Stella was born in Toronto Canada, to parents Saverio Francesco Torres an employee of Massey Ferguson and homemaker Carmela De'Leonardis. Her parents came from Italy and married in 1958. She has an older brother Frank and a sister MJ. She attended school in Brantford Ontario, Toronto, and also in Italy where she lived briefly. In Toronto, Stella studied at Weist Barron school of television, as well as Barbizon Modeling school which followed a few beauty pageants including and winning Miss Italian in Brantford. Ontario. She was the first Miss Italy for the lodge. News made headlines when her picture and trophy were stolen from the lodge and never found. Stella worked on a few plays and it was her last play in Toronto where she played Ala in "Tango" that she decided she would leave for LA.She moved to LA in 1989 and has been married to actor James Farentino since 1994. Stella is very proud since becoming a US citizen in 2000. Stella is known for the Italian Mazda commercial that aired years ago in which she speaks only in Italian while arguing with her husband exiting a house. As for her favorite people she enjoyed working with Robert Hays, when she played his girlfriend in Alex in Wonder (2001). Her favourite role would be to play Serafina in "The Rose Tattoo". Stella is an incredible cook,and enjoys playing the piano, painting, ceramics, and most of all spending time with her dog, an English Cocker named Amadeo whom she calls her son and the love of her life. Show less «