Gabrielle Anwar was born in the United Kingdom on February 4, 1970. She is the daughter of Tariq Anwar, a Lebanese film director and editor, and an English director mother. Gabrielle studied drama and dance in London, England. With actor Craig Sheffer, she has one daughter, Willow, who was born in 1993. With ex-husband John Verea, she has a son, Basil, and a second daughter, Paisley, before they divorced.