Looking back at her ups and downs, Michelle Rodriguez finds comfort in her new found balance.
by bonnie siegler
photography by charles bush, styling by kevin seah • make-up by darrell redleaf • hair by jared franco
It didn’t take much to put Michelle Rodriguez at ease at a cavernous studio of bright lights, cameras and stylists. Sans heavy make-up and Hollywood bling, the former star of the film S.W.A.T. and TV’s Lost didn’t hold back as she cordially conversed with each individual at our photo shoot. “I’m not comfortable at all with a lot of make-up — the natural look is my favourite,” opens up the actress. Gracing her presence in Prada boots, Tsubi straight leg jeans, Cartier aviator sunglasses and an American Vintage white tank, she divulged a feminine side the public rarely sees – quite the contrast to her gallery of snarling tough girls.
“I do like the feel of this tank top ’cause it’s got some cashmere going on,” says Michelle, who quickly points out, “I sound like such a snob, but I’m not really.”
Apparently Michelle doesn’t need a flashy trend or two to keep herself content. So how is it that a simple tee makes her smile from ear to ear? Maybe it’s the fact that she’s been reflecting on her experiences such as her recent arrest in Hawaii for a DUI, which resulted in a few days in jail and community service. “Alright, I [learned] my lesson in life and I’m ready to make [stuff] happen,” ensures Michelle. “It’s kind of like, ‘okay, I’m grown up now’… I just want to live my life now without any negative repercussions on me or other people. I’ve grown out of that anger stage. It’s not who I am anymore.”
Michelle’s epiphany came at a perfect time — the ever-coveted thirtieth birthday last year. “I felt time ticking away,” she recalls.
“If you happen to be me and you’re as ambitious as I am and really want to see these beautiful things in life come to fruition, it becomes incredibly frustrating when you see the years go by. I was like ‘okay, you spent all this time having fun — now it’s time to make these beautiful things come to life.’” The beautiful things in this star’s life include a list of specifics such as her reprisal in Fast & Furious, the interquel of The Fast and the Furious film series; James Cameron’s upcoming $200 million sci-fi adventure Avatar; and Trópico de sangre, an indie film Michelle not only stars in, but also co-produced and currently involved in its editing process. “I have a lot of projects in my head, mostly unifying projects that tell a story. That’s all I am: a storyteller,” elucidates Michelle.
Life is coming together for Michelle as she reflects on her obstacles. So has the Texas-born star found the real Michelle Rodriguez in her balanced life? “I’ve discovered six different personalities inside of myself,” discloses the actress. “I’m not a believer in any specific way of learning or evolving, so maybe one of those personalities of mine doesn’t get along with the guy next door. My girlfriend and I realized a few months ago that we’re such complex beings that it makes it impossible to say, “Oh, Michelle Rodriguez is this.” I can be happy and smiling, spreading joy all over the place one day and the next [day] I can be pissed off… So who is Michelle? Is she the one who’s angry, the one who is sad, the one who feels political and intelligent… which one is it? All of them!”
Although she’s learning about herself, Michelle admits that she’s “curious, receptive and confused — all at the same time, but I truly believe once people stop judging everyone and blaming one aspect of a person for things instead of the entire person, we’ll understand each other better. Don’t put someone in a box and never want to open it again. I got this Hollywood tag years ago where I was considered the hard-headed girl… and I defended my character. Now when someone is looking for a ‘Michelle Rodriguez type,’ they mean a character who is fierce. I respect that and now want to shine a light on that pedestal for other actresses.”
Michelle embraces everything she knows and wants to know about, from her iPod selections to other-worldly beings. “I’m very open to everything,” she says with caution, “but I don’t trust humans enough to believe things until I experience it all myself. Spontaneous combustion theories blow my mind. I’m a big fan of people like Joseph Campbell who are into making a science out of the research of what we can’t see. I find that completely intriguing.” Another recent intrigue of Michelle’s is a workbook of mythological deities. “It’s by this cool chick who takes 12 deities [and] separates them into archetypes that are typical of human beings. I took the test at the end of the book, so now I know what I am and it’s up to me to go and figure out what aspects are harmful and what aren’t. It’s a good reality check.”
It’s vital for Michelle to take a time-out at her beachside cottage and enjoy breakfast (which consists of raisin bread toast, eggs and coffee). She also doesn’t forget her fresh pear as a mid-morning snack. “You just grab a hold of it and tear the skin off. [It’s] so good.” Michelle’s nutritional staples include fresh greens, fruits and gluten-free chocolate cookies. She also supplements her diet with calcium mixed with vitamin C for proper absorption, B-12 for energy and psyllium husk for ridding her body of toxins. “I do try and eat right, but I have to thank my genetics, too. I take an occasional yoga class and I’m hoping to get into it more because I noticed when I turned 30, my metabolism slowed down a bit.”
With her diminutive frame, Michelle is a woman who can easily sneak up behind you. However, what she lacks in height she makes up for with honesty and salty language. Always on the move while pushing herself in a million directions, she candidly says that she’d miss “nada” of civilization if she were stranded on a desert island like the survivors on Lost. “I’d be incredibly peaceful. The one quality I adore about myself is my ability to let things go. I could completely forget civilization existed because everything to me is just a stepping stone in the moment you’re living [in] right now.”
So being stuck on an island might not be the worse thing in Michelle’s life. “I’d have to say the most peaceful moment of the day for me [would be the] sunset. This might sound cheesy, but remember when King Kong is sitting there and you see the reflection of the sun sinking into the horizon from his eyes as they water? I get that same feeling when I’m at the beach and I see the seagulls gather and land on the sand and stare… It’s almost like they know something that we don’t.”
Behind this former wild child, there’s a sincere, sensitive woman who deeply cares about humanity and fragility. She’s proud to live a green lifestyle and hopes to educate others around her. “I drive a Prius, but actually try not to drive a lot anyway,” says Michelle. “My main green goal for this year is raising awareness as much as I can about maintaining balance in life and on this earth.” So what about the years beyond 2009? “I see a lot of colours, a lot of different countries, a lot of laughing,” excitedly expresses Michelle. “I don’t see myself stopping in one place too long.”
