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Alexa Vega

Alexa PenaVega is one of the actresses in the Spy Kids series. She is known for playing Carmen Cortez in all Spy Kids films.

Early life

Vega was born in Miami, Florida. Her father is Colombian and her mother, Gina Rue, is an American former model.[1][2][3] Alexa has six siblings: paternal half-sister Margaux Vega (b.1981), sister Krizia Vega (b.1990), sister Makenzie Vega (b.1994; starred in Saw and Sin City), maternal half-sister Greylin James (b.2000), maternal half-brother Jet James (b.2005), and maternal half-brother Cruz Hudson Rue (b.2009). She moved with her family to California when she was four years old. She attended Notre Dame Catholic High School.

Career

Acting

Vega made her first movie appearance in Little Giants, starring as the six-year-old daughter of Ed O'Neill. In 1996, Vega starred as young Jo Harding in Twister. She guest-starred in numerous television shows and films, including ER, Follow the Stars Home, Ghost Whisperer, and The Bernie Mac Show. She became known worldwide in 2001 for her role as Carmen Cortez in Spy Kids. The first Spy Kids movie was a huge success, and subsequently two sequels, Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams and Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over were filmed. During the shooting of the three films, she performed most of her own stunts.

In 2003, she was named one of that year's hottest teen celebrities in Vanity Fair. In 2004, Vega finished filming two movies: Sleepover and State's Evidence, and in the following year starred in a made-for-television drama entitled Odd Girl Out as a victim of cyber-bullying. She also filmed for another made-for-TV movie, Walkout. In June 2006, she finished filming Remember the Daze, which came out to limited theaters in April 2007. She also finished filming Repo! the Genetic Opera, which was released in 2008.[4] Vega has also been confirmed as the lead role in Helix, written and directed by Aram Rappaport, which began filming in Chicago in March 2008. Vega was originally cast in Robert Rodriguez's Shorts, however, due to her being in Australia for the filming of Broken Hill, she had to be recast. She was replaced by Kat Dennings.

In 2009, she played Ruby Gallagher on the ABC Family television sitcom Ruby & The Rockits, which also starred Patrick & David Cassidy. The series was not renewed for a second season.

Vega made her Broadway debut as Penny Pingleton in Hairspray in 2007.[5]

Music

She recorded three songs for the soundtracks while playing Carmen Cortez in the Spy Kids films. She released her debut single, "Isle of Dreams", to coincide with the release of the second film. She also released "Game Over", for the third film. Another song, "Heart Drive" featuring Bobby Edner, was also recorded for Spy Kids 3. She also has recorded songs for the movie Repo! The Genetic Opera, released in 2008.

Vega sang the song "Christmas is the Time to Say 'I Love You'" in the ABC Family film Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe. The track appears on the compilation album Songs to Celebrate 25 Days of Christmas, which was released on November 3, 2009 by Walt Disney Records. The music video for the song premiered during the ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas programming block in 2009.

Alexa Vega is not planning on furthering her musical career as she prefers acting. (Taylor Momsen who did Spy Kids 2 is the opposite).

Personal life

Vega enjoys freshwater fishing, can speak Spanish fluently, is an experienced gymnast, and describes herself as a Christian.[6][7] Vega was married on October 10, 2010 to producer Sean Covel, in a ceremony held in his hometown of Lead, South Dakota. She wore an Ian Stuart gown[8] and was walked down the aisle by Robert Rodriguez. In summer 2012, Vega stated that she had filed for divorce from Covel, citing irreconcilible differences. In January 2014 Vega married Big Time Rush star Carlos Pena Jr whom she had been engaged to since August 2013. 

Filmography

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1993–
1994
Evening Shade Emily Newton 6 episodes
1995 ER Bonnie Howe Episode: "Sleepless in Chicago"
Chicago Hope Sara Wilmette Episode: "Every Day a Little Death"
1996 Life's Work Tess Hunter Pilot
1998 The Magnificent Seven Olivia Greer Episode: "Safecracker"
To Have & to Hold Kelly McGrail 7 episodes
1999 Ladies Man Wendy Stiles #2 9 episodes
2002 All That Carmen Cortez Episode: "Spy Kids/ Play"
2003 The Bernie Mac Show Jill Episode: "Magic Jordan"
2003 Trading Spaces: Boys vs. Girls Herself Episode: Siblings "Eli vs. Kali"
2009 Ghost Whisperer Serena 2 episodes: "Endless Love" & "The Book of Changes"
Ruby & The Rockits Ruby Gallagher main character, 10 episodes


