Michelle Rodriguez

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Michelle Rodriguez

Rodriguez at the New York Fashion Week Spring 2006
Born Mayte Michelle Rodriguez
July 12, 1978 (1978-07-12) (age 29)
Bexar County, Texas
Official website

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

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life

Rodriguez was born in Bexar County, Texas, the daughter of Carmen Milady (née Pared), a native of the Dominican Republic, and Rafael Rodriguez, a Puerto Rican who served in the US 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] Rodriguez 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 but later earned her GED. Rodriguez briefly attended business school before quitting to pursue a career in Hollywood.[5]

[edit] Career

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. 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 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, Rodriguez portrayed Eden in the surfer girlpower flick Blue Crush.

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). In 2006, Rodriguez was featured in her own episode of G4's show Icons.

Her latest film, Battle in Seattle, releases in the U.S. in September 2008, and she recently wrapped filming alongside the original cast on the fourth installment of the The Fast and the Furious franchise entitled simply Fast and Furious which releases in June 2009.[6]. Rodriguez will then be seen in James Cameron's new $200 million sci-fi adventure Avatar, due out December 18, 2009.

This November, she will begin filming Trópico de Sangre, an independent film she is co-producing with her production company Cheshire Kat Productions, based on the Dominican Republic's historic Mirabal sisters who were assassinated in 1960 by the Dominican dictator for opposing his rule.[7]

[edit] Producing

Rodriguez co-founded a production company called Cheshire Kat Productions which is currently producing a historical drama called Trópico de Sangre, in which she also stars.

[edit] Personal life

In early 2000, Rodriguez broke off a near engagement to a Muslim boyfriend, citing opposition to religious requirements he demanded of her, which included covering herself completely.[8] At one time, Rodriguez dated her The Fast and the Furious co-star, Vin Diesel.[9] In 2003, Rodriguez was photographed sharing a kiss with Kylie Minogue's boyfriend Olivier Martinez and the two were later spotted partying together on on Puff Daddy's yacht in the south of France.[10]

In 2006, she "had her eye on" Irish actor and S.W.A.T. co-star, Colin Farrell.[11] In July 2006, Rodriguez told UK's Cosmopolitan magazine that she was not gay, but had "experimented with both sexes."[12] 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.[13] 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."[14]

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 didn't emerge from the hotel until the following morning.[15] In June 2007, Curve ran a cover describing her as a "bad bi girl" and considered by many to be trailing an interview in which Rodriguez would out herself.[16] Rodriguez never even did an interview with the magazine however, and therefore in response used her blog to express her feelings on the issue[17]. In the July/August 2007 issue of Curve, editors responded to her criticism by stating: "If you read the article, you will see that the author did not, in fact, 'out' Rodriguez; rather, the article stated both that 'Rodriguez has never publicly come out' and 'Rodriguez has said she is not a lesbian."

When asked by Latina Magazine in April 2008 about the constant questions and speculation surrounding her sexuality, Rodriguez responded, "I don't answer those questions. I just keep it to myself and it's nobody's business. If I wanna fuck a girl, a boy, a dog—that's my business."[18]

[edit] Legal troubles

In March 2002, Rodriguez was arrested for assault after getting into a fight with her roommate.[19] The charges were later dropped after the roommate declined to press the allegations in court.[20]

In November 2003, Rodriguez went to court to face eight misdemeanor charges based on two driving incidents including a hit and run and DUI.[21] 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.[22] 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.[23]

In 2005, while filming Lost in Hawaii, Rodriguez 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.[24] On December 1, 2005, Rodriguez and her Lost co-star, Cynthia Watros were separately pulled over and arrested for driving under the influence.[25] Rodriguez pleaded not guilty when arraigned,[26] 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.[22] Rodriguez cited her high doses of allergy-relieving steroids as part of the reason for her erratic behavior.[27] Because the Kailua incident was a violation of her Los Angeles probation, Rodriguez 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.[28] 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.[29]She wrote about the experience on her blog.[30]

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. [31] 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.[32] However, after turning herself in to begin the jail term at the Century Regional Detention Facility located in Lynwood, CA on December 23, 2007,[33] Rodriguez was released 18 days later on January 9, 2008 due to overcrowding.[34]

[edit] Filmography

Year Title Role
2009 Avatar Trudy Chacon
Trópico de Sangre Minerva Mirabal
Fast and Furious Letty
2007 Battle in Seattle Lou
2006 The Breed Nicki
A Cat's Tale voice
2005 BloodRayne Katarin
Sian Ka'an voice
2004 Control Teresa
2003 S.W.A.T. Chris Sanchez
2002 Blue Crush Eden
Resident Evil Rain Ocampo
2001 The Fast and the Furious Letty
3 A.M. Salgado
2000 Girlfight Diana Guzman

