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Michelle Rodriguez

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Michelle Rodríguez
Michelle Rodríguez at the New York Fashion Week Spring 2006.
Born
Mayte Michelle Rodríguez
Websitemichelle-rodriguez.com

Mayte Michelle Rodríguez[1] (born July 12, 1978), better known as Michelle Rodríguez, is an American actress, known for her role in the television series Lost and films Girlfight, The Fast and the Furious, Resident Evil and S.W.A.T..

Biography

Early life

Rodríguez was born in Bexar County, Texas, the daughter of Carmen Milady (née Pared), a native of the Dominican Republic, and Rafael Rodríguez, a Puerto Rican who served in the military.[2] She has a total of ten half-siblings or siblings. She was raised by her devoutly religious maternal grandmother and was brought up in her mother's Jehovah's Witnesses religion.[3][4] Rodríguez moved to the Dominican Republic with her mother when she was eight and lived in Puerto Rico when she was 11, later settling in Jersey City, New Jersey. She dropped out of high school at age 17 and later earned her GED.[citation needed]

Career

Having run across an ad for an open casting call and attending her first audition, Rodríguez beat 350 other applicants to win her first role in the low-budget 2000 independent film, Girlfight. Rodríguez'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. Rodríguez 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 top prizes at both the Sundance and Cannes Film Festivals.

Subsequently, she has had notable roles in other successful movies, including S.W.A.T., The Fast and the Furious and Resident Evil. In 2002, she was ranked #77 in Stuff magazine’s “102 Sexiest Women In The World”, and #34 in Maxim’s "100 Sexiest Women". That same year, Rodríguez portrayed Eden in the surfer girlpower flick Blue Crush.

In 2004, Rodríguez lent her voice to the video game Halo 2, playing one of the Marines. 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).

In 2006, Rodríguez was featured in her own episode of G4's show Icons. Her latest film, Battle in Seattle, releases in the U.S. in March 2008. She recently wrapped filming in New Zealand for James Cameron's sci-fi adventure Avatar, due out in December 2009.[5]

Personal life

In early 2000, Rodríguez broke off a near engagement to a Muslim boyfriend, citing opposition to religious requirements he demanded of her, which included covering herself completely.[6] In 2001, Rodríguez then dated her The Fast and the Furious co-star, Vin Diesel.[7] In 2006, she expressed a romantic interest in Irish actor and S.W.A.T. co-star, Colin Farrell.[8] In July 2006, Rodriguez told UK's Cosmopolitan magazine that she was not gay, but had "experimented with both sexes".[9] In November of 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.[10][11][12] Asked about the relationship in April 2007, Kristanna Loken said, "We're great friends. She'll always remain a great, close friend of mine. I'll always love Michelle".[13]

Most recently, Rodriguez was linked to Kylie Minogue's ex Olivier Martinez after the two were seen dining at Chateau Marmont. Rodríguez reportedly spent the night at his hotel room, and the two have been spotted together several times over the course of the last 4 years.[14]

Curve controversy

In June 2007, Curve ran a cover widely considered to be trailing an interview in which Rodríguez would out herself. The Curve website initially described her as a "bi bad girl", but later removed this "bi" label.

In reality, Rodríguez never actually did an interview with the magazine and therefore, in response, used her blog to accuse the magazine of falsely attempting to "out" her[15].

Asked about the Curve issue, Rodriguez told E! Online,

"People are gonna say what they say. It’s like Eminem...I am whatever you say I am. Free press...it’s all good—the more, the merrier. Just as long as it doesn’t mess up my flow if I ever want some shows, ya know? That would suck”.[16]

In the July/August 2007 issue of Curve, editors responded to this criticism by stating:

"If you read the article, you will see that the author did not, in fact, 'out' Rodríguez; rather, the article stated both that 'Rodríguez has never publicly come out' and 'Rodríguez has said she is not a lesbian."

The editors stated that the misunderstanding arose when Perez Hilton posted in his blog that she had come out in Curve after seeing her on the cover and assuming it was a coming out story.[citation needed]

Legal troubles

In March 2002, Rodríguez was arrested for assault after getting into a fight with her roommate.[17] The charges were later dropped after the roommate declined to press the allegations in court.[18]

In November 2003, Rodriguez went to court to face eight misdemeanor charges based on two driving incidents including a hit and run and DUI.[19] In June 2004, Rodríguez pleaded no contest in Los Angeles to three of the charges: [hit and run, drunken driving, and driving with a suspended license.[20] 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.[21]

In 2005, while filming Lost in Hawaii, Rodríguez was pulled over by Honolulu police multiple times; she was cited for driving 83 mph in a 55 mph zone on Oahu on November 1, and was fined $357, paid a $300 fine for driving 90 mph in a 35 mph zone on October 20, was fined $197 for going 80 mph in a 50 mph zone on August 24.[22] On December 1, 2005, Rodríguez and her Lost co-star, Cynthia Watros were separately pulled over and arrested for driving under the influence.[23] Rodríguez pleaded not guilty when arraigned,[24] 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 21.78 hours of community service.[20] Rodríguez cited her high doses of allergy-relieving steroids as part of the reason for her erratic behaviour.[25] The fact that her and Watros' characters were killed off (appropriately enough, in an episode titled "Two for the Road") led some fans to believe that it was a result of the arrests, however Rodriguez and producers said their exit from the show had been planned before the season began and the arrests were just coincidental.[citation needed] Her hiatus from movie roles from 2003 to 2007 also led fans to believe she was being temporarily blacklisted for her legal troubles.

