell, why not!”
Back in 1996 Estella was snapped up by a New York modeling agency, and her career quickly gained steam. She’s appeared in countless magazines—Vogue, Vanity Fair, Elle, GQ—but fame came when she landed the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit gig.
By 2001 Estella was booking respectable roles in films. Most fans got acquainted with her acting chops in Tim Burton’s remake of Planet of the Apes where she starred along side Mark Wahlberg.
She showed her comedic range in Kangaroo Jack starring with Jerry O’Connell, and she gained industry cred for her role in The Cooler with Alec Baldwin and William H. Macy.
Proudly Canadian, Estella is still acting and has recently appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live. She has two films scheduled for release in 2012.