[edit] Television

Year Title Role Episodes
2005 Punk'd Herself 1 episode
Immortal Grand Prix Liz Ricarro 26 episodes
2005-2006 Lost Ana Lucia Cortez 24 episodes
2007 Adventures in Voice Acting Herself 1 episode

[edit] Video games

[edit] References

  1. ^ Official Site Biography. Michelle-Rodriguez.com. Retrieved on 2007-02-07.
  2. ^ Michelle Rodriguez Biography (1978-). Film Reference. Retrieved on 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 on 2007-12-25.
  4. ^ The Religious Affiliation of Actress Michelle Rodriguez. World Religions (2005-08-11). Retrieved on 2007-12-25.
  5. ^ Michelle Rodriguez Official Biography. Retrieved on 2008-06-06.
  6. ^ "Michelle Rodriguez Returning for Fast & The Furious 4"; March 6, 2008
  7. ^ "Michelle Rodriguez Producing and Starring in Historical Feature"; March 25, 2008
  8. ^ Rodriguez Turned Down Muslim Marriage (2008-06-06).
  9. ^ Wloszczyna, Susan. "Vin Diesel, in high gear", USA Today, Gannett, 2002-08-06. Retrieved on 2007-02-04. 
  10. ^ Minogue's Martinez linked to Rodriguez. Contact Music (2008-05-02). Retrieved on 2005-03-03.
  11. ^ Rodriguez Dreams Of Farrell Relationship. Hollywood.com. Retrieved on 2007-02-04.
  12. ^ "LOST girl" (reprint), Cosmopolitan, 2006-04-16. Retrieved on 2007-02-04. 
  13. ^ Kort, Michele. "Michelle & Kristanna in love!", The Advocate, PlanetOut Inc., 2006-11-15. Retrieved on 2007-02-04. 
  14. ^ Interview With Kristanna Loken. AfterEllen.com (2007-04-13). Retrieved on 2007-12-25.
  15. ^ Kylie and Oli on rocks again (2008-05-02). Retrieved on 2005-01-29.
  16. ^ Michelle Rodriguez 'Curve' cover controversial Retrieved May 2, 2008.
  17. ^ Michelle Rodriguez Blogs About Curve Article (May, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-12-25.
  18. ^ Michelle Rodriguez Opens Up About Her Sexuality (2008-04-22). Retrieved on 2008-06-06.
  19. ^ Grossberg, Josh. ""Girlfight" Star Busted for Girl Fight", E!, Comcast, 2002-03-20. Retrieved on 2007-02-04. 
  20. ^ Grossberg, Josh. ""Girlfight" Star Off the Hook", E!, 2002-04-08. Retrieved on 2007-02-04. 
  21. ^ Haberman, Lia. "Rodriguez: Way 2 Fast 2 Furious", E!, 2003-11-20. Retrieved on 2007-02-04. 
  22. ^ a b "'Lost' Actress Chooses Jail Over Service", Associated Press, 2006-04-26. Retrieved on 2006-07-21. 
  23. ^ Hall, Sarah. "Rodriguez: Fast and Furious Driver", E!, 2005-12-14. Retrieved on 2007-02-04. 
  24. ^ "Michelle Rodriguez settles two traffic cases", Associated Press, 2005-12-14. Retrieved on 2006-07-21. 
  25. ^ "Two 'Lost' stars charged with drunken driving", Associated Press, 2005-12-02. Retrieved on 2006-07-21. 
  26. ^ Errico, Marcus. ""Lost" Stars Arraigned for DUIs", E!, 2005-12-29. Retrieved on 2006-07-21. 
  27. ^ Finn, Natalie. "More Jail Time for Michelle Rodriguez", E!, 2006-05-22. Retrieved on 2006-07-29. 
  28. ^ Lee, Ken and Silverman, Stephen p.. "Michelle Rodriguez Gets 60 Days in Jail", 2006-05-22. Retrieved on 2007-02-04. 
  29. ^ Lee, Ken. "Michelle Rodriguez Sentenced to Six Months in Jail", 2007-10-27. Retrieved on 2008-02-10. 
  30. ^ "Michelle Rodriguez Blogs About Arrest and Conviction"; [[February 16, 2007
  31. ^ Lee, Ken. "Michelle Rodriguez Sentenced to Six Months in Jail", 2007-10-27. Retrieved on 2008-02-10. 
  32. ^ Finn, Natalie; "Slammer Time for Michelle Rodriguez"; eonline.com; October 10, 2007
  33. ^ Former 'Lost' star Michelle Rodriguez reports for 6-month jail term in California. Associated Press (2007-12-24). Retrieved on 2007-12-25.
  34. ^ Michelle Rodriguez out of jail after 18 days. MSNBC (2008-01-10). Retrieved on 2008-02-01.

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: