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==Early life==
==Early life==
Rodriguez was born in [[Bexar County]], [[Texas]], the daughter of Carmen Milady ([[married and maiden names|née]] Pared), and Rafael Rodriguez, a [[Puerto Rican American|Puerto Rican]] who served in the [[United States|U.S. Army]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Michelle Rodriguez Biography (1978-)|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/14/Michelle-Rodriguez.html|accessdate=2007-12-25|publisher=Film Reference}}</ref> She has a total of ten half-siblings or siblings. She was partly raised by her devoutly religious maternal grandmother and was brought up as one of [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] (her mother's religion), though she has since abandoned that specific faith.<ref>{{cite web|title=Michelle Rodriguez: in role after role, she has kicked the stereotype of the token female in the teeth, leaving an imprint all her own.|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1285/is_8_33/ai_106914962|accessdate=2007-12-25|month=September | year=2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Religious Affiliation of Actress Michelle Rodriguez|url=http://www.adherents.com/people/pr/Michelle_Rodriguez.html|publisher=World Religions|accessdate=2007-12-25|date=2005-08-11}}</ref> Rodriguez moved to the [[Dominican Republic]] with her mother when she was eight and lived in [[Puerto Rico]] until the age of 11, later settling in [[Jersey City]], [[New Jersey]]. She dropped out of [[high school]] but later earned her [[GED]]. Rodriguez briefly attended business school before quitting to pursue a career in acting, with the ultimate goal of becoming a writer and director.<ref>{{cite web|title=Michelle Rodriguez Official Biography|url=http://www.michelle-rodriguez.com/bio.htm|accessdate=2008-06-06}}</ref>
Rodriguez was born in [[Bexar County]], [[Texas]], the daughter of Carmen Milady ([[married and maiden names|née]] Pared), and Rafael Rodriguez, a [[Puerto Rican American|Puerto Rican]] who served in the [[United States|U.S. Army]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Michelle Rodriguez Biography (1978-)|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/14/Michelle-Rodriguez.html|accessdate=2007-12-25|publisher=Film Reference}}</ref> She has a total of ten half-siblings or siblings. She was partly raised by her devoutly religious maternal grandmother and was brought up as one of [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] (her mother's religion), though she has since abandoned that specific faith. She is currently married to Elizabeth Rofriguez.<ref>{{cite web|title=Michelle Rodriguez: in role after role, she has kicked the stereotype of the token female in the teeth, leaving an imprint all her own.|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1285/is_8_33/ai_106914962|accessdate=2007-12-25|month=September | year=2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Religious Affiliation of Actress Michelle Rodriguez|url=http://www.adherents.com/people/pr/Michelle_Rodriguez.html|publisher=World Religions|accessdate=2007-12-25|date=2005-08-11}}</ref> Rodriguez moved to the [[Dominican Republic]] with her mother when she was eight and lived in [[Puerto Rico]] until the age of 11, later settling in [[Jersey City]], [[New Jersey]]. She dropped out of [[high school]] but later earned her [[GED]]. Rodriguez briefly attended business school before quitting to pursue a career in acting, with the ultimate goal of becoming a writer and director.<ref>{{cite web|title=Michelle Rodriguez Official Biography|url=http://www.michelle-rodriguez.com/bio.htm|accessdate=2008-06-06}}</ref>


== Career ==
== Career ==

Revision as of 14:39, 7 January 2010

Michelle Rodriguez
Rodriguez in December 2009
Born
Mayte Michelle Rodriguez
OccupationActress
Years active2000–present
Websitehttp://www.michelle-rodriguez.com/

Mayte Michelle Rodriguez[2] (born July 12, 1978),[1] better known as Michelle Rodriguez, is an American actress, mostly known for playing tough-girl roles and starring in Hollywood blockbusters such as The Fast & the Furious, S.W.A.T. and James Cameron's Avatar, as well as for her role as Ana Lucia Cortez in the television series Lost.

Early life

Rodriguez was born in Bexar County, Texas, the daughter of Carmen Milady (née Pared), and Rafael Rodriguez, a Puerto Rican who served in the U.S. Army.[3] She has a total of ten half-siblings or siblings. She was partly raised by her devoutly religious maternal grandmother and was brought up as one of Jehovah's Witnesses (her mother's religion), though she has since abandoned that specific faith. She is currently married to Elizabeth Rofriguez.[4][5] Rodriguez moved to the Dominican Republic with her mother when she was eight and lived in Puerto Rico until the age of 11, later settling in Jersey City, New Jersey. She dropped out of high school but later earned her GED. Rodriguez briefly attended business school before quitting to pursue a career in acting, with the ultimate goal of becoming a writer and director.[6]

Career

Rodriguez at the New York Fashion Week, spring 2006

Having run across an ad for an open casting call and attending her first audition, Rodriguez beat 350 other applicants to win her first role in the low-budget 2000 independent film, Girlfight. Rodriguez's performance as Diana Guzman, a troubled teen who decides to channel her aggression by training to become a boxer, was recognized by both critics and audiences, but despite major industry buzz of a possible Academy Award nomination, she did not receive the Oscar nod.[7] Rodriguez did however accumulate several other significant awards and nominations for the role in independent circles, including major acting accolades from the National Board of Review, Deauville Film Festival, Independent Spirit Awards, Gotham Awards, Las Vegas Film Critics Sierra Awards, and many others. The film itself took home a top prize at the Sundance and won Award of the Youth at the Cannes Film Festival.

Subsequently, she has had notable roles in other successful movies, including The Fast and the Furious, Resident Evil, Blue Crush, and S.W.A.T. In 2004, Rodriguez lent her voice to the video game Halo 2, playing a Marine. She also provided the voice of Liz Ricarro in the Cartoon Network series IGPX. From 2005 to 2006, she played tough cop Ana Lucia Cortez on the television series Lost during the show's second season (the character's first appearance was a flashback on season 1's finale, Exodus: Part 1), and returned for a cameo in the second episode of the show's fifth season in 2009. In 2006, Rodriguez was featured in her own episode of G4's show Icons.

In 2008, she appeared in Battle in Seattle alongside Charlize Theron. Rodriguez next appeared in the latest installment of the The Fast and the Furious franchise, which was titled simply Fast & Furious and released to theaters on April 3, 2009.[8] Rodriguez can currently be seen in James Cameron's big budget sci-fi adventure Avatar, which was released to theaters on December 18, 2009. She also recently wrapped filming on Trópico de Sangre, an independent film based on the Dominican Republic's historic Mirabal sisters who were assassinated in 1960 by the Dominican dictator Trujillo for opposing his rule.[9]

Rodriguez can next be seen in Robert Rodriguez's Machete, and starring alongside Aaron Eckhart in the sci-fi film Battle: Los Angeles.

Notable rankings

Multiple times over the course of her career, she has been ranked in Stuff magazine’s "102 Sexiest Women In The World", Maxim’s "100 Sexiest Women", and People en Español's "50 Más Bellos", and was recently ranked #74 in FHM's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2009".

Writing

Rodriguez is currently working on two screenplays. One is a family film based on a concept which she describes as "a 2012 story about purity and animals and children"[10] and the other is a revision of an American remake of the 1997 German film Bandits which she describes as a film "about four girls who break out of jail and get chased across the country by the feds and by this MTV-like representative".[11]

Personal life

In early 2000, Rodriguez broke off a near engagement to a Muslim boyfriend, citing opposition to religious requirements he demanded of her.[12] Around 2001, Rodriguez dated Vin Diesel,[13] her co-star from The Fast and the Furious. In 2003, Rodriguez was photographed sharing a kiss with Kylie Minogue's boyfriend Olivier Martinez and the two were later spotted partying together on Puff Daddy's yacht in the south of France.[14]

In 2006, she "had her eye on" Irish actor and S.W.A.T. co-star, Colin Farrell.[15] In July 2006, Rodriguez told UK's Cosmopolitan magazine that she was not gay, but had "experimented with both sexes."[16] In November 2006, her openly bisexual Bloodrayne co-star Kristanna Loken's comments to The Advocate were widely interpreted and reported by the media as an admission that the two were in a relationship (Loken later married Noah Danby,[17] but they later separated and Loken is now in a relationship with a woman).[18]

In early 2007, Rodriguez was again photographed with Olivier Martinez. This time the two were seen dining together at Chateau Marmont Hotel in Los Angeles where Martinez was staying, with reports claiming she did not emerge from the hotel until the following morning.[19] In June 2007, Curve ran a cover describing her as a "bi bad girl" and considered by many to be trailing an interview in which Rodriguez would out herself.[20] Rodriguez never even did an interview with the magazine however, and therefore in response used her blog to criticize the magazine and express her feelings on the issue.[21]

In November 2008, during an interview with the Dominican Republic's women's magazine Cayena, Rodriguez stated that she is not a lesbian.[22]

In March 2002, Rodriguez was arrested for assault after getting into a fight with her roommate.[23] The charges were later dropped after the roommate declined to press the allegations in court.[24]

In November 2003, Rodriguez went to court to face eight misdemeanor charges based on two driving incidents including a hit and run and DUI.[25] In June 2004, Rodriguez pleaded no contest in Los Angeles to three of the charges: hit and run, drunken driving, and driving with a suspended license.[26] She went to jail for 48 hours, performed community service at the morgues of two New York hospitals, completed a three-month alcohol program, and was placed on probation for three years.[27]

In 2005, while filming Lost in Hawaii, Rodriguez was pulled over by Honolulu police multiple times; she was cited for driving at 83 mph (134 km/h) in a 55 mph (89 km/h) zone on Oahu on November 1, and was fined $357, paid a $300 fine for driving 90 mph (140 km/h) in a 35 mph (56 km/h) zone on October 20, was fined $197 for going 80 mph (130 km/h) in a 50 mph (80 km/h) zone on August 24.[28] On December 1, 2005, Rodriguez and her Lost co-star Cynthia Watros were pulled over (separately) and arrested for driving under the influence.[29] Rodriguez pleaded not guilty when arraigned,[30] but on the day of her trial in April 2006, she pleaded guilty to one charge of driving under the influence. She chose to pay a $500 fine and spend five days in jail instead of doing 240 hours of community service.[26] Rodriguez cited her high doses of allergy-relieving steroids as part of the reason for her erratic behavior.[31] Because the Kailua incident was a violation of her Los Angeles probation, Rodriguez was sentenced to 60 days in jail, a 30 day alcohol rehabilitation program and another 30 days of community service, including work for Mothers Against Drunk Driving, by a judge in Los Angeles on May 1, 2006.[32] Because of overcrowding, she was released from jail on the same day she entered. She wrote about the experience on her blog.[33]

In September 2007 however, Rodriguez allegedly violated her probation by not completing her community service and not following an alcohol education program. It was reported that Rodriguez originally submitted a document stating she performed community service on September 5, 2006, but it was later confirmed she was actually in New York City that day. Her lawyer claimed it was a clerical error.[34] On October 10, 2007, following a hearing, she was sentenced to 180 days jail time after agreeing to admit to violating her probation. She was expected to spend the full 180-day term in jail, as she had been deemed ineligible for work furloughs and house arrest.[35] However, after turning herself in to begin the jail term at the Century Regional Detention Facility located in Lynwood, CA on December 23, 2007,[36] Rodriguez was released 18 days later on January 9, 2008 due to overcrowding.[37]

Filmography

Film
Year Film Role Notes
2000 Girlfight Diana Guzman
2001 The Fast and the Furious Letty
3 A.M. Salgado
2002 Blue Crush Eden
Resident Evil Rain Ocampo
2003 S.W.A.T. Chris Sanchez
2004 Control Teresa
2005 BloodRayne Katarin
2006 The Breed Nicki
2007 Battle in Seattle Lou
2008 A Cat's Tale Jujube Voice
Gardens of the Night Lucy
2009 Fast & Furious Letty
Trópico de Sangre Minerva Mirabal (post-production)
Avatar Trudy Chacon
2010 Machete Luz (post-production)
2011 Battle: Los Angeles Corporal Adriana Santos (filming)
Television Appearances
Year Title Role Episodes
2005 Punk'd Herself 1 episode
Immortal Grand Prix Liz Ricarro 26 episodes
2005-2006, 2009 Lost Ana Lucia Cortez 25 episodes
2007 Adventures in Voice Acting Herself 1 episode
Video Game Voice-overs
Year Title Role Notes
2003 True Crime: Streets of LA Voice
Driv3r Voice
2004 Halo 2 Voice
2009 Avatar Voice (Trudy Chacon)

