Twenty-five years after catapulting to international fame with the "Spy Kids" franchise, stars Alexa PenaVega and Daryl Sabara are reflecting on their childhood experiences and how they’ve grown into well-adjusted adults and parents.
The actors, who were pre-teens when they starred as spy siblings Carmen and Juni Cortez in the 2001 blockbuster, have maintained a close bond, often drawing parallels between their unique upbringings.
"Our childhood was so similar," PenaVega, 37, told the Daily Mail. "We walked through something that not a lot of people could understand or had experience in like what we walked through and how we grew up, but we both had kind of very even similar [upbringings] ... we're really bonded on such a deep level."
Sabara, 34, lives in California with his wife, singer Meghan Trainor, and their three children: Riley, Barry, and Mikey. PenaVega is married to Carlos PenaVega, and they have three children: Ocean, Kingston, and Rio.
Despite their early exposure to the entertainment industry, both actors have prioritized normal lives. Sabara has found himself turning to PenaVega for parenting advice as he navigates fatherhood.
"I reach out to her all the time, and be like, 'Hey, I'm going through this. Like, did you go through this with your kids?'" Sabara said. "And the answer is usually yes. I'm super grateful that that she became a parent first for that." PenaVega expressed pride in Sabara's development as a father, calling him an "incredible dad."
Recently, the duo lent their support to The Salvation Army's summer camp, volunteering to serve meals and engage with children from underserved communities. They expressed surprise and delight that the campers, many of whom were not yet born when "Spy Kids" was released, recognized them.
"They weren't even born when we did the movie," Sabara remarked. "So it's really, really special to be a part of a movie that's lived on as long as it has and is reaching so many kids and families."
The "Spy Kids" trilogy, which also includes "Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams" and "Spy Kids 3D: Game Over," grossed approximately $500 million worldwide. PenaVega also appeared in the 2011 sequel, "Spy Kids: All the Time in the World."