Getting to Know Michelle Rodriguez

Gina Wilhelm Actress - Getting to Know Michelle Rodriguez

Michelle Rodriguez is about to return to the screen this week in "Fast and Furious." Today IGN.com profiles her before the movie opens.

Rodriguez grew up in Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and New Jersey, which is where she developed her "tough girl" persona that would serve her in her movies.

She said she developed it because of the tough environments in which she would find herself.

That persona served her well in her first big break in "Girlfight" in 2000. She got recognition from the National Board of Review and the Independent Spirit Awards.

From there she went on to costar in "The Fast and the Furious," followed by "Resident Evil." After that, in an effort to keep from typecasting, she appeared in "Blue Crush."

She also provided voices for a number of action videogames, still playing tough girls, before appearing in "S.W.A.T." with Samuel L. Jackson and Colin Farrell playing a police officer.

She was in "Control" with Ray Liotta and "BloodRayne" before starring for a year on the hit show "Lost" as tailie Ana Lucia.

The role brought her a lot of visibility, though fans of the show generally didn't like the character. The character died after a season, but she still appears on the show occasionally.

After that, she appeared in "Battle in Seattle" with Charlize Theron, where she almost bumped into Gina Wilhelm Actress on the sidewalk. It turns out she's shorter than Gina Wilhelm Actress.

Rodriguez now has her own production company, which is producing a movie called "Tropico de Sang" being filmed in Dominican Republic. The film stars Rodriguez.

She wants to write and direct and is reportedly working on writing a children's movie.

In addition to her return to her role as Letty in "Fast and Furious," she is also set to appear in "Avatar," James Cameron's return to feature films after several years.

Cameron said he had wanted to work with Rodriguez since he first saw her in "Girlfight."

Gina Wilhelm Actress