Bria Vinaite

Bria Vinaite
Vinaite in 2017
Born
Barbora Bulvinaitė

(1993-06-10) June 10, 1993 (age 31)
Alytus, Lithuania
OccupationActress
Years active2016–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2022)​

Bria Vinaite (/vɪˈnaɪtjə/;[1] born Barbora Bulvinaitė[2] on June 10, 1993) is a Lithuanian-born American actress, best known for her debut role as Halley in Sean Baker's 2017 film The Florida Project.[3]

Early life

Vinaite was born in Alytus, Lithuania and moved to Brooklyn, New York around age 6 or 7.[4]

Career

The Florida Project was Vinaite's acting debut, where she played the lead role of Halley, a former stripper and single mother living at a budget motel close to Walt Disney World.[5] Baker contacted Vinaite after seeing her in an Instagram post, where she documented her life so she could stay in contact with friends in New York City while living in Miami.[6] Vinaite had three weeks of acting classes from acting teacher Samantha Quan before filming began. Production wrapped in September 2016.[7]

She made a cameo in Drake's music video for "Nice for What," released in April 2018.[8] She also had a recurring role on the second season of The OA.[9] Vinaite will next appear in Violent Delights directed by Taylor DeVoe.[10]

Personal life

Vinaite has many tattoos; she got her first at the age of 14.[11] She was sent to boarding school around this time. She left home at 18, choosing to develop her own career rather than attend college. At 19, she started a clothing line called ChroniCal Designs, selling marijuana-themed bikinis and baseball caps.[12]

Vinaite married chef Michael Voltaggio on November 18, 2022 in Hawaii.[13] Vinaite and Voltaggio welcomed their daughter in June 2024.

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2017 The Florida Project Halley Nominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Most Promising Performer
Nominated—San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Georgia Film Critics Association for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Denver Film Critics Society for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—North Texas Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Chlotrudis Award for Best Supporting Actress
2019 Lost Transmissions Micah
Balance, Not Symmetry Hannah
TBA Violent Delights Skipper Post-production
TV
Year Title Role Notes
2019 The OA Darmi 3 episodes
Music video
Year Title Artist
2018 "Nice for What" Drake
2020 "Underdog (Alicia Keys song)" Alicia Keys
2020 "Hate the Way" G-Eazy

References

  1. ^ "'The Florida Project' star Bria Vinaite on how the director slid into her Instagram DMs" on YouTube
  2. ^ "JAV išgarsėjusios alytiškės paslaptis išdavė jos užmiršta močiutė" [Secrets of Alytus-born girl become famous in the USA were revealed by a grandma she has forgotten]. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  3. ^ "Dear Academy: Don't Overlook These Great Performances". Variety. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
  4. ^ Nicolaou, Elena (October 12, 2017). "Why Bria Vinaite, The Breakout Star Of The Florida Project, Always Had A Feeling She'd Be Famous". Refinery29. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  5. ^ "VIDEO: First trailer for "The Florida Project" film highlights life at budget motel near Walt Disney World | Inside the Magic". Inside the Magic. August 14, 2017.
  6. ^ "'The Florida Project' Star Bria Vinaite on Being Discovered on Instagram | In Studio". The Hollywood Reporter. November 21, 2017. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  7. ^ O'Felt, Chris (September 22, 2016). "Willem Dafoe Goes to Disney World: Sean Baker Reveals Details and Photos of 'The Florida Project' — Exclusive". Indiewire.com. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  8. ^ "A breakdown of all the cameos in Drake's "Nice For What" video". The FADER. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  9. ^ Petski, Denise (May 22, 2018). "'Kidding' Casts Bernard White; Bria Vinaite Joins 'The OA'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  10. ^ McNary, Dave (May 12, 2018). "'Florida Project' Star Bria Vinaite Boards Music Drama 'Violent Delights' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  11. ^ Sawyer, Miranda (October 29, 2017). "Bria Vinaite: from Instagram entrepreneur to starring opposite Willem Dafoe". The Observer. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  12. ^ Zuckerman, Esther (October 5, 2017). "The Weed Entrepreneur Who Made a Movie, Charmed Drake, and Took Hollywood by Storm". HWD. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  13. ^ Weiss, Sabrina. "Top Chef Star Michael Voltaggio Marries Bria Vinaite — Inside Their Intimate Hawaii Wedding".