Alexa Ellesse Vega (born August 27, 1988) is an American actress, singer and pianist. She is best known for playing Carmen Cortez in Spy Kids trilogy and Shilo Wallace in the movie Repo! the Genetic Opera. In 2009, she starred as the title character Ruby Gallagher in the ABC Family series Ruby & The Rockits.
Contents
* 1 Early life
* 2 Career
o 2.1 Acting
o 2.2 Music
* 3 Personal life
* 4 Filmography
* 5 Discography
o 5.1 Singles
o 5.2 Soundtrack
o 5.3 Music videos
* 6 References
* 7 External links
Early life
Vega was born in Miami, Florida to a Colombian father and an American mother, Gina Rue, who works as a model. She has three sisters, actress Makenzie Vega (born February 10, 1994, starred in Saw and Sin City), Krizia Vega (born July 1, 1990), and Greylin James (born September 22, 2000), as well as two brothers, Jet James (born October 4, 2005) and Cruz Hudson (born April 24, 2009). She has one half-sister named Margaux Vega (born December 25, 1981). She lived in Florida until she was fourteen years old, and then moved with her family to California.
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 films: 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. 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 in Hairspray in 2007.[citation needed]
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 is signed with Hollywood Records and working on her debut album with some songs from her show. In the songs she sings on Ruby & The Rockits she plays the piano. On June 30, 2009, her new comeback single "Lost In Your Own Life" was released to radio.
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.
Personal life
Vega enjoys freshwater fishing, can speak Spanish fluently, is an experienced gymnast, and describes herself as a Christian. On October 10, 2010 she married Napoleon Dynamite producer Sean Covel in Lead, South Dakota.
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 The Middle Morgan 2 episodes: "The Break-Up" and "Worry Duty"
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 limited release
2009 Innocent Ashley limited release
Broken Hill Kat Rogers
2010 Mother's Day Jenna
The Mine Sharon post-production
Cafe Sally completed
2011 From Prada to Nada Mary post-production, based on the novel "Sense and Sensibility" by Jane Austen
Summer Song Ellie filming
Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World Carmen Cortez filming
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