Martina Stoessel (born March 21, 1997) is an Argentine teen actress, dancer, singer, and model, who gained popularity for her debut role as Violetta Castillo on the Disney Channel original series Violetta. Stoessel was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina the daughter of producer and director Alejandro Stoessel and Mariana Muzlera. She has a brother who is a year older named Francisco. She began her artistic training at a young age studying singing, piano, musical comedy, musical theater and dance.