Rosa Salazar is an American actress, producer, writer, and director best known for playing Alita in Alita: Battle Angel and Brenda in the Maze Runner films. She has also appeared in projects such as Parenthood, American Horror Story, Bird Box, Undone, and Brand New Cherry Flavor.
In 2026, Salazar expanded her work in theatre, appearing in London’s West End and at the Old Vic. She played Ricky Roma in an all-female production of David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross and appeared as Alexis in Vampires of the Velvet Lounge.
Her career has included film, television, animation, voice acting, theatre, writing, and directing. She has also spoken publicly about her difficult childhood, foster care, emancipation, and early struggles before establishing herself as an actress.
Quick Facts About Rosa Salazar
| Detail | Information |
| Full name | Rosa Bianca Salazar |
| Known as | Rosa Salazar |
| Date of birth | July 16, 1985 |
| Age in 2026 | 41 years |
| Birthplace | Washington, D.C., USA |
| Raised in | Greenbelt, Maryland |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5 feet 4 inches (1.63 m) |
| Profession | Actress, producer, writer, and director |
| Best-known role | Alita in Alita: Battle Angel |
| Major television role | Alma in Undone |
| Recent theatre role | Ricky Roma in Glengarry Glen Ross |
| Net worth | Not publicly verified |
Who Is Rosa Salazar?
Rosa Salazar is an American performer who has developed a diverse career across film, television, animation, and theatre.
She gained wider attention through appearances in The Divergent Series: Insurgent, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, Maze Runner: The Death Cure, and Bird Box. Her most internationally recognized role came in 2019 when she played the title character in Alita: Battle Angel.
Salazar has worked in several genres, including action, drama, horror, comedy, and animation. Her involvement in writing, producing, and directing also shows that her career extends beyond acting.
Rosa Salazar’s Age and Birthplace
Rosa Salazar was born on July 16, 1985, in Washington, D.C. She was raised in Greenbelt, Maryland.
As of September 2026, she is 41 years old because her birthday has already passed during the year.
IMDb lists her full name as Rosa Bianca Salazar and reports her height as 5 feet 4 inches, or approximately 1.63 meters. Biographical information can vary between websites, so personal details should be checked against reliable sources.
Childhood and Family Background
Salazar has described her childhood as difficult and unstable. In a 2026 interview with The Independent, she discussed spending time in foster care, repeatedly running away from home, and becoming legally emancipated at the age of 15 after spending approximately two years in care.
Her family background also includes Peruvian heritage. Salazar has described her father as a Peruvian immigrant who worked for the Washington transit authority. Her mother worked as a purchasing manager for a luxury hotel.
According to Salazar, both of her parents were activists and influenced her appreciation for art. Her parents divorced when she was young but remained close, and her father died in 2012.
Because these details come from interviews and biographical records, they should be presented in the context of the sources rather than expanded with unsupported assumptions.
Education and Early Life
Salazar’s path into entertainment was different from the traditional Hollywood route.
After leaving her difficult home circumstances, she spent time in New York City and began pursuing performance. She later moved to Los Angeles in 2009 to continue developing her acting career.
She has also discussed experiencing homelessness and living in her car during an earlier period of her life. These experiences became part of the personal history she has shared publicly while discussing her journey into the entertainment industry.
How Rosa Salazar Started Her Acting Career
Salazar began building her career through smaller acting roles and comedy projects before moving into television and feature films.
One of her early television credits was NBC’s Parenthood. She also appeared in the first season of FX’s American Horror Story in 2011.
These projects helped establish her as a working actress before she began appearing in larger studio productions. Her early filmography included both independent projects and mainstream movies.
Rosa Salazar in Parenthood
Parenthood was one of Salazar’s early television credits. The NBC drama ran from 2010 to 2015 and followed the Braverman family.
Although her later film roles brought her greater international recognition, her work on television helped build her professional experience and acting résumé.
Rosa Salazar in American Horror Story
Salazar appeared in the first season of FX’s American Horror Story in 2011.
