Ilay Kurelovic was born in Neuquén, in the heart of Argentine Patagonia. After studying law, advertising and art direction in Buenos Aires, he moved to the United States, to Florida. But it was on a tourist trip to New York where his life changed: sitting in a coffee shop he was discovered by an assistant of the prestigious fashion photographer Mario Testino. And that chance encounter opened the doors to the best agencies and modeling campaigns. Ilay has worked for world-renowned brands such as Gaultier, Dior and Lancôme, among many others.

Precisely, shooting an ad for a Lancôme perfume, starring Penélope Cruz, was when his life took another turn, to acting. The director of the ad, the well-known American filmmaker Rob Marshall, was the one who encouraged him to become an actor after working with him.

Determined to start a parallel career in acting, Ilay was studying acting for three years between London and Madrid. In 2016 he premiered his first film in Spain, the comedy “Tenemos que hablar”. After his debut, Ilay has participated in the American series “Black Sails” (2017) and the film “La Noche de 12 Años” (2018).

Recently we could see him in the feature film “Caída Libre” (2024), directed by Laura Jou and starring Belén Rueda.