From Left: Carla Gugino, Daryl Sabara, Antonio Banderas and Alexa Vega.Photo:Rico Torres/Dimension/Kobal/Shutterstock
Rico Torres/Dimension/Kobal/Shutterstock
More than 20 years after the originalSpy Kidsmovie debuted in theaters, Carla Gugino is wondering how she was cast as a mother of two school-aged children at just 27 years old.While speaking withBuzzFeedabout her acting career, Gugino, 52, reflected on makingSpy Kids,Robert Rodriguez’s family action film series. The actress costarred withAntonio Banderasin the original three movies, released in 2001, 2002 and 2003, as spies whose children (Alexa PenaVegaandDaryl Sabara) are also called into secret agent action.“It is so funny because I was 27," Gugino recalled of making the original movie with Banderas, 63. “It was a really beautiful kind of double-edged sword because I love that movie so much. And the whole experience was incredible, and the movies continue.““I love Ingrid Cortes,” she said, referring to her character. “But it was funny because I was 10 years, at least, too young for the role because I was a spy for 10 years and then somehow had children who were like 9 and 11,” she added, laughing. “So it was physically totally impossible.”Carla Gugino in ‘Spy Kids’.Dimension Films/Kobal/ShutterstockThe originalSpy Kidsmovie was a commercial success in the United States, grossing $112.7 million at thedomestic box officeand ranking within the top 20 highest-grossing films of 2001. The film also featured Danny Trejo, Alan Cumming, George Clooney and Tony Shalhoub among its cast.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.The core cast of Gugino, Banderas, PenaVega and Sabara starred together in the series' first three installments, before filmmaker explored new characters with 2011’sAll the Time in the World. The filmmaker ultimately rebooted the family-friendly action series entirely with last year’s Netflix movieSpy Kids: Armageddon, this time costarring Gina Rodriguez and Zachary Levi as super spy parents.From Left: Carla Gugino, Antonio Banderas, Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara.Ricco Torres/Miramax/Kobal/ShutterstockWhile speaking with BuzzFeed, Gugino, who currently stars in the Max political seriesThe Girls on the Bus, recalled that she was cast forSpy Kidsafter meeting with Rodriguez, who had already been filming the movie for two weeks.“He was like, ‘I feel like I’m looking for a mother for my kids.’ We were talking about it, and I had auditioned for him and he said, ‘I think if we do our job right, no one will ever question it,’ " the actress recalled, referring to her young age for the role.Gugino added, “And it’s so funny like you said, nobody did. Antonio Banderas and I had worked together on a movie calledMiami Rhapsodythat David Frankel directed, so we also had a little bit of a history, which was really nice to come into it that way.”
More than 20 years after the originalSpy Kidsmovie debuted in theaters, Carla Gugino is wondering how she was cast as a mother of two school-aged children at just 27 years old.
While speaking withBuzzFeedabout her acting career, Gugino, 52, reflected on makingSpy Kids,Robert Rodriguez’s family action film series. The actress costarred withAntonio Banderasin the original three movies, released in 2001, 2002 and 2003, as spies whose children (Alexa PenaVegaandDaryl Sabara) are also called into secret agent action.
“It is so funny because I was 27,” Gugino recalled of making the original movie with Banderas, 63. “It was a really beautiful kind of double-edged sword because I love that movie so much. And the whole experience was incredible, and the movies continue.”
“I love Ingrid Cortes,” she said, referring to her character. “But it was funny because I was 10 years, at least, too young for the role because I was a spy for 10 years and then somehow had children who were like 9 and 11,” she added, laughing. “So it was physically totally impossible.”
Carla Gugino in ‘Spy Kids’.Dimension Films/Kobal/Shutterstock
Dimension Films/Kobal/Shutterstock
The originalSpy Kidsmovie was a commercial success in the United States, grossing $112.7 million at thedomestic box officeand ranking within the top 20 highest-grossing films of 2001. The film also featured Danny Trejo, Alan Cumming, George Clooney and Tony Shalhoub among its cast.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The core cast of Gugino, Banderas, PenaVega and Sabara starred together in the series' first three installments, before filmmaker explored new characters with 2011’sAll the Time in the World. The filmmaker ultimately rebooted the family-friendly action series entirely with last year’s Netflix movieSpy Kids: Armageddon, this time costarring Gina Rodriguez and Zachary Levi as super spy parents.
From Left: Carla Gugino, Antonio Banderas, Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara.Ricco Torres/Miramax/Kobal/Shutterstock
While speaking with BuzzFeed, Gugino, who currently stars in the Max political seriesThe Girls on the Bus, recalled that she was cast forSpy Kidsafter meeting with Rodriguez, who had already been filming the movie for two weeks.
“He was like, ‘I feel like I’m looking for a mother for my kids.’ We were talking about it, and I had auditioned for him and he said, ‘I think if we do our job right, no one will ever question it,’ " the actress recalled, referring to her young age for the role.
Gugino added, “And it’s so funny like you said, nobody did. Antonio Banderas and I had worked together on a movie calledMiami Rhapsodythat David Frankel directed, so we also had a little bit of a history, which was really nice to come into it that way.”
source: people.com
