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Michelle Rodriguez
| Biography |
Known for tough-chick roles, Michelle Rodriguez is proof that there is a cross between beauty and
brawn. Born in Bexar County, Texas on July 12, 1978, Michelle always knew she was destined to
become a star, she just didn't know how to get there. Michelle lived in Texas until the age of 8 when
her family moved to the Dominican Republic where she would live for two years before moving to
Puerto Rico. At 11, Michelle's family would relocate for the last time to Jersey City, New Jersey.
Although she has been working since 1999 as an extra in such films as Summer of Sam (1999) and
Cradle Will Rock (1999), it only took a magazine ad announcing an open casting call in New York
for Michelle to decide to finally step into the spotlight. The role was the female lead, the movie
was Girlfight (2000). Despite the lack of experience in film and boxing, Michelle auditioned, along
with another 350 girls. After various trials inside an actual boxing ring and five arduous months
of training in Brooklyn's Gleason's Gym, she was finally chosen to portray the role of Diana Guzman.
As soon as the independent film began making the rounds at various film festivals, Michelle began
gaining critical acclaim for her performance earning her awards like the Deaxville Festival of
American Cinema award for Best Actress and the Las Vegas Film Critics Society for Female
Breakthrough Performance. As Girlfight (2000) continued to gain notoriety with its September 2000
release, Michelle was already hard at work with films like 3 A.M. (2001), the blockbuster hit
The Fast and The Furious (2001), and Resident Evil (2002). With young Hollywood calling her name, the
future for this feisty Jersey girl is as strong as the punches she throws. |
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