# Alexa PenaVega

Alexa Ellesse PenaVega (née Vega; born August 27, 1988) is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Carmen Cortez in the first four Spy Kids films and Julie Corky in the 2004 film Sleepover. In 2009, she starred as the title character Ruby Gallagher in the ABC Family series Ruby & the Rockits.

## Early life

Vegas' father, Baruch Vega, is a Colombian fashion photographer and former informer for the Central Intelligence Agency, and her mother, Gina Rue, is a former model.
Vega has six siblings, including actress Makenzie Vega. She moved with her family to California when she was four years old. As a teenager, she was homeschooled.

## Career

In 1996, at the age of 8, Vega starred as young Jo Harding in Twister. She guest-starred in numerous television shows and films, including ER, Follow the Stars Home, Ghost Whisperer, and The Bernie Mac Show. She became known worldwide in 2001 for her role as "Carmen Cortez" in Spy Kids. The first Spy Kids film was a huge success, and two sequels, Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams and Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over, were filmed. During the shooting of the three films she performed most of her own stunts. In 2011, Vega appeared in the sequel, Spy Kids: All the Time in the World, as a grown Carmen Cortez.
She was named one of the year's hottest teen celebrities in the July 2003 issue Vanity Fair. In 2004, Vega finished filming two films: Sleepover and State's Evidence. The following year, she starred in the Lifetime television film Odd Girl Out, as a victim of cyber-bullying. In 2006, she starred in another made-for-TV movie, Walkout; and finished filming Remember the Daze, which was released in limited theaters in April 2007. She completed filming Repo! The Genetic Opera, which was released in 2008. Vega was confirmed as the lead role in Helix, written and directed by Aram Rappaport, which began filming in Chicago in March 2008. She was originally cast in the 2009 Robert Rodriguez film Shorts, however, due to her being in Australia for the filming of Broken Hill, she had to be recast. She was replaced by Kat Dennings. She appeared on Broadway in Hairspray, as Penny. In 2009, she played Ruby Gallagher on the ABC Family television sitcom Ruby & the Rockits, which also starred Patrick and David Cassidy.
Vega played Wick in the 2012 film The Devil's Carnival, a film from director Darren Lynn Bousman and screenwriter Terrance Zdunich, who previously worked with Vega in Repo! The Genetic Opera. Vega also sang two songs on the soundtrack for the film. Throughout 2012, Vega starred in the independent thriller, 2br/1ba, directed by Rob Margolies and co-stars with Spencer Grammer and Kathryn Morris. Vega also starred in the Lifetime Channel movie The Pregnancy Project and her animated film The Clockwork Girl was completed. Vega's film, The Mine, which was filmed in 2010 got a limited release/screening. Vega also voiced Christina in the animated series Unsupervised and had a guest role on Royal Pains. Vega played the young heroine in Aerosmith's music video "Legendary Child".
Throughout 2013 and 2014, Vega appeared in the films 23 Blast, Machete Kills, Bounty Killer, Wicked Blood, The Remaining, and The Hunters. She guest starred on the Big Time Rush series finale "Big Time Dreams", playing herself. In 2015, Vega appeared in Do You Believe? as Lacey.
In the fall of 2015, Vega competed on the 21st season of Dancing with the Stars; Vega was paired with professional dancer Mark Ballas. On November 9, Vega and Ballas were eliminated in Week 9 and finished the competition in 6th place. Her husband, Carlos PenaVega, also competed in that season; he and his partner were eliminated in Week 11.
In 2016, she began starring in a series of Hallmark made for television films, such as Ms. Matched, Destination Wedding, and Christmas Made to Order.
In 2019, Vega and her husband Carlos PenaVega starred in the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries TV movie Picture Perfect Mysteries: Newlywed and Dead, and in 2020 the follow-up Picture Perfect Mysteries: Dead over Diamonds. She also starred in The Power Couple, a Pure Flix original series.

