Was raised in Texas, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and in Jersey City.
Is of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent.
She beat out 350 other girls for the role of Diana Guzman in Girlfight (2000).
Girlfight (2000) was her first acting audition, and she got the role. The Fast and the Furious (2001) was her second audition, and she also got that role.
Is an avid in-line skater.
Didn't have a driver's license before filming The Fast and the Furious (2001) and had to obtain one during her training for the car chase sequences.
Plays the piano.
Has two half-sisters on her father's side.
Has two older twin brothers named Raul and Oscar
Dropped out of high school at 17, but she went back and graduated via an equivalency diploma.
Ranked #77 in Stuff magazine's "102 Sexiest Women In The World" (2002)
Ranked #34 in Maxim's "100 Sexiest Women"(2002)
It was announced in 2005 that she would be joining the second season cast of the hit ABC drama "Lost" (2004).
Michelle Rodriguez first came to the industry's attention with her performance in the critically acclaimed feature, Girlfight. She was discovered at an open casting call in New York City as one of 350 actors under consideration for the lead role of Diana Guzman. She trained as a boxer for five months in preparation, and her performance garnered the 2001 Independent Spirit Award for Best Debut Performance and the 2001 National Board of Review Award for Breakout Performance of the Year. In addition to the accolades Rodriguez received, the film was also awarded the Grand Jury Prize at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival.
Since then, Rodriguez has starred in Resident Evil alongside Milla Jovovich, The Fast and The Furious and the hit surfing movie Blue Crush. Last summer, she had a successful run in the off-Broadway production of "The Vagina Monologues.
Rodriguez's additional credits include the independent feature 3 AM with Pam Grier and Danny Glover. Produced by Spike Lee's 40 Acres and A Mule, the film premiered at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival.
Now living in Jersey City, Rodriguez divided her childhood between the Dominican Republic, Texas, and Puerto Rico.
