Then: Alexa Vega came into prominence in 2001 by starring as pint-sized super sleuth Carmen Cortez in 'Spy Kids,' a role she reprised in 'Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams' and 'Spy Kids 3-D Game Over.' Twelve at the time, Vega was already an experienced actress, having played lesser parts in movies such as 'Little Giants' and 'Twister.'

Now: Last year, Vega portrayed Cortez for a fourth time in 'Spy Kids 4: All The Time In The World.' But it's her first non-'Spy Kids' movie with director Robert Rodriguez that's getting all the buzz. The 23-year old will be playing a character called Killjoy in 'Machete Kills,' which is a sequel to the Rodriguez's 2010 exploitation film 'Machete.'

If the revealing still from that movie isn't enough to make you feel old consider this: Vega -- little Carmen Cortez -- is already a divorcee. She married film producer Sean Covel in 2010 but they separated earlier this year, citing irreconcilable differences.

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