Biography
Who is Michelle Rodriguez?
Early life and background
Mayte Michelle Rodriguez was born on July 12, 1978, in San Antonio, Texas. Her mother, Carmen Milady Rodriguez, is Dominican, and her father, Rafael Rodriguez, was Puerto Rican and served in the U.S. Army. She has ten siblings and half-siblings. During her childhood, she lived in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico before settling in Jersey City, New Jersey. She attended William L. Dickinson High School, where she dropped out before later earning her GED.
She was raised as a Jehovah's Witness by her maternal grandmother, though she has since left the faith. A DNA test featured on a television program showed that her ancestry is primarily European, with African and Native American heritage.
Career beginnings
Michelle Rodriguez started her career after responding to an open casting call for an independent film. She beat hundreds of other applicants to secure the lead role in the 2000 sports drama Girlfight, playing a troubled teenager named Diana Guzman who trains to become a boxer. Her performance earned her critical praise and multiple awards within independent film circles, including honors from the Independent Spirit Awards and the Gotham Awards.
Following her breakout film, she quickly established herself as an action star in major Hollywood productions. She was cast as Letty Ortiz in The Fast and the Furious in 2001 and played Rain Ocampo in Resident Evil the following year. She also appeared in the crime thriller S.W.A.T. And voiced characters in video games such as Halo 2.
Major film roles
Michelle Rodriguez took on prominent roles in several high-grossing films throughout her career. In 2009, she appeared in Fast & Furious and starred in James Cameron's science fiction epic Avatar, which became the highest-grossing film in history at the time. She also starred in the independent drama Trópico de Sangre and Robert Rodriguez's action film Machete.
She continued her work in major franchises by appearing in Fast & Furious 6, Furious 7, and The Fate of the Furious. In addition to live-action films, she lent her voice to animated projects including Turbo and Smurfs: The Lost Village. She also starred alongside Viola Davis in the heist film Widows.
Television and personal life
Outside of film, Michelle Rodriguez played tough cop Ana Lucia Cortez in the television series Lost during its second and fifth seasons. She also voiced a character in the anime series Immortal Grand Prix. Her hobbies include tactical gun training, skydiving, and DJing.
She has been open about her personal life and relationships in interviews, identifying as bisexual. Her past relationships and engagements have received media attention throughout her career.
Birthday and age
Michelle Rodriguez was born on July 12, 1978, which makes Michelle 48 years old today. That birthday falls under the Cancer sign. Michelle shares the date with 38 other famous people.
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