References

  1. ^ a b Rebecca Flint Marx (2008). "Michelle Rodriguez:Biography". MSN. Retrieved 2008-08-27.
  2. ^ "Official Site Biography". Michelle-Rodriguez.com. Retrieved 2007-02-07.
  3. ^ "Michelle Rodriguez Biography (1978-)". Film Reference. Retrieved 2007-12-25.
  4. ^ "Michelle Rodriguez: in role after role, she has kicked the stereotype of the token female in the teeth, leaving an imprint all her own". 2003. Retrieved 2007-12-25. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  5. ^ "The Religious Affiliation of Actress Michelle Rodriguez". World Religions. 2005-08-11. Retrieved 2007-12-25.
  6. ^ "Michelle Rodriguez Official Biography". Retrieved 2008-06-06.
  7. ^ A Conversation About "Girlfight"; October 27, 2000
  8. ^ "Universal Shuffles 2009 Schedule"; December 10, 2008
  9. ^ [1]
  10. ^ "Michelle Rodriguez Writing Kids Film"; September 18, 2008
  11. ^ Rodriguez Talks Modern Warfare and Dodging Earthquakes"; December 14, 2009
  12. ^ "Rodriguez Turned Down Muslim Marriage". 2008-06-06.
  13. ^ Wloszczyna, Susan (2002-08-06). "Vin Diesel, in high gear". USA Today. Gannett. Retrieved 2007-02-04.
  14. ^ "Minogue's Martinez linked to Rodriguez". Contact Music. 2008-05-02. Retrieved 2005-03-03.
  15. ^ "Rodriguez Dreams Of Farrell Relationship". Hollywood.com. Retrieved 2007-02-04.
  16. ^ "LOST girl" (reprint). Cosmopolitan. 2006-04-16. Retrieved 2007-02-04.
  17. ^ Kort, Michele (2006-11-15). "Michelle & Kristanna in love!". The Advocate. PlanetOut Inc. Retrieved 2007-02-04.
  18. ^ Kriegh, LeeAnn. "Exclusive Interview: Catching Up with Kristanna Loken", AfterEllen.com, November 18, 200.
  19. ^ "Kylie and Oli on rocks again". 2008-05-02. Retrieved 2005-01-29.
  20. ^ Michelle Rodriguez 'Curve' cover controversial Retrieved May 2, 2008.
  21. ^ "Michelle Rodriguez Blogs About Curve Article". 2007. Retrieved 2009-07-04. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  22. ^ "Michelle Rodríguez: "RD no debería tener esa mentalidad tan gubernamental"". Cayena. Retrieved 2008-11-22.
  23. ^ Grossberg, Josh (2002-03-20). ""Girlfight" Star Busted for Girl Fight". E!. Comcast. Retrieved 2007-02-04.
  24. ^ Grossberg, Josh (2002-04-08). ""Girlfight" Star Off the Hook". E!. Retrieved 2007-02-04.
  25. ^ Haberman, Lia (2003-11-20). "Rodriguez: Way 2 Fast 2 Furious". E!. Retrieved 2007-02-04.
  26. ^ a b "'Lost' Actress Chooses Jail Over Service". Associated Press. 2006-04-26. Retrieved 2006-07-21.
  27. ^ Hall, Sarah (2005-12-14). "Rodriguez: Fast and Furious Driver". E!. Retrieved 2007-02-04.
  28. ^ "Michelle Rodriguez settles two traffic cases". Associated Press. 2005-12-14. Retrieved 2006-07-21.
  29. ^ "Two 'Lost' stars charged with drunken driving". Associated Press. 2005-12-02. Retrieved 2006-07-21.
  30. ^ Errico, Marcus (2005-12-29). ""Lost" Stars Arraigned for DUIs". E!. Retrieved 2006-07-21.
  31. ^ Finn, Natalie (2006-05-22). "More Jail Time for Michelle Rodriguez". E!. Retrieved 2006-07-29.
  32. ^ Lee, Ken and Silverman, Stephen p. (2006-05-22). "Michelle Rodriguez Gets 60 Days in Jail". Retrieved 2007-02-04.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  33. ^ "Michelle Rodriguez Blogs About Arrest and Conviction"; February 16, 2007
  34. ^ Lee, Ken (2007-10-27). "Michelle Rodriguez Sentenced to Six Months in Jail wow". Retrieved 2008-02-10.
  35. ^ Finn, Natalie (October 10, 2007). "Slammer Time for Michelle Rodriguez". eonline.com.
  36. ^ "Former 'Lost' star Michelle Rodriguez reports for 6-month jail term in California". Associated Press. 2007-12-24. Retrieved 2007-12-25.
  37. ^ "Michelle Rodriguez out of jail after 18 days". MSNBC. 2008-01-10. Retrieved 2008-02-01.
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