The anthology series later became a major television franchise. Her appearance was one of the early television credits that preceded her more prominent film roles.
Rosa Salazar in the Maze Runner Films
Salazar played Brenda in the Maze Runner film series.
She appeared in:
- Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015)
- Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018)
The franchise increased her visibility among international audiences and became an important part of her film career. During the same period, she also appeared in The Divergent Series: Insurgent.
Rosa Salazar in Alita: Battle Angel
One of Rosa Salazar’s most recognizable roles is Alita in Alita: Battle Angel, released in 2019.
Directed by Robert Rodriguez and produced by James Cameron and Jon Landau, the film used performance-capture technology to create its central digital character.
Salazar’s performance involved facial expressions, movement, and acting that were later used to develop Alita’s computer-generated appearance. The role became a major milestone in her career and introduced her to a wider international audience.
In a 2026 interview with The Independent, she also discussed conversations with James Cameron about a possible sequel. Any future production plans should be confirmed through official announcements.
Other Notable Movies
Rosa Salazar has appeared in a range of films, including independent productions and major studio projects.
Some notable credits include:
- Night Owls
- The Divergent Series: Insurgent
- Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials
- CHIPS
- Bird Box
- Maze Runner: The Death Cure
- Alita: Battle Angel
- The Kindergarten Teacher
- Pink Skies Ahead
- Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
- A Million Miles Away
- Play Dirty
Film databases can differ in how they classify release dates, credits, and production status. For the most accurate filmography, individual titles should be checked against official production information or reliable industry databases.
Rosa Salazar in Bird Box
Salazar appeared in Netflix’s 2018 post-apocalyptic thriller Bird Box, which starred Sandra Bullock.
She played Lucy, adding another major streaming-film credit to her growing filmography.
Rosa Salazar in Undone
Salazar voiced and performed the lead character Alma Winograd-Diaz in the animated series Undone.
The rotoscoped series ran from 2019 to 2022 and explored themes involving memory, perception, relationships, and mental health.
The project gave Salazar an opportunity to work in animation and voice performance. IMDb also credits her as a producer on the series.
Rosa Salazar in Brand New Cherry Flavor
Salazar starred as Lisa Nova in Netflix’s Brand New Cherry Flavor.
The series combines horror, supernatural elements, revenge, and Hollywood satire. Her performance placed her at the center of a distinctive story and continued her work across different genres.
Rosa Salazar’s Height
Rosa Salazar is listed as 5 feet 4 inches tall, which is approximately 1.63 meters.
Her reported height is available through entertainment databases such as IMDb. Other physical measurements, including weight, waist size, and shoe size, are not consistently verified through reliable public sources and should not be presented as confirmed information.
Rosa Salazar’s Languages
IMDb lists Salazar as speaking English and Spanish fluently.
Her Spanish-speaking background is often discussed alongside her Peruvian family heritage. However, language abilities and personal identity should be described using reliable statements rather than assumptions based only on ancestry.
Rosa Salazar’s Theatre Career
Although Salazar became widely known through film and television, theatre has become an important part of her recent work.
In 2026, she appeared in London’s West End production of High Noon before taking on the role of Ricky Roma in Glengarry Glen Ross at the Old Vic.
In an interview, Salazar explained that she wanted to return to theatre and reconnect with the acting process.
Glengarry Glen Ross at the Old Vic
In 2026, Salazar played Ricky Roma in an all-female production of David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross at London’s Old Vic.
The production ran from June 4 through July 18, 2026, and was directed by Patrick Marber. The cast included Indira Varma, who played Levene.
The production presented the well-known play in a different casting context while retaining its original language and pronouns. Salazar’s role represented an important part of her recent move into theatre.
Vampires of the Velvet Lounge
Salazar appeared as Alexis in the 2026 horror-comedy Vampires of the Velvet Lounge.
Written and directed by Adam Sherman, the film centers on a vampire coven that uses dating applications to find victims. The reported cast includes Mena Suvari, Dichen Lachman, Tyrese Gibson, Stephen Dorff, and Tom Berenger.
