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Alexa PenaVega

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Alexa Ellesse PenaVega[2] (née Vega; born August 27, 1988[3][4]) is an American actress and singer. She is known for her roles as Carmen Cortez in the first four Spy Kids films and Julie Corky in the 2004 film Sleepover. In 2009, she starred as the title character Ruby Gallagher in the ABC Family series Ruby & the Rockits.

Alexa PenaVega
Vega in 2012
Born
Alexa Ellesse Vega[1]

(1988-08-27) August 27, 1988 (age 36)
Miami, Florida, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
Years active1993–present
Spouses
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 2010; div. 2012)​
  • ​
    (m. 2014)​
Children3
RelativesMakenzie Vega (sister)

Early life

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Vega was born in Miami, Florida. She spent some of her childhood years on a ranch in Ocala, Florida.[4][better source needed]

Her father, Baruch Vega, is a Colombian fashion photographer and former informer for the Central Intelligence Agency,[5] and her mother, Gina Rue, is a former model.[6][7][8]

Vega has six siblings, including actress Makenzie Vega. She moved with her family to California when she was four years old.[4] As a teenager, she was homeschooled.[9]

Career

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Acting

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In 1996, at the age of 8, 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 film was a huge success, and 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 2011, Vega appeared in the sequel, Spy Kids: All the Time in the World, as a grown Carmen Cortez.

 
Vega speaking during a Repo! Road Tour, 2009

She was named one of the year's hottest teen celebrities in the July 2003 issue Vanity Fair. In 2004, Vega finished filming two films: Sleepover and State's Evidence. The following year, she starred in the Lifetime television film Odd Girl Out, as a victim of cyber-bullying. In 2006, she starred in another made-for-TV movie, Walkout; and finished filming Remember the Daze, which was released in limited theaters in April 2007. She completed filming Repo! The Genetic Opera, which was released in 2008.[10] Vega was confirmed as the lead role in Helix, written and directed by Aram Rappaport, which began filming in Chicago in March 2008. She was originally cast in the 2009 Robert Rodriguez film 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. She appeared on Broadway in Hairspray, as Penny.[11] In 2009, she played Ruby Gallagher on the ABC Family television sitcom Ruby & the Rockits, which also starred Patrick and David Cassidy.

Vega played Wick in the 2012 film The Devil's Carnival, a film from director Darren Lynn Bousman and screenwriter Terrance Zdunich, who previously worked with Vega in Repo! The Genetic Opera.[12] Throughout 2012, Vega starred in the independent thriller, 2br/1ba, directed by Rob Margolies and co-stars with Spencer Grammer and Kathryn Morris. Vega also starred in the Lifetime Channel movie The Pregnancy Project and her animated film The Clockwork Girl was completed. Vega's film, The Mine, which was filmed in 2010 got a limited release/screening. Vega also voiced Christina in the animated series Unsupervised and had a guest role on Royal Pains. Vega played the young heroine in Aerosmith's music video "Legendary Child".[13]

Throughout 2013 and 2014, Vega appeared in the films 23 Blast, Machete Kills, Bounty Killer, Wicked Blood, The Remaining, and The Hunters. She guest starred on the Big Time Rush series finale "Big Time Dreams", playing herself. In 2015, Vega appeared in Do You Believe? as Lacey.[14]

In 2016, she began starring in a series of Hallmark made for television films, such as Ms. Matched, Destination Wedding, and Christmas Made to Order.[15]

In 2019, Vega and her husband Carlos PenaVega starred in the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries TV movie Picture Perfect Mysteries: Newlywed and Dead, and in 2020 the follow-up Picture Perfect Mysteries: Dead over Diamonds.[16] She also starred in The Power Couple, a Pure Flix original series.[17]

Dancing

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In the fall of 2015, Vega competed on the 21st season of Dancing with the Stars; Vega was paired with professional dancer Mark Ballas.[18] On November 9, Vega and Ballas were eliminated in Week 9 and finished the competition in 6th place. Her husband, Carlos PenaVega, also competed in that season; he and his partner were eliminated in Week 11.[19]