2010


2014 ||


The Middle


The Tomorrow People ||


Morgan


Hillary Cole ||


2 episodes: "The Break-Up" and "Worry Duty"


8 episodes

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1994 Little Giants Priscilla O'Shea
1995 Nine Months Molly Dwyer
It Was Him or Us Young Carrie TV film
1996 A Promise to Carolyn Young Kay TV film
Twister Jo Harding (age 5)
Shattered Mind Sarah also known as The Terror Inside
The Glimmer Man Cole's Daughter cameo
Ghosts of Mississippi Claire DeLaughter
1998 Dennis the Menace Strikes Again Gina direct-to-video
1999 NetForce Susie Michaels Mini-series
The Deep End of the Ocean Kerry Cappadora
Run the Wild Fields Opal 'Pug' Miller
2001 Follow the Stars Home Amy Williams also known as A Second Chance (Australia)
Spy Kids Carmen Cortez first starring role
2002 Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams
2003 Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over
2004 Sleepover Julie Corky first main billing role
2005 Odd Girl Out Vanessa Lifetime Original Movie
2006 State's Evidence Sandy Direct to DVD, filmed in 2004
Walkout Paula Crisostomo HBO original movie
Marrying God Ivy Short film
2007 Remember the Daze Holly originally titled "The Beautiful Ordinary"
2008 Repo! The Genetic Opera Shilo Wallace
2009 Innocent Ashley originally titled "Helix"
Broken Hill Kat Rogers
2010 Mother's Day Jenna Luther
The Mine Sharon
Cafe Sally
From Prada to Nada Mary based on the novel "Sense and Sensibility" by Jane Austen[9]
2011 Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World Carmen Cortez
Summer Song Ellie
2012 The Devil's Carnival Wick short, third film with Darren Lynn Bousman
The Pregnancy Project Gaby Rodriguez Lifetime Original Movie

Discography

Singles

Year Song Album Writer(s) Label
2002 "Isle of Dreams" Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams Robert Rodriguez Milan
2003 "Game Over" Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over Robert Rodriguez & Rebecca Rodriguez
"Heart Drive"
2008 "Seventeen" Repo! The Genetic Opera (soundtrack) Terrance Zdunich & Darren Smith Lionsgate
2009 "Lost In Your Own Life" Ruby & The Rockits Shaun Cassidy Hollywood
"You are Where I Live" David Cassidy
"The Way It's Gonna Be"
"Forever Your Song"
"Too High a Price"
"Possibilities" (with Austin Butler)
"Now When I Close My Eyes"
"Christmas is the Time to Say I Love You"[10] Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe Billy Squier Walt Disney

Soundtrack

Music videos

Year Title Album Director Source
2002 "Isle of Dreams" Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams Robert Rodriguez Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams
2009 "You are Where I Live" Ruby & The Rockits Ted Wass ABC Family/ABCFamily.com
2009 "Christmas Is the Time to Say I Love You" Songs to Celebrate 25 Days of Christmas Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe/
ABC Family Channel

References

  1. Vega's mother is not of Italian descent, despite reports to the contrary. In a question regarding her ancestry, Vega replied on her website's message board: "My father's side is Colombian (Bogota)... and I don't know why they said my mom was Italian. lol... She's not. My family and I were trying to figure out what my mom was, but we can only go back to 5 generations and they were all from Florida. haha. so .. Floridian? ahhah... my moms last name is French though", at Template:Cite web
  2. "Ex-spy has price on head, ache in heart", Miami Herald,. Retrieved on March 8, 2011. "Alexa Vega 21 is his oldest daughter with former Miami model Gina Rue With about 40 films in her career Alexa is mostly known for her role in the Spy Kids ..." 
  3. Alexa Vega Biography at Film Reference
  4. Paris Hilton gets movie musical role. Retrieved August 1, 2007.
  5. "Spy Kids" Star Vega to Join Broadway’s Hairspray
  6. Template:Cite web
  7. Nov. 20th story of engagement broken by HotSpringsStar.com quote=Covel managed to complete his second mission; to propose marriage to Vega. And she said, “Yes.”
  8. Alexa Vega's Wedding Album
  9. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0893412/
  10. Template:Cite web
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