Who is Raini Rodriguez?
Raini-Alena Rodriguez was born in Bryan, Texas USA, on 1 July 1993 – her zodiac sign is Cancer, she holds American nationality, and is of Mexican descent. She’s an actress, film director and a singer, who has appeared in over 30 movies and TV series, while she’s perhaps known best for her portrayal of the lead character Maya Blart, in the 2015 action crime comedy movie “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2”, directed by Andy Fickman, and which also starred Kevin James and Eduardo Verastegui. It follows the mall police officer Paul Blart who’s vacationing in Las Vegas, Nevada with his daughter; the movie won one of the 10 awards for which it was nominated. Raini also played Maya in the 2009 prequel “Paul Blart: Mall Cop”.
Early life, siblings and education
Raini was raised in Bryan alongside her brothers Ray, Roy Jr. and Rico Rodriguez, by their parents Roy and Diane, who were running their own business Rodriguez Tire Service, until Roy died on 12 March 2017, aged 52. Raini’s brother Rico is today a popular actor, probably known best for his portrayal of Manny Delgado, in the comedy series “Modern Family”.
Raini was 11 years old when she was noticed by the talent agent Susan Osser, who offered to work as her manager; after Susan talked with her parents, Raini was allowed to move to Los Angeles, California with her brother Rico and their mother, while their father stayed home to run the family business.
She launched her acting career in 2006, with her appearance in the episode “Black Shadows” of the comedy drama “Huff”, and the following year saw her appear in an episode of both the comedy series “Family of the Year” and the family comedy series “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody”, as well as in the short film “Parker”.
To allow her to focus on acting, Raini’s mother homeschooled her – Raini took and passed her GED tests in 2011, then chose not to attend college, but to work her way up in the film industry.
Roles in TV series
In 2008, Raini voiced Isabel in the episode “Lost and Found/Science Fair” of the animated family comedy “Handy Manny”, and a couple of her following roles were in two episodes of the musical family comedy “I’m in the Band” in 2010, the 2011 episode “True Mall” of the family comedy “True Jackson, VP”, and the 2012 episode “Austin & Jessie & Ally All Star New Year: Part 2” of the family comedy drama “Jessie”.
Between 2011 and 2016, Raini starred as Trish De la Rosa in the popular family comedy drama “Austin & Ally”, created by Kevin Kopelow and Heath Seifert, and which also starred Ross Lynch and Laura Marano. It follows the lives of the musician Austin and his friends, and the series won 10 of the 24 awards for which it was nominated. The following three years saw her play and voice supporting characters in a couple of series, including the family drama “Mutt & Stuff”, the animated action adventure “The Lion Guard” (voice role) and the family adventure comedy “Knight Squad”.
In 2020 and 2021, Raini voiced Sammy Gutierrez in the animated action adventure “Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous”, created by Zach Stentz, and which stars Paul-Mikel Williams, Kausar Mohammed and Jenna Ortega. It follows six teenagers who have found themselves on an island inhabited by dinosaurs; the series has won two awards.
Raini’s most recent role has been her voicing of the lead character Gretel, in all 10 episodes of the 2021 animated action adventure “A Tale Dark & Grimm”.
Roles in movies
In 2009, Raini appeared as Marco’s Second Sister in the family comedy “Babysitters Beware”, and the following two years saw her star in a couple of short films, including “Gordita”, “Slice of Water” and “Star Struck”.
In 2014, she lent her voice to Nobuko, in the English version of the critically acclaimed animated family drama “When Marie Was There”, directed by James Simone and Hiromasa Yonebayashi, and which starred Sara Takatsuki and Kasumi Arimuri (original Japanese version). The movie follows the 12-year-old Anna who has been sent to the Japanese countryside because of her asthma, while she has there befriended the blonde girl Marnie; the movie won four of the 23 awards for which it was nominated, including an Oscar nomination.
Three of her most recent roles in movies have been in the 2014 family comedy “Growing Up and Down”, the 2015 short animated adventure “Bob’s Broken Sleigh” (voice role), and the 2020 romantic drama “Rekindling Christmas”.
Other credits
Raini directed the 2015 episode “Rejection & Rocketships” of the series “Austin & Ally”.
She sang five songs in five episodes of the series “Austin & Ally” between 2013 and 2016, and in 2017, Raini sang “Find Your Inner Ghoul” in the episode “The Ghoul Girls/Game Night” of the series “Vampirina”. She also sang “Prance With Me” in the 2019 episode “The Queen’s Visit” of the series “The Lion Guard”.
Raini has made a guest appearance in an episode of various talk-shows, such as “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”, “Entertainment Tonight” and “Home & Family”.
Awards and nominations
In 2013, Raini won an Imagen Award for Best Young Actress/Television, for her performance in “Austin & Ally”, and in 2016, she won a Young Entertainer Award for Best Leading Young Actress – Feature Film, for her performance in “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2”.
She has also been nominated for a Young Artist Award, a Teen Choice Award, a Behind the Voice Actors Award, and two other Imagen Foundation Awards.
Love life and relationships
Raini’s highly secretive when it comes to her love life, but there are still two men whom she has dated, that the public knows about. Back in 2012, she dated Canadian actor, film writer and producer Calum Worthy, who has appeared in over 80 movies and TV series, and is probably known best for his portrayal of Nick Godejohn, in the 2019 biographical crime mini-series “The Act”.
Raini and Calum were seen together on multiple occasions, but apparently split after having dated for several months.
In 2013, Raini dated William Brent, an American actor and model who’s been credited with appearing in close to 40 movies and TV series, and is perhaps known best for having starred alongside Nicolas Cage in the 2007 action mystery adventure movie “National Treasure: Book of Secrets”. Raini and William were also only together for several months.
She hasn’t mentioned any other men (or women) whom she has perhaps been with, so as of October 2021, Raini appears to be single, hasn’t married, and doesn’t have children.
Hobbies and other interests
Raini’s highly active on Instagram, and her account’s today followed by more than 2.4 million people, while she’s uploaded over 1,100 pictures, the majority of which have been taken during her everyday life.
Summer is her favorite season, as she enjoys spending time with her friends at the beach, and drinking cocktails.
She’s into travelling, and her acting career has taken her to various US states for both work and pleasure; Raini also travels to Mexico at least once a year, to visit her relatives.
He has her own favorite actors and actresses, some of whom are Jean Reno, Tom Hanks and Natalie Portman, and a couple of her favorite movies are “Leon: The Professional”, “Sleepless in Seattle” and “V for Vendetta”.
Age, height and net worth
Raini’s age is 28. She has long black hair and black eyes, her height is 5ft 2ins (1.57m) and she weighs around 143lbs (65kgs).
As of October 2021, her net worth has been estimated at over $2 million.
