It’s been over two decades since the family favourite Spy Kids burst onto the scene, captivating a generation of early 2000s children with its thrilling escapades.
The film has left such an enduring legacy that fans continue to express their adoration on social media platforms today. One fan enthused: “Spy Kids is the best film ever.”
Another shared: “Spy Kids had me wanting to LIVE THAT LIFESTYLE.” A third chimed in with: “I wanted to be a spy so much as a kid”.
In light of this wave of nostalgia, it’s only fitting to catch up with one of the film’s standout stars, Alexa Ellesse PenaVega. She won hearts as Carmen Cortez, and later appeared in the teen flick Sleepover in 2004, although it’s her role in Spy Kids that remains iconic.
At the peak of her fame, Alexa was even featured as one of the hottest teen celebrities in Vanity Fair’s July 2003 edition. Her career trajectory continued with roles in Walkout in 2006 and Remember the Daze, followed by a lead part in Helix in 2008.
Alexa also showcased her versatility by treading the boards on Broadway, starring as Penny in Hairspray. In recent years, she’s transitioned to starring in a series of Hallmark TV films, including Ms. Matched, Destination Wedding and Christmas Made to Order.
She even collaborated with her husband, Carlos PenaVega, in 2019, featuring in the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries TV film Picture Perfect Mysteries: Newlywed and Dead. A sequel, Picture Perfect Mysteries: Dead over Diamonds, was released in 2020.
The actress has also appeared in The Power Couple, an original series from Pure Flix. Off-screen, the 35-year-old is a happily married mother-of-three.
In 2010, she tied the knot with American film producer Sean Covel, but they parted ways two years later. By the end of 2012, she began dating American actor and singer, Carlos Pena Jr., known for his role in the Nickelodeon series Big Time Rush.
She made a cameo in the series finale of Big Time Rush, playing the new girlfriend of Pena’s character, Carlos Garcia. The couple got engaged in 2013 and wed approximately a year later, both adopting the surname PenaVega.
They now operate a YouTube channel together called La Vida PenaVega (previously LexLovesLos). Additionally, they are parents to three children – two boys and a girl.
In November 2023, the couple announced they were expecting another child, but sadly, Alexa delivered a stillborn daughter in April 2024. At the time, the couple shared a joint statement on Instagram, which read: “This little girl has already changed our lives in so many ways. She was absolutely beautiful.”
While the couple withheld details about her passing, they confessed to grappling with their “grief” in “waves.” They expressed being “absolutely gutted”, yet also feeling “blessed by just getting a moment with her”.
“We can’t understand why things like this happen and we may never get those answers,” they concluded.
