Carmen Cortez

Carmen Cortez
Spy Kids character
Alexa Vega as Carmen in Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams
First appearance	Spy Kids (2001)
Last appearance	Spy Kids: All the Time in the World (2011)
Created by	Robert Rodriguez
Portrayed by	Alexa Vega
Information
Nickname(s)	Carmen
Species	Human
Gender	Female
Occupation	Head of the Spy Kids Division Spy kid (former)
Family	Gregorio Cortez (father) Ingrid Avellan Cortez (mother) Juni Cortez (younger brother)
Relatives	Isador "Machete" Cortez (paternal uncle) Valentin Avellan (maternal grandfather) Helga Avellan (maternal grandmother) Marissa Cortez Wilson (paternal aunt) Wilbur Wilson (paternal uncle) Rebecca Wilson (paternal step-cousin) Cecil Wilson (paternal step-cousin) Maria Cortez-Wilson (paternal cousin)
Nationality	American

Carmen Elizabeth Juanita De Costa Brava Cortez is a fictional character in the four Spy Kids films, portrayed by Alexa Vega.

Carmen is one of two main protagonists (the other being her brother Juni) in the films. For most of her life, Carmen had no idea her parents were secretly spies. Carmen's main concern was with her little brother Juni, whom she felt she was unfairly forced to babysit. She responded by treating Juni abusively. However, Carmen was also hiding her own secrets: in addition to skipping school to go on outings to the city without her parent's permission, she also had to deal with wearing diapers because of a bedwetting problem that she was desperate to hide from her brother.

In the first Spy Kids film, Carmen and Juni discover the truth about their parents when they are kidnapped. Though Carmen and Juni fight with each other throughout their adventure, the two of them bond and form a rapport of mutual respect. Carmen is also influenced by her real uncle Machete, who let her know that he had the same problem with his younger brother, Carmen's father. She also finds out that her brother had always been aware of her nighttime bedwetting and had kept that knowledge to himself on her mother's instructions. Carmen also develops a sense of family, and insists that if any Cortezs become involved in missions, then all of them should.

By Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams, Carmen has stopped calling her brother names, and they are able to work better as a team. However, problems still arise between them from a romantic interest Carmen develops in Gary Giggles. Gary however, has mixed emotions for Carmen. At some events, it is evident that he likes her, and at some events, it looks as if he doesn't, like when he says to Juni that Carmen is a dork. Juni tries to convince Carmen that Gary is trouble, but to no avail. Later, Carmen, after a conversation with Gary's little sister Gerti, changes her mind about Gary and convinces Gerti to turn against her father, who has an evil plan for world domination.