Rosie Perez

Rosie Perez was the daughter of Lydia Perez, a merchant marine, and Ismael Serano. She was born in Bushwick Brooklyn, New York City. Rosie is Puerto Rican. Rosie attended Grover Cleveland High School, Ridgewood, Queens, New York. Then she was enrolled at Los Angeles City College, Los Angeles, California. Rosie Perez was just starting her second year of college, and was about to go back to New York. She was invited to a leaving celebration by her classmates. She accepted the offer of Spike Lee to be part of his 1989 film Do the Right Thing (1989). It was her first acting role in a major film. In Peter Weir's Fearless (1993) the actress was the role of support Carla Rodrigo, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Artistess. (She lost to Anna Paquin for The Piano (1993). The Latin community was the cause of the majority of my criticism in the beginning of my career. I can remember my parents taking me out for lunch and saying to me "Can you attend lessons to tone down the accent?" or "Can you not be loud and funny during a talk show?" My voice was always a critic. I tried to alter my voice. While I tried to alter my voice, it wasn't my way of speaking. I am grateful that my octaves fell as I became older. Boxing is all about beating your fears. Boxing is about fighting for your rights. Floyd Mayweather could be punched with a straight shot across his middle and he'd not hesitate. And I know what he's doing. Who spoke of Don Cornelius watching her dancingand observing her dancing]: Don Cornelius didn't want to watch me dance - I was dancing hip hop that was unfamiliar to Californians. They were only comfortable with popping and locking, so hip-hop dancing wasn't something they were looking to master. Don was as "No No, no. You're an attractive girl. I thought, "What? It's so bizarre. This is truly bizarre.