Cehlia Adair Newman Cehlia Barnum

Cehlia Barnum Newman was born in San Miguel De Allende in October of 1968. Newman's parents had lived there for 7 years before she was born, and just a few short years after her birth they moved to Texas. Cehlia attended and received a degree from The University of The Incarnate Word, where she majored in Child Psychology and Minored in Theater and Fine Art.

Cehlia Newman began acting in 1974 as a young child in stage productions at the San Antonio Little Theater. She continued to act in theater productions off and on throughout her youth. Newman appeared in several episodes of "Dallas" as well as numerous television and print advertisements. She did a MFTV and some appearances on series. Her first feature film role was a in the cult classic "Legend of Billie Jean". She met with the producer and director and it was decided that even though she wasn't right for the role for which she auditioned (she would have had to cut her hair into "Billie Jean's" style) they would write one in for her. Newman went on to work periodically in several theater productions, honing her skills and exploring her option in the film world.

Newman has been playing equestrian POLO since 1981. Celia did not play professionally, but, the game is in her blood. Adair's second cousin was Will Penn Adair Rogers, a noted POLO player and political satirist. Newman took an hiatus from the sport after an accident, she has only started stick and balling recently, to slowly get back into the game. Newman's desire is to either join an informal team, or acquire her umpire license, within the next year "(2018).

Is a coloratura soprano. Performed with the Texas Children's Bach Choir; at the age of 10. In 1984 Newman was offered a spot in New York's Casablanca's Elite modeling agency's, "new" petite division by Fernando Casablancas. Newman's parents did not want her to go to NY, out of concern for her safety.

In 1988 Cehlia was cast as "Paco's girlfriend; Maria" in "Lost Angels" with Donald Sutherland, Adam Horowitz and Amy Locane. Newman was convinced by her new agent, David Shapira, to move to LA and "seriously" pursue the acting gig.

(1992 - 1997) Went to Undergrad (where she received her second degree in Theater) at The University of The Incarnate Word; with Ricardo Chavira.

Barnum's husband has been a TX Senator for 3 terms. Prior to his Senate seat, Celia's husband, Jose Menendez, began his political career in 1997, on S. A. 's City Council.

Celia's father passed, in August of 2013, from Cancer, after being diagnosed, only, nine weeks, earlier.