Biography of Elissa Sursara
Date of Birth
14 February 1988, Avalon Beach, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Nickname
El
Saucy Sursara
Ocean Eyes
Height
5' 5½" (1.66 m)
Trade Mark
Long (32 inch, natural) dark hair
Blue eyes
As a keen animal and environmental activist, she supports a number of related charities including WWF, Wildlife Warriors Worldwide, PETA's Anti Fur Campaign, Greenpeace International's Save The Whales, The Great Ape Project and the WSPA.
Her parents are Brazilian immigrants, who immigrated to Australia days before her birth.
Accepted to Yale University as an international student for class of 2005.
The nickname "Ocean Eyes" was originally coined by friend and actor Heath Ledger and became widely used when referencing the actress and/or her appearance. Later, variations of the nickname surfaced, including "The Eyes" and more simply "Eyes"; however, Elissa has revealed she feels there is sentimental value for her in the original nickname of "Ocean Eyes".
Raised in both Brazil and Australia and held dual citizenship until her 18th birthday.
Her parents chose to remain in Australia. Upon turning 18, Elissa also chose to remain in Australia with them.
Close friends with fellow actress Isabel Lucas.
Close friends with actress Camilla Belle.
Cousin of supermodel Adriana Lima.
Following the death of friend Heath Ledger, Sursara was targeted by the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, for her friendship with the actor and for her support of Ledger's role as a homosexual in Brokeback Mountain (2005). The Church also attacked Sursara's support of same-sex relationships and same-sex marriages.
Briefly romantically involved with Australian footballer Craig Wing in 2007 during her break-up with model Sam Thomas.
From 2006 onward - before finding success as an actor - Sursara became a victim of social identity theft on networking websites MySpace, Bebo and Facebook. According to published reports, there were in abundance of 400 profiles on MySpace using Sursara's pictures. In 2010, Sursara and student Frieda Rose were named the Internet's "Most Faked Girls" after a study on social identity theft.
In 2009, Sursara admitted to Girl Magazine that she was a victim of extreme school bullying.
In 2010, Sursara officially launched her foundation, Society For Animals. In an article, she revealed she had been working on the solo project since age eighteen and hoped that SFA would increase both awareness of animal exploitation and it's prevention.
Elissa Sursara
Elissa Sursara
Elissa Sursara
Elissa Sursara
Elissa Sursara
Elissa Sursara
Elissa Sursara
Elissa Sursara