Singing

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Vega recorded three songs for the soundtracks while playing Carmen Cortez in the Spy Kids films. She released her debut single, "Isle of Dreams" helping to promote the release of the second film; "Game Over" and "Heart Drive" featuring Bobby Edner were released during promotions for the third film.[citation needed] She recorded songs for the movie Repo! The Genetic Opera which was released in 2008.[citation needed]

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 ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas.[citation needed] She performed several songs for her role on Ruby & The Rockits in 2009.[citation needed] Vega also sang two songs on the soundtrack for the film The Devil's Carnival which was released in 2012.[20]

Personal life

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Vega married American film producer Sean Covel on October 10, 2010 in a ceremony held in his hometown of Lead, South Dakota.[21] Robert Rodriguez walked her down the aisle.[22] In July 2012, Vega announced on Twitter that she had divorced Covel.[23][24]

In late 2012, Vega started dating American actor and singer Carlos Pena Jr., star of Nickelodeon series Big Time Rush and member of pop music boy band by the same name, after meeting him at a Bible study. She guest appeared in the series finale episode of Big Time Rush, aired in July 2013, where she played the on-screen new girlfriend of Pena's character Carlos Garcia. The couple got engaged in August 2013,[25][26] and were married on January 4, 2014 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, both taking PenaVega as their married name.[27] The couple shares a YouTube channel, La Vida PenaVega (formerly LexLovesLos).[28] The couple have three children – two sons born in December 2016 and June 2019,[29][30][31] and a daughter born in May 2021.[32][33] In November 2023, the couple announced they were expecting their fourth child; Vega gave birth to a stillborn daughter in April 2024.[34]

Vega was the maid of honor at Nikki Reed's wedding to Paul McDonald.[35]

Vega is a conservative Christian and has said that her faith is the most important thing in her life.[36]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1994 Little Giants Priscilla O'Shea
1995 Nine Months Molly Dwyer
1996 Twister Jo Thornton (6)
The Glimmer Man Cole's Daughter
Ghosts of Mississippi Claire DeLaughter
1998 Dennis the Menace Strikes Again Gina Direct-to-video
1999 The Deep End of the Ocean Kerry Cappadora (9)
2000 Run the Wild Fields Opal "Pug" Miller
2001 Spy Kids Carmen Cortez
Follow The Stars Home Amy Williams
2002 Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams Carmen Cortez
2003 Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over
2004 Sleepover Julie Corky
2006 State's Evidence Sandy Direct-to-video
Marrying God Ivy Short film
2007 Remember the Daze Holly
2008 Repo! The Genetic Opera Shilo Wallace
2009 The Blue Elephant 2 Melody Voice
Broken Hill Kat Rogers
Innocent Ashley
2010 Mother's Day Jenna Luther
Café Sally
2011 From Prada to Nada Mary Dominguez
Spy Kids: All the Time in the World Carmen Cortez
Summer Song Ellie