## Personal life

Vega married American film producer Sean Covel on October 10, 2010 in a ceremony held in his hometown of Lead, South Dakota. Robert Rodriguez walked her down the aisle. In July 2012, Vega announced on Twitter that she had divorced Covel.
In late 2012, Vega started dating American actor and singer Carlos Pena Jr., star of Nickelodeon series Big Time Rush and member of pop music boy band by the same name, after meeting him at a Bible study. She guest appeared in the series finale episode of Big Time Rush, aired in July 2013, where she played the on-screen new girlfriend of Pena's character Carlos Garcia. The couple got engaged in August 2013, and were married on January 4, 2014 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, both taking PenaVega as their married name. The couple shares a YouTube channel, La Vida PenaVega (formerly LexLovesLos). The couple have three children – two sons born in December 2016 and June 2019, and a daughter born in May 2021. In November 2023, the couple announced they were expecting their fourth child; Vega gave birth to a stillborn daughter in April 2024. As of 2025, the family lives in Nashville, Tennessee. They previously lived in Maui.
Vega was the maid of honor at Nikki Reed's wedding to Paul McDonald.
Vega is a Christian and has said that her faith is the most important thing in her life.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1994 | Little Giants | Priscilla O'Shea | |
| 1995 | Nine Months | Molly Dwyer | |
| 1996 | Twister | Jo Thornton (6) | |
| 1996 | The Glimmer Man | Cole's Daughter | |
| 1996 | Ghosts of Mississippi | Claire DeLaughter | |
| 1998 | Dennis the Menace Strikes Again | Gina | Direct-to-video |
| 1999 | The Deep End of the Ocean | Kerry Cappadora (9) | |
| 2000 | Run the Wild Fields | Opal "Pug" Miller | |
| 2001 | Spy Kids | Carmen Cortez | |
| 2001 | Follow The Stars Home | Amy Williams | |
| 2002 | Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams | Carmen Cortez | |
| 2003 | Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over | Carmen Cortez | |
| 2004 | Sleepover | Julie Corky | |
| 2006 | State's Evidence | Sandy | Direct-to-video |
| 2006 | Marrying God | Ivy | Short film |
| 2007 | Remember the Daze | Holly | |
| 2008 | Repo! The Genetic Opera | Shilo Wallace | |
| 2009 | The Blue Elephant 2 | Melody | Voice |
| 2009 | Broken Hill | Kat Rogers | |
| 2009 | Innocent | Ashley | |
| 2010 | Mother's Day | Jenna Luther | |
| 2010 | Café | Sally | |
| 2011 | From Prada to Nada | Mary Dominguez | |
| 2011 | Spy Kids: All the Time in the World | Carmen Cortez | |
| 2011 | Summer Song | Ellie | |
| 2012 | The Devil's Carnival | Wick | |
| 2012 | Abandoned Mine | Sharon | |
| 2013 | Bounty Killer | Stewardess | |
| 2013 | Machete Kills | KillJoy | |
| 2014 | The Clockwork Girl | Tesla | Voice |
| 2014 | Wicked Blood | Amber Dawn Baker | |
| 2014 | Code Academy | Libby | Short film |
| 2014 | Sin City: A Dame to Kill For | Gilda | |
| 2014 | The Remaining | Skylar Chapman | |
| 2014 | 23 Blast | Ashley | |
| 2015 | Spare Parts | Karla | |
| 2015 | Do You Believe? | Lacey | |
| 2015 | Roommate Wanted | Janie | |
| 2015 | Pixies | Michelle Meyers | Voice |
| 2015 | The Murder Pact | Camille | |
| 2018 | Sleep Away | Isabella | |
| 2020 | Mighty Oak | Valerie Scoggins | |
| 2024 | Mr. Manhattan | Dani | |
| 2024 | The Casagrandes Movie | Carlota Casagrande | Voice |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1993–1994 | Evening Shade | Emily Newton | Recurring role, 6 episodes |
