What you need to know
Rosie Perez has had a very different career path.
Perez told PEOPLE that if Spike Lee hadn’t had her big break with “Do the Right Thing,” she probably wouldn’t be walking the red carpet and would be “looking down a microscope in a lab.”
“They’re probably trying to figure out which sea urchins are developing,” said the 61-year-old. “You know, I’m really serious, because when I met him, that’s where I was going to go to college. So, yeah, that’s probably where I’m going to be.”
“He changed my life,” added the Academy Award-nominated actress, who honored Lee at the Wall Street Journal Innovator Awards 2025 on Oct. 29.
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The Brooklyn native was studying biochemistry at Los Angeles City College with hopes of becoming a marine biologist when she landed in Lee’s orbit. In a conversation with Alan Cumming on CBS in 2015, Perez recalled how he started his Hollywood career and the night he had a chance encounter with the famous director, 68.
The actress explained that she used to go to clubs in Los Angeles with friends and one night a Soul Train talent scout was in the crowd.
“He saw me dancing and said, ‘Why don’t you join Soul Train?'” And I thought, “Are you kidding me?” yes! ” she recalled.
Soon after, Perez and a friend went to a big party and saw a lot of young women dancing, so she joined them. Eventually, Lee approached her and introduced himself.
“He said, ‘Hello, this is Spike Lee,’ and I was like, ‘Who?'” she recalled.
“And he starts laughing. And I say, ‘Listen, I think this is all nonsense.’ And he says, ‘No, no, no.’ Tonight is fate. You will remember this night. I’m making a movie and I’d like you to be in it too. ” ”
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Perez told Lee that she was “not an actress,” but he saw something in her.
“He said, ‘You’re such a great actress, aren’t you?’ And I said, ‘No, you’re not!'” she continued. “He said, ‘I want you to audition for this role.’ And I said, ‘I’m not really an actress.’ He says, “Just try it.” ”
After a little persuasion, she agreed to audition. And the rest is history.
Do the Right Thing was released in 1989 and, in addition to Perez, starred Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Giancarlo Esposito, John Turturro, and Lee himself.
From there, Perez went on to star in White Men Can’t Jump, Untamed Heart, and Fearless, to name a few. She currently has 90 acting credits over a career spanning several decades.
