Gina Rodriguez Facts: Celebrities Who Started on Soaps

Gina Rodriguez is a film and television actress who is best known for playing Jane Villanueva in The CW show Jane the Virgin. Along with her star-turning role, Rodriguez has also appeared in recent films such as Annihilation, Deepwater Horizon, Someone Great, and Miss Bala. She’s also been on a soap.

While Rodriguez stays busy with her acting career, she also makes time for the causes that are close to her heart. From where she was born and raised to how she gives back, here are five fast facts about the actress.

Who Is Gina Rodriguez?

Rodriguez was born on July 30 in Chicago, Illinois, which is also where she was raised. She attended St. Ignatius College Prep and started acting when she was a teenager. In fact, she was accepted into Columbia University’s Theatrical Collaboration when she was 16, and she ended up attending NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.

Soap Beginnings
Rodriguez made her television debut on Law & Order in 2004, before appearing in shows such as Army Wives and The Mentalist. She then appeared on The Bold and the Beautiful as Beverly from 2011 – 2012.

Going For Gold
Rodriguez’s big breakthrough came when she landed the role of Jane in The CW’s Jane the Virgin in 2014. The show was a big success and earned Rodriguez a Golden Globe for Best Actress — Television Series Musical or Comedy.

A Heart For Helping

Along with pursuing acting, Rodriguez is a committed philanthropist and actively supports a number of causes that help the Hispanic community and those who are less fortunate. She is a partner of Naja, which is a lingerie line that helps women and the environment. She is also a member of the HSF (Hispanic Scholarship Fund) Board of Directors, which is a non-profit that helps Hispanic Americans receive higher education.

Getting Personal With Gina Rodriguez
Rodriguez started dating model, actor, and MMA fighter Joe LoCicero in 2016 after they met on the set of Jane the Virgin. They announced their engagement on August 7, 2018, and tied the knot on May 5, 2019. The Bold and the Beautiful (BB) airs weekdays on CBS. Check your local listings for airtimes.