THR's 35 Hottest Young Latinos in Entertainment

Tough-girl Rodriguez broke into the industry in 2000 with her role in the critically acclaimed indie Girlfight. Rodriguez, 34, says that a career marked more by warrior women than pin-up girls is by design: “I steer away from sexually subversive content because it is the most exploited facet of filmmaking and television for Latina women.” The half-Puerto Rican, half-Dominican actress earned roles in some of Hollywood’s biggest franchises, including Fast & Furious and Avatar. She’s particularly proud of “Machete, because I get to make fun of stereotypes in an exploitation film with talented and respected people.” Adds Rodriguez: “Channels like [Robert Rodriguez’s] El Rey and the American spinoff of Univision will help with evolving the Latin market.” Rodriguez will appear in the next Fast & Furious installment and Rodriguez’s sequel Machete Kills.

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