| 1995 | ER | Bonnie Howe | Episode: "Sleepless in Chicago" |
| 1995 | Chicago Hope | Sara Wilmette | Episode: "Every Day a Little Death" |
| 1995 | It Was Him or Us | Young Carrie | Television film (CBS) |
| 1996 | A Promise to Carolyn | Young Kay | Television film (CBS) |
| 1996 | Life's Work | Tess Hunter | Episode: Pilot |
| 1998 | The Magnificent Seven | Olivia Greer | Episode: "Safecracker" |
| 1998 | To Have & to Hold | Kelly McGrail | Recurring role, 7 episodes |
| 1999 | NetForce | Susie Michaels | Miniseries |
| 1999 | Ladies Man | Wendy Stiles | Recurring role, 9 episodes |
| 2002 | Total Access 24/7 | Herself / Carmen Cortez | Episode: "Spy Kids 2" |
| 2002 | All That | Spy Kids | Episode: "Knubby McFarlin" |
| 2002 | Wild & Crazy Kids | Herself | Celebrity guest |
| 2003 | The Bernie Mac Show | Jill | Episode: "Magic Jordan" |
| 2003 | Trading Spaces: Boys vs. Girls | Herself | Episode: Siblings "Eli vs. Kali" |
| 2005 | Odd Girl Out | Vanessa Snyder | Television film (Lifetime) |
| 2006 | Walkout | Paula Crisostomo | Television film (HBO) |
| 2009 | Ghost Whisperer | Serena | Episodes: "Endless Love" |
| 2009 | Ruby & the Rockits | Ruby Gallagher | Lead role |
| 2010 | The Middle | Morgan | Episodes: "The Break-Up", "Worry Duty" |
| 2012 | Royal Pains | Hollister | Episode: "Imperfect Storm" |
| 2012 | The Pregnancy Project | Gaby Rodriguez | Television film (LMN) |
| 2012 | Unsupervised | Christina | Recurring role |
| 2013 | Big Time Rush | Herself | Episode: "Big Time Dreams" |
| 2014 | The Tomorrow People | Hillary Cole | Recurring role, 8 episodes |
| 2014 | The Hunters | Dylan Savini | Television film (Hallmark) |
| 2014 | Courtside | Herself | Episode: "Alexa Vega" |
| 2014 | Muertoons | Rosita | Voice role; 2 episodes |
| 2014–2015 | Nashville | Kiley Brenner | Recurring role |
| 2015 | The Mentalist | Lily Stoppard | Episode: "The Whites of His Eyes" |
| 2015 | Dancing with the Stars | Herself | Contestant (season 21): finished in sixth place |
| 2016 | Ms Matched | Libby Boland | Television film (Hallmark) |
| 2017–present | The Loud House | Carlota Casagrande, Chinah, Spa Attendant | Recurring voice role, 7 episodes |
| 2017 | Destination Wedding | Ellie Hamilton | Television film (Hallmark) |
| 2017 | Enchanted Christmas | Laura Trudeau | Television film (Hallmark) |
| 2018 | Love at Sea | Olivia Graham | Television film (Hallmark) |
| 2018 | Christmas Made to Order | Gretchen | Television film (Hallmark) |
| 2019 | Picture Perfect Mysteries: Newlywed and Dead | Allie Adams | Television film (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) |
| 2019–2022 | The Casagrandes | Carlota Casagrande, Mom #3, Neighbor | Main voice role |
| 2020 | Blue's Clues & You! | Herself | Episode: "Happy Birthday Blue!" |
| 2020 | Picture Perfect Mysteries: Dead Over Diamonds | Allie Adams | Television film (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) |
| 2020 | Picture Perfect Mysteries: Exit Stage, Death | Allie Adams | Television film (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) |
| 2021 | Taking A Shot At Love | Jenna | Television film (Hallmark) |
| 2022 | Love in the Limelight | Summer Rivera | Television film (Hallmark) |
| 2023 | A Paris Proposal | Anna Bowman | Television film (Hallmark) |
| 2023 | Never Too Late to Celebrate | Camila | Television film (Hallmark) |