For many of those who realize their calling in life at an early age, the world is wide open with success and opportunity at every turn. When Spanish actress Elena Anaya felt that her talents gravitated toward a life on the stage and screen, the aspiring young actress spared precious little time in getting herself prepared for life in the limelight — a fact that no doubt played a part in her being named one of European Films' Shooting Stars during the 2004 European Film Promotion campaign. A relatively new face to stateside audiences at the time of her international debut in 2004's Van Helsing, Anaya was soon climbing the latter to international success with subsequent roles opposite such screen heavies as Gary Oldman (Dead Fish) and Viggo Mortensen (Alatriste). A native of Palencia, Spain, whose early childhood was spent practicing karate at the Okinawa Gymnasium and climbing mountains, Anaya opted out of Cadiz School in 1996 — choosing instead to join the Real Escuela Superior de Arte Dram