Jordana Brewster launched her acting career in 1995 with a television debut on All My Children just three weeks after her fifteenth birthday. Since that initial appearance, she established a consistent film presence, moving from soap opera roles into international box office successes while balancing her professional pursuits with an undergraduate degree in English Literature from Yale University.
Early Background and Education
Born in 1980 in Panama City, Brewster spent her childhood living in London and Brazil before moving to Manhattan at age ten. Her family background includes significant academic and diplomatic roots; her paternal grandfather, Kingman Brewster Jr., served as president of Yale University and as the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom. She attended the Convent of the Sacred Heart and the Professional Children's School in New York. After finding success in her early roles, she paused her acting work to attend Yale, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 2003.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Soap Operas and Feature Film Beginnings
Brewster entered the industry through daytime television, appearing in 104 episodes of As the World Turns as the character Nikki Munson between 1995 and 2001. This performance earned her a nomination for Outstanding Teen Performer at the 1997 Soap Opera Digest Awards. Her transition to cinema occurred with Robert Rodriguez’s 1998 science fiction feature The Faculty, where she portrayed a high school student and student paper editor alongside Elijah Wood and Josh Hartnett.
The Fast & Furious Franchise and Subsequent Roles
Her international profile rose significantly with the 2001 film The Fast and the Furious, in which she played Mia Toretto. Because she did not possess a driver's license at the time, the production provided her with driving lessons. She later reprised this role in sequels, including the 2009 film Fast & Furious and the 2011 installment Fast Five. Outside of the franchise, her credits include the independent drama The Invisible Circus, the action comedy D.E.B.S., and the 2006 horror production The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning.
Television Work and Later Projects
Brewster maintained a presence in television drama throughout her career. From 2012 to 2014, she starred in the TNT reboot of Dallas as Elena Ramos. Her television portfolio also includes a four-episode arc on the NBC series Chuck, a guest appearance in Dark Blue, and a role in the 2016 FX anthology American Crime Story. Between 2016 and 2018, she appeared as Dr. Maureen Cahill on the Fox series Lethal Weapon.
Fast facts
- Born: 1980, Panama City
- Education: Yale University, Berkeley College
- First TV Role: All My Children (1995)
- First Film Role: The Faculty (1998)
- Languages Spoken: English, Spanish, Portuguese
- Citizenship: United States, Brazil, Panama
Questions readers ask
Did Jordana Brewster graduate from college?
Yes, she earned a B.A. in English Literature from Yale University in 2003.
What was her first major film role?
Her first feature film role was as a high school student in the 1998 horror film The Faculty.
Achievements
- Worked as actor and film actor
