Spy Kids' Carmen Is All Grown Up and Gorgeous At 35

Summary:

• Alexa PenaVega is an American actress and singer, best known for her role as Carmen Cortez in the Spy Kids franchise.
• The actress was last seen on the big screen in 2020, when she starred in a Hallmark's Picture Perfect Mysteries TV movie.
• The actress is married to Big Time Rush star Carlos PenaVega, with whom she has three children.

If there is one character from the early 2000s who made every single kid leave the theater with a crush, it is Spy Kids' Carmen Elizabeth Juanita Echo Sky Brava Cortez, brilliantly portrayed by Alexa PenaVega. Strong, smart, confident and outspoken, she stole everyone's hearts and left viewers following her career for years after the franchise ended.

The actress' last appearance as Carmen Cortez was in 2011, when she appeared in a sequel as an adult version of her character. But that appearance only left people wondering why they hadn't seen more of the talented actress, and what she's up to now.

Here's everything you need to know about Alexa PenaVega's career and personal life in 2024.

Where Is Alexa PenaVega Now?

The actress' career peaked in the 2010s, after the initial success of Spy Kids. Throughout the decade, she appeared in many movies and TV shows, most notably ABC Family's Ruby & the Rockits. With a great voice, PenaVega has also stepped a foot on Broadway, portraying Hairspray's Penny.

By the 2010s, the actress moved completely to starring in movies. However, she did make a very important cameo in Nickelodeon's Big Time Rush finale, Big Time Dreams, playing herself alongside her real-life boyfriend at the time, Carlos Pena Jr.

The couple met at a Bible study and have been happily together ever since, now married with three children and a fourth on the way, due in 2024. Both Vega and Pena have chosen to use the family name PenaVega. They share glimpses of their life on various social media, including the YouTube channel La Vida PenaVega.

From 2016 to 2020, the actress starred in many Hallmark movies, including titles such as Ms. Matched, Destination Wedding, and Christmas Made to Order.

In 2022, both Alexa and Carlos PenaVega have signed a multi-picture deal with Hallmark, so we'll be seeing more movies starring this real-life couple.

For now, the actress is busy dedicating her time to her family and traveling, as the couple has been living on a yacht for the past two years.

However, she spends enough time online to keep up with her fans, so if you miss the actress when she's not on screen, be sure to follow her on Instagram.

To satisfy all your nostalgia cravings, you can re-watch all three movies in the original Spy Kids franchise on Paramount Plus.