Rosie Perez

Rosie Perez was born to Lydia Perez (a merchant marine) in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Rosie is Puerto Rican. Rosie went to Grover Cleveland High School in Ridgewood, Queens, New York and then enrolled in Los Angeles City College in Los Angeles, California. Rosie Perez was just starting her second year in college, and was about to return to New York. Her friends had brought her an occasion to celebrate her departure. Spike Lee offered her a part in his film Do the Right Thing (1989). She accepted. This would be her first major role as an actor. In Peter Weir's Fearless (1993) the actress played the supporting role Carla Rodrigo, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Artist. She lost to Anna Paquin, for The Piano (1993). The Latin community was the root of most of my criticism early in my career. They would take me out to lunch and ask me, "Can you go and learn to lower the sound of your voice?". Also, "When you're on a talk show, will you not be less outrageous and loud?". My voice was always a critic. I tried to change my voice. I really did try to improve my voice but it was not my way of speaking. My octaves fell as I grew older, I am grateful for that. It's about taking on your fears head-on. It's about being confident. Floyd Mayweather could be punched. Straight shot right in his middle. He would not blink. And I know what he's doing. (Who talked about Don Cornelius watching her dancingThen he said: Don Cornelius didn't want to see me dance - I was performing hip hop that was unfamiliar to Californians. They only knew about locking and popping, therefore they weren't interested in hip-hop dancing. Don was as if, "No. You're an attractive girl." I thought, What? This is really bizarre. This is really weird.