Michelle Rodriguez had a peculiar challenge after landing her breakout role in The Fast and the Furious. The actress needed a driver’s license before filming could even begin. Rodriguez recently shared this story as the franchise celebrated its 25th anniversary. While fans know her as Letty Ortiz, the tough street racer who added to the series’ iconic status, her real-life driving experience was limited.
Michelle Rodriguez had to learn to drive after landing Fast & Furious role
When asked about her memories from the first film, Michelle Rodriguez admitted that her primary focus was not on dialogue or acting workshops. “I remember going to car racing school and getting my driver’s license so I could do the movie and go to car racing school. Because I didn’t have my license yet,” she told Entertainment Weekly.
The revelation surprised many, given how synonymous she has become with automotive action. The interviewer pressed her about her lack of a license. Rodriguez clarified that her background simply did not require one. She added, “Well, I was 21 from Jersey, dude. We take the train everywhere. I drove in Puerto Rico, my dad’s car, but without a license. That doesn’t count, does it?”
Michelle Rodriguez joined The Fast and the Furious franchise in 2001 as Letty Ortiz, a role that established her as a staple in the action genre. Before that, she had broken out in the independent film Girlfight, earning critical acclaim for her performance as a boxer. Yet, the technical skill of driving legally was a new mountain to climb.
The franchise has evolved significantly since that first film, moving from street-level races to global espionage. As the series approaches its 11th one, Rodriguez expressed a desire for the story to return to its roots. “If I have any wish for the last one, it’s that they bring it back to the community because that community has kept us alive for 25 years; it’s a global community, and it has to do with cars, not this 007, bring your cars to space shit,” Rodriguez stated, referencing a plotline from F9. “Let’s get back to what it all started as—an article in the paper about the race scene, let’s go back there,” she added (via The Hollywood Reporter).
Originally reported by Devanshi Basu for Coming Soon.
