Alexa PenaVega and Daryl Sabara Reflect on ‘Spy Kids’ 25 Years Later: It Was ‘the Opposite of the Horror Stories’
Twenty-five years after saving the world as sibling secret agents, Alexa PenaVega and Daryl Sabara are looking back on their Spy Kids journey with nothing but fond memories.
“It is honestly, like, the opposite of the horror stories you hear. It was genuine,” PenaVega, 37, exclusively told Us Weekly while reflecting on her experience as an up-and-coming child star.
The duo — who are currently partnering up with The Salvation Army to shine a light on the incredible impact these summer camps have on children and families — said they got a warm welcome on set from some of the biggest names in Hollywood, which is something they will both forever cherish.
Related: Former Child Stars‘ Salaries: See What Selena, Ariana and More Earned
Child stars … they’re just like Us? Kid actors may have the added bonus of raking in the dough before most people get their first job, but dealing with fame at such a young age has been infamously difficult for many young celebs. As with their Hollywood experiences, the money they’ve earned from their hit […]“Alan Cumming was like a superhero for me,” Sabara, 34, told Us about filming alongside the actor, 61, who portrayed mad scientist Fegan Floop in the 2001 movie before reprising his role in its two sequels: Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams and Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over. “Alan, Carla [Gugino], Antonio [Banderas] … they didn’t treat us like kids, like they treated us like peers.”
“They were so amazing,” PenaVega echoed.
In the original film, viewers are introduced to Sabara and PenaVega’s characters, Carmen and Juni Cortez, who discover their parents, Gregorio [Banderas] and Ingrid [Gugino], are retired top secret spies following their abduction, leading the kids to follow in their footsteps in order to get their mom and dad back home safe.
“Antonio was coming off Zorro, so he was a superhero,” Sabara told Us. “I have a signed VHS somewhere, yeah, of The Mask of Zorro, but yeah, they were basically like pretend mom and dad … and just everyone took such great care of us.”
The original film was a massive box office success, grossing nearly $150 million worldwide. Fans got to see the cast reunite in Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams (2002) and Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003).
“We [feel] beyond blessed to have had just so many great movies back to back with that group, because it was very special,” PenaVega, now a mom of three with husband Carlos PenaVega, told Us. (Sabara, for his part, has been married to pop star Meghan Trainor since December 2018 and the pair share three children as well.)
Years after the three films, Alexa and Sabara got to portray the older version of their characters in the 2011 movie Spy Kids: All the Time in the World. There was also a fifth film, Spy Kids: Armageddon, in 2023, starring Gina Rodriguez and Zachary Levi, in which the OG stars did not reprise their roles.
Related: 'Spy Kids' Cast: Where Are They Now? Alexa PenaVega and More
Director Robert Rodriguez smashed box-office expectations with his family film Spy Kids. Featuring Rodriguez’s frequent collaborators Antonio Banderas, Danny Trejo and Cheech Marin, the 2001 action comedy is also known as the project that launched the careers of titular kids Alexa PenaVega and Daryl Sabara. The movie follows Carmen Cortez (PenaVega) and her brother, Juni […]“It teaches beautiful lessons and values,” PenaVega said of the franchise. “So I think for a lot of different families, all walks of life, also we were a Hispanic family too, which there were not a lot of films with a multicultural family, like, in the forefront, and I think that was special too.”
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Hurry! Taylor Swift’s Exact Necklace Is 29% Off for Amazon Prime Day View DealAlexa and Sabara are now joining forces again for The Salvation Army’s summer camps, a new venture that is especially meaningful to them because this year marks the 25th anniversary of Spy Kids. The former costars are surprising campers ages 8-12 to join them for spy-inspired activities that encourage teamwork, creativity and fun.
Sabara told Us that Alexa first sent him a text about the opportunity, quipping, “She’s the Salvation Army queen,” he said, adding, “It was just the fastest, easiest yes.”
“These summer camps run all across the U.S.,” Alexa shared. “They’re at little to no cost to these families, and it’s because of amazing people who are making donations to the Salvation Army, whether it’s financially, whether it’s donating their time, or different kinds of things.”
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
