Carla Gugino recently shared insights about her iconic role in the 2001 family action film 'Spy Kids,' directed by Robert Rodriguez. Gugino, who portrayed the character Ingrid Cortes, reflected on the physical improbability of playing a mother to two young spies at the age of 27. She humorously pointed out the discrepancy, noting that she was at least a decade too young for the role.
Despite the age disparity, Gugino expressed her love for the movie and the overall experience of working on the film. She highlighted the positive aspects of the project and the lasting impact it had on her career. Gugino's chemistry with co-star Antonio Banderas, with whom she had previously collaborated on another film, added depth to her portrayal of Ingrid Cortes.
'Spy Kids' proved to be a commercial success, grossing close to $150 million worldwide against a production budget of $35 million. The film's popularity led to the creation of a franchise, with Gugino reprising her role in two sequels: 'Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams' in 2002 and 'Spy Kids 3D: Game Over' in 2003.
Robert Rodriguez later rebooted the franchise with new installments, including 'Spy Kids: All the Time in the World' in 2011 and 'Spy Kids: Armageddon' in 2020, which premiered exclusively on Netflix. The enduring success of the 'Spy Kids' series underscores the lasting impact of Gugino's portrayal and the enduring appeal of the franchise.