Details such as release dates, availability, and runtime should be checked against the relevant official distributor or streaming listing because film information can change.
Rosa Salazar in Play Dirty
Salazar appeared in the 2025 film Play Dirty, playing Zen.
The crime-action film stars Mark Wahlberg and LaKeith Stanfield. It added another feature-film credit to Salazar’s career after her earlier work in science fiction, drama, horror, and animation.
Writing, Producing, and Directing
Salazar’s work extends beyond acting.
She has received credits as a producer, writer, and director. Her short film ** Good Crazy ** is associated with her work as a writer, director, and performer.
These projects demonstrate her interest in creative roles behind the camera as well as her established work in front of it.
Rosa Salazar’s Net Worth
There is no reliably verified public figure for Rosa Salazar’s net worth in 2026.
Celebrity websites often publish estimated amounts, but these figures may not be supported by financial records or direct statements. An actor’s wealth can involve salaries, residuals, investments, taxes, property, business interests, and private agreements.
For this reason, a specific dollar amount should not be presented as confirmed unless it is supported by Salazar, her representative, or a reliable financial source.
Rosa Salazar’s Relationship Status
Information about Salazar’s personal relationships appears on entertainment websites, but her current relationship status should not be stated as fact without a recent and reliable source.
Her professional work, including film and theatre projects, is better documented than her private relationships. Older reports should not automatically be treated as current.
Rosa Salazar’s Social Media
Salazar has a public online presence, but social-media follower counts change frequently.
Readers looking for her official accounts should verify the profile directly. An account using her name is not automatically authentic, particularly when impersonation and fan accounts are common.
Interesting Facts About Rosa Salazar
Several details make Salazar’s career and background notable:
- She was born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Greenbelt, Maryland.
- Rosa moved to Los Angeles in 2009 to pursue acting.
- She has publicly discussed foster care, emancipation, and homelessness.
- Rosa played Alita through performance-capture technology in Alita: Battle Angel.
- She has worked in film, television, animation, theatre, writing, producing, and directing.
- Her father was a Peruvian immigrant.
- She returned to theatre in 2026 through projects including High Noon and Glengarry Glen Ross.
What Is Rosa Salazar Doing in 2026?
In 2026, Salazar continued working across film and theatre.
Her notable stage work included High Noon and the Old Vic production of Glengarry Glen Ross, where she played Ricky Roma. She also appeared as Alexis in Vampires of the Velvet Lounge.
These projects reflect the range of her career and her continued involvement in both screen and live performance.
Final Verdict
Rosa Salazar has built a varied career across film, television, animation, theatre, and creative work behind the camera. She became internationally recognized through roles such as Alita in Alita: Battle Angel and Brenda in the Maze Runner films, while projects such as Undone and Brand New Cherry Flavor allowed her to explore different formats and genres.
Her personal journey has also shaped her public biography. Salazar has discussed her difficult childhood, foster care, emancipation, and early struggles before entering the entertainment industry.
In 2026, her theatre work and film appearances added new chapters to her career. Although information about her exact net worth and some private details remains unverified, her professional achievements provide substantial material for a factual biography.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Rosa Salazar in 2026?
Rosa Salazar is 41 years old in 2026. She was born on July 16, 1985.
How tall is Rosa Salazar?
She is listed as 5 feet 4 inches (1.63 meters) tall.
What is Rosa Salazar best known for?
She is best known for playing Alita in Alita: Battle Angel and Brenda in the Maze Runner films. She is also recognized for Undone, Parenthood, and Brand New Cherry Flavor.
Is Rosa Salazar in any 2026 movies?
Yes. She appeared as Alexis in Vampires of the Velvet Lounge in 2026.
What role did Rosa Salazar play in Glengarry Glen Ross?
She played Ricky Roma in the Old Vic’s 2026 production of Glengarry Glen Ross. The production ran from June 4 to July 18, 2026.
What is Rosa Salazar’s net worth?
Her exact net worth in 2026 has not been reliably verified through a trustworthy public source.
