The Transformation Of Rosa Salazar From Childhood To Alita: Battle Angel

Rosa Salazar was 15 years old when she decided that she wanted to become an entertainer. Needless to say, it didn't take long for her to soar through the ranks of Hollywood. In the beginning, however, not even Salazar could have expected the success that she's enjoyed in recent years, especially in the wake of "Alita: Battle Angel," "Undone," and other acclaimed releases. As we'll discuss later on, Salazar had specific ambitions in mind when she moved to the city where dreams come true, but life is unpredictable and full of surprises.

Most viewers probably know Salazar from "Alita: Battle Angel," which has since gone on to gain a cult following since it became an unexpected international hit in 2018. However, the Peruvian-Canadian actress was part of some interesting and successful projects before she played the eponymous hero in Robert Rodriguez's anime adaptation. With that in mind, let's take a look at Salazar's journey from internet sensation to box office behemoth.

While Salazar continued to produce CollegeHumor shorts until 2012, it didn't take long for her to make a name for herself on the small screen. While she had previously appeared in an episode of "Old Friends" as a dog walker, her first notable break came in 2011, courtesy of a cameo in "Law & Order: LA." Starring in "Law & Order" is always a good omen for a performer, as it's basically a right of passage for any young actor trying to catch a break in the business.

That same year, Salazar landed a bit-part role in "American Horror Story: Murder House." Her first appearance came in the "Home Invasion" episode, in which she played a victim of a copycat serial killer. She also popped up in a few subsequent episodes as a trapped ghost in the titular house of death, though her role was confined to the background. Still, she did get her hands bloody when she teamed up with one of her fellow spooks to slaughter some intruders, and it was a terrific moment.

That being said, the third season of "Parenthood" was Salazar's defining role back then. In the show, she played a conflicted pregnant girl whose child Julia (Erika Christensen) and Joel (Sam Jaeger) plan to adopt. "Law & Order" and "American Horror Story" helped Salazar get her foot in the door, but "Parenthood" gave her a chance to shine — and she did not disappoint.

Susan Biers' "Bird Box" was a massive hit for Netflix, and it became something of a brief cultural phenomenon following its release in 2018. Not only did 45 million people reportedly tune into the streaming service to watch the horror film following its debut, but some of them also created their own risky "'Bird Box' challenges," which entailed them wearing blindfolds and wandering around outside. Looking back, those stunts were pretty dangerous and ill-advised.

For Rosa Salazar, however, she couldn't turn the chance to work with Sandra Bullock and the film's other big stars. While speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, she talked about appreciating that element of the experience, but it wasn't all fun and games. The actress also revealed that she wasn't too pleased about the lack of screen time she received. "Everything we shot that was added — which was the catalyst of me agreeing to do the movie — was not in the movie," she recalled. "I stand by my performance, even though it [has] been abbreviated."