David Cassidy on the Web
Former 'Spy Kid' to star in 'Ruby' on ABC Family
July 23, 2009
Alexa Vega en breve
Who she is: The 20-year-old actress best known for playing Carmen Cortez in the 'Spy Kids' films stars in the new ABC Family sitcom 'Ruby and the Rockits.'
Her acting start: She was Ed O'Neil's daughter in the 1994 film 'Little Giants' and played Emily Newton opposite Burt Reynolds in the early 1990s sitcom 'Evening Shade.'
Her Latino heritage: The Miami-born Vega speaks fluent Spanish courtesy of her Colombian father.
Her acting influences are: She admires Natalie Portman's work - 'I've studied her,' she says - and her favorite movie is the 1973 film 'Paper Moon,' starring a 9-year-old Tatum O'Neal.
Melissa Rentería - Conexión
Alexa Vega is best known as Carmen Cortez in the Robert Rodriguez-helmed "Spy Kids" films.
No longer a kid, Vega, who turns 21 in August, sings and dances as the star of the new ABC Family sitcom "Ruby and the Rockits."
The show, which premiered July 21 and airs at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, is the creation of former 1970s teen idol Shaun Cassidy, who serves as executive producer, and stars his brothers Patrick and David, another '70s teen idol.
Cassidy tells Conexión that Vega's audition "made us laugh in one scene and it made us cry in another. She was incredible."
Vega, chatting from her cell phone as she drove to the ABC studios for a day of shooting, tells us what it's like playing Ruby and about the fun family vibe on set.
Tell us about your character, Ruby.
"She's a fun, sweet girl who really wants to connect with her father (David Cassidy), who's this really big rock star from the '80s who's still trying to keep his career going. She loses her mother but found out before (her mom) died that this man she never knew is really her dad, so she goes looking for him."
What was it like singing on the show?
"I think one of the greatest aspects of the show is that it's taped live and that includes the musical performances. So, when I mess up a little bit and my voice cracks and I don't sound so perfect that's what you hear. I like that. It makes the characters more real."
What was it like working with a real-life family?
"From the moment I got on set, I felt comfortable. There's this wonderful family dynamic. You just can't help but feel like a part of it. I think that's why the show works so well."
Tell me about working with former teen idols?
"My mom was so obsessed with Shaun Cassidy as a kid, so she was really excited about me working on his show. I've seen 'The Partridge Family' so I knew about how popular David was."
You did three 'Spy Kids' movies with Robert Rodriguez. Do you think you'd work with him again?
"I'd love to work him again. We had the best time together on set. He is such a close friend. He's like my father. He bought me a car for my birthday. It's the one I'm driving in now."
