Alexa PenaVega

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Alexa Vega
Alexa Vega 2013 (cropped).jpg
Vega in 2013
Born
Alexa Ellesse Vega[1]

(1988-08-27) August 27, 1988 (age 33)
Miami, Florida, U.S.
Occupation
  • Actress
  • singer
Years active1993–present
Spouse(s)
Children3
RelativesMakenzie Vega (sister)

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

Early life[]

Vega was born in Miami, Florida. She spent her childhood years on a ranch in Ocala, Florida. Her father, Baruch Vega, is a Colombian fashion photographer who was a scam artist and student informer for the Central Intelligence Agency, and her mother, Gina Rue, is a former model.[3][4][5] Vega has six siblings, including actress Makenzie Vega. She moved with her family to California when she was four years old.[6] As a teenager, she was homeschooled.[7]

Career[]

Acting[]

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 film 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 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 also finished filming Repo! The Genetic Opera, which was released in 2008.[8] Vega was 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 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.[9] 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.[10] 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".[11]

Throughout 2013 and 2014, Vega appeared in the films 23 Blast, Machete Kills, Bounty Killer, Wicked Blood, The Remaining, and The Hunters. She also guest starred on the Big Time Rush series finale "Big Time Dreams", playing herself. In 2015, Alexa appeared in Do You Believe? as Lacey.[12]

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.[13] In 2019 she began starring in the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries series Picture Perfect Mysteries.[14]

Dancing[]

In fall 2015, Alexa competed on the 21st season of Dancing with the Stars. Her husband, Carlos PenaVega was also competing that season, and he & his partner were eliminated in Week 11.[15] She was paired with professional dancer Mark Ballas.[16] On November 9, Alexa and Ballas were eliminated in Week 9 and finished the competition in 6th place.

In 2019, Vega and her husband Carlos 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.[17]

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 promote with the release of the second film, and "Game Over" and "Heart Drive" featuring Bobby Edner for the third film. She also 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 ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas.

Personal life[]

Vega married film producer Sean Covel on October 10, 2010, in a ceremony held in his hometown of Lead, South Dakota.[18] Robert Rodriguez walked her down the aisle. In July 2012, Vega announced on Twitter that she had divorced Covel.[19][20]

PenaVega is a Christian and she has said that her faith is the most important thing in her life.[21] Vega was the maid of honor at Nikki Reed's wedding to Paul McDonald.[22]

In August 2013, Vega became engaged to former Big Time Rush actor and singer Carlos Pena Jr., whom she had been dating since late 2012.[23][24] The couple married on January 4, 2014, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, taking PenaVega as their married name.[25] The couple shares a YouTube channel, LexLovesLos.[26] They have two sons: Ocean King PenaVega was born on December 7, 2016, and Kingston James PenaVega was born on June 30, 2019.[27][28] On May 7, 2021, their daughter Rio Rey PenaVega was born.[29][30]

Filmography[]

Film[]

Year Title Role Notes
1994 Little Giants Priscilla O'Shea
1995 Nine Months Molly Dwyer
1996 Twister Young Jo Thornton
Shattered Mind Sarah Also known as The Terror Inside
The Glimmer Man Cole's Daughter
Ghosts of Mississippi Claire DeLaughter
1998 Dennis the Menace Strikes Again Gina Direct-to-video film
1999 The Deep End of the Ocean Kerry Cappadora
2000 Run the Wild Fields Opal "Pug" Miller
2001 Follow the Stars Home Amy Williams Known as A Second Chance in Australia
Spy Kids Carmen Cortez / Carmenita
2002 Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams
2003 Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over
2004 Sleepover Julie Corky
2005 Odd Girl Out Vanessa Snyder
2006 State's Evidence Sandy Direct-to-video film
Marrying God Ivy Short film
Walkout Paula Crisostomo
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
Café Sally
2011 From Prada to Nada Mary Dominguez
Summer Song Ellie
Spy Kids: All the Time in the World Carmen Cortez
2012 The Devil's Carnival Wick
The Pregnancy Project Gaby Rodriguez
2013 Bounty Killer Stewardess
Abandoned Mine Sharon
Machete Kills KillJoy
The Hunters Dylan Savini
2014 The Clockwork Girl Tesla
Wicked Blood Amber
Code Academy Libby
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For Gilda
23 Blast Ashley
The Remaining Skylar
2015 Spare Parts Karla
Do You Believe? Lacey
Roommate Wanted Janie
Pixies Michelle Meyers Voice role
The Murder Pact Camille
2016 Ms. Matched Libby Boland TV Movie
2018 Sleep Away Isabella
2020 Mighty Oak Valerie Scoggins

Television[]

Year Title Role Notes
1993–94 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 Television film (CBS)
Life's Work Tess Hunter Pilot episode
1998 The Magnificent Seven Olivia Greer Episode: "Safecracker"
To Have & to Hold Kelly McGrail 7 episodes
1999 NetForce Susie Michaels Miniseries
Ladies Man Wendy Stiles No. 2 9 episodes
2002 Total Access 24/7 Herself; Carmen Cortez Episode: "Spy Kids 2"
All That Carmen Cortez Episode: "Spy Kids/Play"
Wild & Crazy Kids Herself Celebrity guest[31]
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" and "Worry Duty"
2012 "Royal Pains" Hollister Episode: "Imperfect Storm"
The Pregnancy Project Gaby Rodriguez Television film (Lifetime Movies)
Unsupervised Christina Recurring role
2013 Big Time Rush Herself Episode: "Big Time Dreams"
2014 The Tomorrow People Hillary Cole 8 episodes
The Hunters Dylan Savini Television film (Hallmark)
Courtside Herself Episode: "Alexa Vega"
Muertoons Rosita (voice) 2 episodes
2014–15 Nashville Kiley Brenner Recurring role
2015 The Mentalist Lily Stoppard Episode: "The Whites of His Eyes"
Dancing with the Stars Herself Season 21 contestant; finished in sixth place
2016 Ms Matched Libby Boland Television film (Hallmark)
2017–present The Loud House Carlota Casagrande, Additional voices (voice) 7 episodes
2017 Destination Wedding Ellie Hamilton Television film (Hallmark)
Enchanted Christmas Laura Trudeau Television film (Hallmark)
2018 Love at Sea Olivia Graham Television film (Hallmark)
Christmas Made to Order Gretchen Television film (Hallmark)
2019 Picture Perfect Mysteries: Newlywed and Dead Allie Adams Television film (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries)
2019–present The Casagrandes Carlota Casagrande 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 Allie Adams Television film (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries)
2021 Taking A Shot At Love Jenna Television film (Hallmark)

