Paul Archuleta/Getty Images
- Alexa PenaVega became a child star after appearing in the first "Spy Kids" movie in 2001.
- She told Insider that she did not realize her stardom while making the "Spy Kids" movies.
- However, she said she felt like a "rockstar" when doing a massive autograph signing in the Mall of America.
- Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.
Alexa PenaVega told Insider that the moment she realized the popularity of "Spy Kids" was during an autograph signing that packed the Mall of America when she was 12.
PenaVega starred in all four "Spy Kids" movies as Carmen Cortez and became a child star after the success of the first movie in 2001. The series follows Carmen and her brother Juni (Daryl Sabara) who become spies after finding out their parents were spies as well.
Speaking to Insider about her experience during the filming of the "Spy Kids" series, the 32-year-old actress said that as a child she did not realize the significance of the movie because as a kid she thought it was just "playing dress-up."
She said: "When it came out, we were just excited to see the final outcome. When it was a hit, I think we knew that that was cool but there weren't social media back then right? So we were still super protected as kids in the industry. If that movie were made nowadays with younger kids, I feel like social media changes a lot of that. I just feel like there was still such an innocence about making that movie."
Dimension Films
PenaVega then recalled that the "biggest moment" that made her realize the importance of "Spy Kids" to audiences was during an autograph signing in the Mall of America – the largest mall in the western hemisphere.
"The line to do the signing was just... it was packed," She said. "They couldn't fit any more people. And then if you look up from where the autograph signing was happening, it was just crowds of people. You kind of almost feel like a rock star."
The "Spy Kids" star also recalled that the first time she heard how significant the movie was during the "Spy Kids" premiere at Disneyland.
"I remember everybody being there just being like, 'This movie is gonna be huge,'" She said. "And hearing that, as a kid, you're kind of like, 'Whoa, what is that? What does that even mean?' Like you don't really know, you just know that it's exciting."
PenaVega and her co-stars Antonio Banderas and Daryl Sabara celebrated the 20th anniversary of the first "Spy Kids" movie in March with Instagram posts.
"How on earth was this 20 years ago?!" PenaVega captioned the post. "Only the absolute best memories with my forever family. So blessed to have been a part of something so special. The amount of love I have for every single person a part of this cast and crew. You guys made my childhood!!! Thank you for creating the most incredible experience for me... for Daryl and for our families!"
The last movie in the series came out ten years ago but Variety reported that there is a reboot in the works that will be written and directed by the "Spy Kids" creator Robert Rodriguez.