The beautiful Latin actress rose to fame for her role as "Letty Ortiz" in the Fast and Furious series. However, her career is not limited to the successful role but has worked on many major projects throughout her career.

A Latina with a lot of determination

Mayte Michelle Rodríguez was born on July 12, 1978, in San Antonio, Texas. Her mother is from the Dominican Republic, and her father, an army officer from Puerto Rico, left the Dominican Republic when Michelle was only 8 years old to reside in the United States, settling in New Jersey. The young woman tried to pursue a career in business before deciding to formally leave it for a career in Hollywood where she sought to become a screenwriter and director.

The Action Star!

In 2000, she made her acting debut with a small role in the independent film Girlfight. Despite being a small role, her performance caught the attention of independent film critics and was nominated for several guild awards winning the Best Young Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival. She then landed the iconic role of "Letty Ortiz" in Fast and Furious and from there her career has only gone up. Among her most popular films are Resident Evil, Avatar, Machete, Widows, and  Alita: Battle Angel.

Michelle Rodriguez Fun Facts

• She was expelled from 5 schools growing up!
• She didn't even have a driver's license when she starred in Fast and Furious.
• She is a DJ too!
• She was raised as a Jehovah's Witness.
• Her mother does not support her acting career.