2012 The Devil's Carnival Wick
Abandoned Mine Sharon
2013 Bounty Killer Stewardess
Machete Kills KillJoy
2014 The Clockwork Girl Tesla Voice
Wicked Blood Amber Dawn Baker
Code Academy Libby Short film
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For Gilda
The Remaining Skylar Chapman
23 Blast Ashley
2015 Spare Parts Karla
Do You Believe? Lacey
Roommate Wanted Janie
Pixies Michelle Meyers Voice
The Murder Pact Camille
2018 Sleep Away Isabella
2020 Mighty Oak Valerie Scoggins
2024 Mr. Manhattan Dani
The Casagrandes Movie Carlota Casagrande Voice[37]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1993–1994 Evening Shade Emily Newton Recurring role, 6 episodes
1995 ER Bonnie Howe Episode: "Sleepless in Chicago"
Chicago Hope Sara Wilmette Episode: "Every Day a Little Death"
It Was Him or Us Young Carrie Television film (CBS)
1996 A Promise to Carolyn Young Kay
Life's Work Tess Hunter Episode: Pilot
1998 The Magnificent Seven Olivia Greer Episode: "Safecracker"
To Have & to Hold Kelly McGrail Recurring role, 7 episodes
1999 NetForce Susie Michaels Miniseries
Ladies Man Wendy Stiles Recurring role, 9 episodes
2002 Total Access 24/7 Herself / Carmen Cortez Episode: "Spy Kids 2"
All That Spy Kids Episode: "Knubby McFarlin"
Wild & Crazy Kids Herself Celebrity guest[38]
2003 The Bernie Mac Show Jill Episode: "Magic Jordan"
Trading Spaces: Boys vs. Girls Herself Episode: Siblings "Eli vs. Kali"
2005 Odd Girl Out Vanessa Snyder Television film (Lifetime)
2006 Walkout Paula Crisostomo Television film (HBO)
2009 Ghost Whisperer Serena Episodes: "Endless Love"
Ruby & the Rockits Ruby Gallagher Lead role
2010 The Middle Morgan Episodes: "The Break-Up", "Worry Duty"
2012 Royal Pains Hollister Episode: "Imperfect Storm"
The Pregnancy Project Gaby Rodriguez Television film (LMN)
Unsupervised Christina Recurring role
2013 Big Time Rush Herself Episode: "Big Time Dreams"
2014 The Tomorrow People Hillary Cole Recurring role, 8 episodes
The Hunters Dylan Savini Television film (Hallmark)
Courtside Herself Episode: "Alexa Vega"
Muertoons Rosita Voice role; 2 episodes
2014–2015 Nashville Kiley Brenner Recurring role
2015 The Mentalist Lily Stoppard Episode: "The Whites of His Eyes"
Dancing with the Stars Herself Contestant (season 21): finished in sixth place
2016 Ms Matched Libby Boland Television film (Hallmark)
2017–present The Loud House Carlota Casagrande Recurring voice role, 7 episodes
2017 Destination Wedding Ellie Hamilton Television film (Hallmark)
Enchanted Christmas Laura Trudeau
2018 Love at Sea Olivia Graham
Christmas Made to Order Gretchen
2019 Picture Perfect Mysteries: Newlywed and Dead Allie Adams Television film (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries)
2019–2022 The Casagrandes Carlota Casagrande Main voice role
2020 Blue's Clues & You! Herself Episode: "Happy Birthday Blue!"
Picture Perfect Mysteries: Dead Over Diamonds Allie Adams Television film (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries)
Picture Perfect Mysteries: Exit Stage, Death
2021 Taking A Shot At Love Jenna Television film (Hallmark)
2022 Love in the Limelight Summer Rivera
2023 A Paris Proposal Anna Bowman
Never Too Late to Celebrate Camila

