Before becoming an actor, Santiago Cabrera originally planned on becoming a soccer player. He played soccer for three years on college scholarships in Chile and played semi-pro in London.

While training for three years at the Drama Centre London, Cabrera starred in numerous productions, including "The Last Days of Don Juan," "The Strangeness of Others" and "Britannicus." After graduating, his first role was "Montano" in Shakespeare's "Othello" at the Northampton Theatre Royal and in London at The Greenwich Theatre.

Cabrera's career break-through came when he was cast in the lead role of "Octavius" in ABC's "Empire."