Discography[]

Soundtrack performances[]

Year Song(s) Soundtrack album
2002 "Isle of Dreams" Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams
2003 "Game Over", "Heart Drive", "Isle of Dreams (Cortez Mix)" Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over
2008 "At the Opera Tonight", "Infected", "Zydrate Anatomy", "Chase the Morning", "Seventeen", "I Didn't Know I'd Love You So Much", "Genetic Emancipation" Repo! The Genetic Opera
2009 "Lost in Your Own Life", "You Are Where I Live", "The Way It's Gonna Be", "Forever Your Song", "Too High a Price", "Possibilities" (with Austin Butler), "Now When I Close My Eyes" Ruby & the Rockits
"Christmas is the Time to Say 'I Love You'"[32] Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe
2012 "The Devil's Carnival"[33] The Devil's Carnival

References[]

  1. ^ "5 Things You Don't Know About Alexa Vega". Entertainment Tonight. October 3, 2013.
  2. ^ "Alexa Vega Weds Big Time Rush's Carlos Pena Jr". The Hollywood Reporter. January 5, 2014. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  3. ^ Tracy, Liz (September 15, 2015). "Latina Takeover: Actresses From Miami Are Playing Big Roles for Disney, Broadway, and Hollywood". Miami New Times. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ "Ex-spy has price on head, ache in heart". Miami Herald. September 7, 2009. 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 ...
  6. ^ "Alexa Vega Biography". BuddyTV. Archived from the original on July 29, 2014. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  7. ^ Gilchrist, Todd (July 9, 2004). "Sleeping Over with Alexa Vega". IGN. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  8. ^ Paris Hilton gets movie musical role. Retrieved August 1, 2007.
  9. ^ ""Spy Kids" Star Vega to Join Broadway's Hairspray - Playbill.com". Archived from the original on July 15, 2014.
  10. ^ "Two Tickets To 'The Devil's Carnival' Please". FEARnet. March 6, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  11. ^ "Aerosmith Rocks a Warehouse in 'Legendary Child' Video". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  12. ^ Foundas, Scott (March 20, 2015). "Film Review: 'Do You Believe?'". Variety. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
  13. ^ "Why Alexa PenaVega Loves Starring in Hallmark Christmas Movies".
  14. ^ "About the Movies". Hallmark Movies and Mysteries. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  15. ^ Aguilera, Leanne (August 27, 2015). "EXCLUSIVE! 'Dancing With the Stars': Married Couple Alexa and Carlos PenaVega to Compete on Season 21". ET Online. Retrieved August 27, 2015.|
  16. ^ "Dancing with the Stars Season 21 Cast Announcement". ABC. September 2, 2015. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  17. ^ "Picture Perfect Mysteries - About". Hallmark Movies and Mysteries. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  18. ^ Rosario, Mariela. "Alexa Vega's Wedding Album". Latina.com. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  19. ^ "'Spy Kids' Star Alexa Vega – I'm a 23-year-old Divorcee Now!". TMZ.com. July 15, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  20. ^ Shira, Dahvi (July 16, 2012). "Spy Kids Star Alexa Vega Files for Divorce". People. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  21. ^ "'Sin City' Actress Talks Directors in Hollywood 'Blasting Her' for Her Faith and New Revelation-Based Film". Christian Post.
  22. ^ Malkin, Marc; Malec, Brett (October 5, 2011). "Nikki Reed Wedding Scoop: The Dress, the Maid of Honor and More!". E! Online.
  23. ^ Eggenberger, Nicole (June 19, 2013). "Alexa Vega Engaged to Carlos Pena, Jr., Congratulated by Ex-Husband Sean Covel". Us Weekly. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  24. ^ Spero, Jesse. "Alexa Vega Dishes Engagement Details: How Did Carlos Pena Pop The Question?". Access Hollywood. Los Angeles, California: NBC Universal. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  25. ^ "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.
  26. ^ "LexLovesLos".
  27. ^ 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.
  28. ^ Cardoza, Riley (July 2, 2019). "Alexa PenaVega Gives Birth to Baby Boy, Her Second Child With Husband Carlos PenaVega". Us Weekly. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  29. ^ Mauch, Ally (December 26, 2020). "Alexa and Carlos PenaVega Expecting Their Third Child: 'Can't Wait to Meet Baby This Summer'". People.
  30. ^ "Alexa and Carlos PenaVega Welcome Baby Daughter More Than a Month Early". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  31. ^ "[archives] WILD AND CRAZY KIDS 2002 REVIVAL (spy kids)" – via www.youtube.com.
  32. ^ "Tommy2.net". Tommy2.net. September 25, 2009. Retrieved November 26, 2009.
  33. ^ "The Devil's Carnival OST Out Today". Bloody Disgusting. April 3, 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2013.

External links[]

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