Sandra Hess was born on March 27, 1968 and raised in Zurich, Switzerland. She began modelling and working on television commercials when she was just 15. After completing high school, she entered the University of Zurich to study law but quickly decided it wasn't the right direction for her. She came alone to the US to build an acting career and to find success.

Once settled in Los Angeles, Sandra started taking acting classes. Her first break was the comedy film Encino Man, playing a cavewoman to Brendan Fraser's caveman character. She later landed the lead role of Sonya in the hit film Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. Sandra enjoyed the action aspects of that project and, since then, finds herself happily cast in other action roles, including Pensacola: Wings of Gold.