Bio: Mayte Michelle Rodr��guez was born on July 12, 1978 in San Antonio, Texas to Carmen Milady Pared Espinal, a housewife, and Rafael Rodr��guez Santiago, a U.S. Army solider. Known for tough-chick roles, Michelle is proof that there is a cross between beauty and brawn. Michelle always knew she was destined to become a star, she just didn't know how to get there. Michelle lived in San Antonio until the age of 8 when her parents divorced & moved to the Dominican Republic where she lived for two years before moving to Puerto Rico. At 11, Michelle's family relocated for the last time to Jersey City, New Jersey. Although she has been working since 1999 as an extra in such films as Summer of Sam (1999) and Cradle Will Rock (1999), it only took a magazine ad announcing an open casting call in New York for Michelle to decide to finally step into the spotlight. The role was the female lead, the movie was Girlfight (2000). Despite the lack of experience in film and boxing, Michelle auditioned, along with another 350 girls. After various trials inside an actual boxing ring and five arduous months of training in Brooklyn's Gleason's Gym, she was finally chosen to portray the role of Diana Guzman. As soon as the independent film began making the rounds at various film festivals, Michelle began gaining critical acclaim for her performance earning her awards like the Deauville Festival of American Cinema award for Best Actress and the Las Vegas Film Critics Society for Female Breakthrough performance. As Girlfight (2000) continued to gain notoriety with its September 2000 release, Michelle was already hard at work with films like 3 A.M. (2001), the blockbuster hit The Fast and the Furious (2001), and Resident Evil (2002). With Hollywood calling her name, the future for this feisty Jersey girl is as strong as the punches she throws.
Tivia: 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.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.When interviewed to join the cast of Lost (2004) as a tough LAPD police officer, she insisted that she would only sign on for one year because she is a "nomadic spirit". The producers came up with a storyline and sold the idea of the short contract to the network.She was the original choice for the title role in ?on Flux (2005), which went to Charlize Theron.Plays the piano.Dropped out of high school at 17, but later obtained a G.E.D. equivalency certificate.Has Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).Her mom, Carmen, is of Dominican ancestry, and her dad, Rafael was of Puerto Rican descent.She beat out 350 other girls for the role of Diana Guzman in Girlfight (2000).Is an avid in-line skater.Is often seen singing karaoke alongside Lindsay Lohan, Bo Barrett, Emile Hirsch and Nicole Richie at Beverly Hills hot spot "Guys".Was considered for the role of Christine Thayer in Crash (2004), which went to Thandiwe Newton.It was announced in 2005 that she would be joining the second season cast of the ABC drama series Lost (2004).Ranked #34 on Maxim magazine's Hot 100 Women of 2002 list.Has older twin brothers named Raul and Omar.Ranked #77 in Stuff magazine's "102 Sexiest Women in the World" (2002).Has two half-sisters on her father's side.Good friends with Milla Jovovich, Jason Sarayba and Nicole Eggert.Born on the same date as Topher Grace.