Because the Kailua incident was a violation of her Los Angeles probation, Rodríguez was sentenced to 260 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.[26] Because of overcrowding, she was released from jail on the same day she entered it. As of June 2006, she will still have to serve the community service.[27] She wrote about the experience on her blog.[28]

In September 2007 however, Rodríguez 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 later admitted she was actually in New York City that day. Her lawyer claimed it was a clerical error.[citation needed]

On October 10, 2007, following a hearing, she was sentenced to 180 days jail time after agreeing to admit to violating her probation, stemming from her earlier charges. The judge in the case ordered that Rodríguez not be granted a work furlough, early release or home confinement and must remain in jail for the entire 180 days. [29]

On December 23, 2007, she turned herself in and began a 180-day jail term in the Century Regional Detention Facility located in Lynwood, CA. This stems from an earlier probation violation.[30]

Filmography

Wikiquote has quotations related to Michelle Rodriguez.

Video games

References

  1. ^ "Official Site Biography". Michelle-Rodriguez.com. Retrieved 2007-02-07.
  2. ^ "Michelle Rodriguez Biography (1978-)". Film Reference. Retrieved 2007-12-25.
  3. ^ "Michelle Rodriguez: in role after role, she has kicked the stereotype of the token female in the teeth, leaving an imprint all her own". September, 2003. Retrieved 2007-12-25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ "The Religious Affiliation of Actress Michelle Rodriguez". World Religions. 2005-08-11. Retrieved 2007-12-25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ Battle in Seattle at IMDb Edit this at Wikidata
  6. ^ "Rodriguez Turned Down Muslim Marriage". 2001-04-22. Retrieved 2007-12-25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ Wloszczyna, Susan (2002-08-06). "Vin Diesel, in high gear". USA Today. Gannett. Retrieved 2007-02-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ "Rodriguez Dreams Of Farrell Relationship". Hollywood.com. Retrieved 2007-02-04.
  9. ^ "LOST girl" (reprint). Cosmopolitan. 2006-04-16. Retrieved 2007-02-04.
  10. ^ Kort, Michele (2006-11-15). "Michelle & Kristanna in love!". The Advocate. PlanetOut Inc. Retrieved 2007-02-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ Johnson, Richard (2006-11-16). "SAPPHIC SISTERS". New York Post. News Corporation. Retrieved 2007-02-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ San Vicente, Romeo. "Michelle Rodriguez to Battle in Seattle". BGay.com. Retrieved 2007-02-04.
  13. ^ "Interview With Kristanna Loken". AfterEllen.com. 2007-04-13. Retrieved 2007-12-25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ "Kylie's lover Caught Out". The Courier-Mail. 2007-01-28. Retrieved 2007-12-25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ "Michelle Rodriguez hits back at Curve magazine". Advocate.com. May, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ "And the B-ish Beat Goes On". 2007-06-06. Retrieved 2007-12-25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ Grossberg, Josh (2002-03-20). ""Girlfight" Star Busted for Girl Fight". E!. Comcast. Retrieved 2007-02-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ Grossberg, Josh (2002-04-08). ""Girlfight" Star Off the Hook". E!. Retrieved 2007-02-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ Haberman, Lia (2003-11-20). "Rodriguez: Way 2 Fast 2 Furious". E!. Retrieved 2007-02-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ a b "'Lost' Actress Chooses Jail Over Service". Associated Press. 2006-04-26. Retrieved 2006-07-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ Hall, Sarah (2005-12-14). "Rodriguez: Fast and Furious Driver". E!. Retrieved 2007-02-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ "Michelle Rodriguez settles two traffic cases". Associated Press. 2005-12-14. Retrieved 2006-07-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  23. ^ "Two 'Lost' stars charged with drunken driving". Associated Press. 2005-12-02. Retrieved 2006-07-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  24. ^ Errico, Marcus (2005-12-29). ""Lost" Stars Arraigned for DUIs". E!. Retrieved 2006-07-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  25. ^ Finn, Natalie (2006-05-22). "More Jail Time for Michelle Rodriguez". E!. Retrieved 2006-07-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  26. ^ Lee, Ken and Silverman, Stephen p. (2006-05-22). "Michelle Rodriguez Gets 60 Days in Jail". Retrieved 2007-02-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  27. ^ Lee, Ken (2006-05-30). "Michelle Rodriguez Gets Out of Jail Early". Retrieved 2006-07-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  28. ^ Reynolds, Toshiba; "Michelle Rodriguez Has 'Lost' Her Mind Regarding DUI Conviction"; February 21, 2007
  29. ^ Finn, Natalie; "Slammer Time for Michelle Rodriguez"; eonline.com; October 10, 2007
  30. ^ "Former 'Lost' star Michelle Rodriguez reports for 6-month jail term in California". Associated Press. 2007-12-24. Retrieved 2007-12-25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

External links

Interviews

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