Michelle Rodriguez, a veteran of the entertainment industry for over 25 years, has shared that her strict religious upbringing made Hollywood feel like the "devil's world" upon her arrival in the industry. Rodriguez, 48, who has appeared in eight "Fast and the Furious" films, spoke about her experiences at a 25th-anniversary screening of the franchise's original 2001 movie in Los Angeles.
"I came from a Jehovah’s Witness background at the time," Rodriguez told People magazine. "So it’s like none of this really means anything to me. And so you’re dealing with a kid who’s not affected. I’m already playing in the so-called devil’s world in my mind as a 20-year-old, obviously."
Before being cast as Letty Ortiz in the street racing franchise, Rodriguez had appeared in only two independent films: "Girlfight" and "3 A.M." She recalled being introduced to acting in New York before Vin Diesel noticed her performance in "Girlfight" and suggested her for a role in "Fast and the Furious."
Rodriguez noted that while she was initially unfazed by the film's content due to her upbringing, she found the opportunity to engage in activities like learning to race cars, train, and handle weapons exhilarating. "To me, that was the exciting thing. Doing things that you weren’t allowed to do in real life. Break windows, be violent, all that stuff."
During a 2020 appearance on Facebook Watch's "Red Table Talk," Rodriguez elaborated on the intensity of her upbringing, explaining that even celebrating birthdays and Halloween were considered "evil" in her household. She also mentioned not watching Disney movies until her teenage years due to associations with "witchcraft."
In a 2015 interview with Interview magazine, Rodriguez stated that her religious upbringing had "kind of scarred me for life." She also described feeling as though she lived a "double life" when participating in door-to-door evangelism with her family, contrasting it with her school life where she sought to fit in with her peers and defend others.
"The Fast and the Furious" film series centers on an undercover police officer, portrayed by the late Paul Walker, who infiltrates a street racing gang led by Vin Diesel's character. The franchise has explored various themes over its run, with Rodriguez's character, Letty Ortiz, being a central figure in many of the installments.