References

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  1. ^ "5 Things You Don't Know About Alexa Vega". Entertainment Tonight. October 3, 2013. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  2. ^ "Alexa Vega Weds Big Time Rush's Carlos Pena Jr". The Hollywood Reporter. January 5, 2014. Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  3. ^ "Alexa PenaVega". IMDb. Archived from the original on September 7, 2019. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "Alexa Vega Biography". BuddyTV. Archived from the original on July 29, 2014. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  5. ^ De Cordoba, Jose, "Fashion Photographer Scored Millions As an Informant, but Was Justice Served?" Archived November 5, 2021, at the Wayback Machine, The Wall Street Journal, December 7, 2000
  6. ^ Tracy, Liz (September 15, 2015). "Latina Takeover: Actresses From Miami Are Playing Big Roles for Disney, Broadway, and Hollywood". Miami New Times. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  7. ^ "Alexa Forever". RE: Questions for Miss Alexa Vega. Archived from the original on June 27, 2010. Retrieved August 20, 2006. 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.
  8. ^ "Ex-spy has price on head, ache in heart". Miami Herald. September 7, 2009. Archived from the original on November 15, 2018. Retrieved 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 ...
  9. ^ Gilchrist, Todd (July 9, 2004). "Sleeping Over with Alexa Vega". IGN. Archived from the original on January 5, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  10. ^ Paris Hilton gets movie musical role. Retrieved August 1, 2007.
  11. ^ ""Spy Kids" Star Vega to Join Broadway's Hairspray - Playbill.com". Archived from the original on July 15, 2014.
  12. ^ "Two Tickets To 'The Devil's Carnival' Please". FEARnet. March 6, 2012. Archived from the original on June 6, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  13. ^ "Aerosmith Rocks a Warehouse in 'Legendary Child' Video". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 5, 2013. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  14. ^ Foundas, Scott (March 20, 2015). "Film Review: 'Do You Believe?'". Variety. Archived from the original on July 14, 2017. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
  15. ^ "Why Alexa PenaVega Loves Starring in Hallmark Christmas Movies". December 23, 2018. Archived from the original on May 8, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  16. ^ "Picture Perfect Mysteries - About". Hallmark Movies and Mysteries. Archived from the original on June 20, 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  17. ^ "The Power Couple". PureFlix. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  18. ^ "Dancing with the Stars Season 21 Cast Announcement". ABC. September 2, 2015. Archived from the original on October 16, 2015. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  19. ^ Aguilera, Leanne (August 27, 2015). "EXCLUSIVE! 'Dancing With the Stars': Married Couple Alexa and Carlos PenaVega to Compete on Season 21". ET Online. Archived from the original on August 27, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2015.|
  20. ^ "The Devil's Carnival OST Out Today". Bloody Disgusting. April 3, 2012. Archived from the original on August 16, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  21. ^ Rosario, Mariela. "Alexa Vega's Wedding Album". Latina.com. Archived from the original on June 9, 2013. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  22. ^ Scmitt, Gavin. "ALEXA VEGA Interview Discussing Spy Kids 4, Repo! and more". GavinSchmitt.com. Archived from the original on October 3, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  23. ^ "'Spy Kids' Star Alexa Vega – I'm a 23-year-old Divorcee Now!". TMZ.com. July 15, 2012. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  24. ^ Shira, Dahvi (July 16, 2012). "Spy Kids Star Alexa Vega Files for Divorce". People. Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  25. ^ Eggenberger, Nicole (June 19, 2013). "Alexa Vega Engaged to Carlos Pena, Jr., Congratulated by Ex-Husband Sean Covel". Us Weekly. Archived from the original on September 14, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  26. ^ Spero, Jesse. "Alexa Vega Dishes Engagement Details: How Did Carlos Pena Pop The Question?". Access Hollywood. Los Angeles, California: NBC Universal. Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  27. ^ "Alexa Vega Weds Big Time Rush's Carlos Pena Jr". The Hollywood Reporter. January 5, 2014. Archived from the original on March 16, 2016. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  28. ^ "La Vida Penavega". YouTube. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  29. ^ Juneau, Jen (December 9, 2016). "Carlos and Alexa PenaVega Welcome Son Ocean King — See His First Photo!". People. Archived from the original on February 25, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  30. ^ Cardoza, Riley (July 2, 2019). "Alexa PenaVega Gives Birth to Baby Boy, Her Second Child With Husband Carlos PenaVega". Us Weekly. Archived from the original on July 2, 2019. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  31. ^ PenaVega, Alexa [@vegaalexa] (July 2, 2019). "❤️✝️🌊🌴🌸🤙🏽". Retrieved July 2, 2019 – via Instagram.
  32. ^ Mauch, Ally (December 26, 2020). "Alexa and Carlos PenaVega Expecting Their Third Child: 'Can't Wait to Meet Baby This Summer'". People. Archived from the original on December 27, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  33. ^ Ushe, Naledi (May 10, 2021). "Alexa and Carlos PenaVega Welcome Baby Daughter More Than a Month Early". People. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  34. ^ "Alexa and Carlos PenaVega Announce Stillbirth of Baby No. 4, Daughter Indy". People. April 15, 2024. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  35. ^ Malkin, Marc; Malec, Brett (October 5, 2011). "Nikki Reed Wedding Scoop: The Dress, the Matron of Honor and More!". E! Online. Archived from the original on August 12, 2019. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
  36. ^ "'Sin City' Actress Talks Directors in Hollywood 'Blasting Her' for Her Faith and New Revelation-Based Film". Christian Post. Archived from the original on August 12, 2019. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
  37. ^ "Watch the Casagrandes Movie | Netflix Official Site". Netflix. Archived from the original on February 2, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  38. ^ "[archives] WILD AND CRAZY KIDS 2002 REVIVAL (spy kids)". April 8, 2011. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021 – via www.youtube.com.

Notes

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