Alexa Ellesse Vega (born August 27, 1988) is an American and colombian actress and singer. She is best known for playing Carmen Cortez in the Spy Kids trilogy and Shilo Wallace in Repo! the Genetic Opera as well as for a variety of film appearances, including her roles in Sleepover, Odd Girl Out, Walkout and Remember the Daze.
Personal background
Vega was born in Miami, Florida to a Colombian father and an American mother.1 Her sisters are actress Makenzie Vega (Saw & Sin City) and Krizia Vega (b. July 1, 1990). She has two half-sisters named Margaux Vega (b. December 25, 1981) and Greylin James (b. September 22, 2000), as well as a half-brother named Jet James (b. October 4, 2005). She lived in Florida until she was four years old when she moved with her family to California. She now lives in Los Angeles with her mother, Gina Rue (a model),2 stepfather Eric James, brother, and sisters. She enjoys freshwater fishing, can speak Spanish fluently, is an experienced gymnast, and describes herself as a Christian.3
Career
Film and television
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, playing Helen Hunt's character as a young girl, in the scene where the twister claims her father. She guest-starred in numerous television shows and films, including ER, Follow the Stars Home, and The Bernie Mac Show. She became known worldwide in 2001 for her role as Carmen Cortez in the 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 stunts.
In 2003, she was named one of that year's hottest teen celebrities in Vanity Fair. In 2004, Vega finished filming two films: Sleepover and State's Evidence, and in the following year starred in a made-for-television drama entitled Odd Girl Out. 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 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.
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 charted around that same time but wasn't released as a single. She also has recorded songs for the movie Repo! The Genetic Opera, released 2008.
Vega is signed with Hollywood Records and working on her debut album. On June 30, 2009, her new comeback single "Lost In Your Own Life" will be released to radio.5
Broadway
She made her Broadway debut in Hairspray in 2007.
Filmography
Discography
Singles
| Year |
Song |
Album |
| 2002 |
"Isle of Dreams" |
Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams soundtrack |
| 2003 |
"Game Over" |
Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over soundtrack |
| 2009 |
"Lost In Your Own Life" |
Ruby and the Rockits soundtrack |
Soundtrack
Music video
References
External links