Daniela Lavender

Born in Bahia, Brazil, Lavender is part of a close knit 30-strong family. At the age of eight, Lavender began training in ballet, jazz and contemporary dance. Lavender studied Flamenco dancing under Roberto Amaral and Yolanda Arroyo in Los Angeles. Lavender received a journalism degree from Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro and studied drama at Dirceu de Mattos school in Rio de Janeiro, studied English for a year and traveled to London. She auditioned for the London International School of Performing Arts, playing ‘Queen Anne’ from Shakespeare's Richard III, and passed the audition in spite of the language barrier.

Lavender made her theatre debut at London's Tabard Theatre in March 2011 in A Woman Alone. The play was produced by Jason Greer with its preview hosted by Emmanuel Ray.

She married English actor Ben Kingsley on 3 September 2007.

Lavender appeared in the low budget independent film Emotional Backgammon (2003), and was awarded "Best Actress" at the Denver Film Festival. Lavender appeared in Ali G Indahouse and the BBC series Longitude, EastEnders, and Casualty. Lavender toured with the British Shakespeare Company production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 2009, playing Hippolyta and Titania.

In her professional life, Lavender uses the surname of her first husband, Ben Lavender, whom she was married to from 1996 to 2003.

Daniela Lavender, Lady Kingsley (born Daniela Barbosa de Carneiro; 14 December 1974) is a Brazilian actress, appearing on Brazilian television and on English-language television, film and stage, including touring with the British Shakespeare Company.