Why Did Michelle Rodriguez Almost Quit the First 'Fast & Furious' Film?

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Ahead of the release of the seventh(!) Fast & Furious film, it’s hard to believe any of the franchise’s
actors having an issue with the direction of the films.

However, the case was very different when Michelle Rodriguez
joined the first film -- then simply called The
Fast and the Furious
-- when production was still trying to figure its winning
formula.

“It was more of a Point
Break
idea,” Rodriguez, 36, tells The
Daily Best
of the film’s original concept. “They just followed the format
without thinking about the reality of it.”

NEWS: Michelle Rodriguez Apologies for Saying Minorities Shouldn't Play White Superheroes

But it was the development of her character, Leticia
"Letty" Ortiz, which the actress had problems with. “Is it realistic
for a Latin girl who’s with the alpha-est of the alpha males to cheat on him
with the cute boy? I had to put my foot down,” she reveals. “I basically cried
and said I’m going to quit and, ‘Don’t sue me, please -- I’m sorry, but I can’t do
this in front of millions of people.’”

“My whole point in being an actress is that I thought I got
to live a dream,” Rodriguez adds. "And I don’t dream about being a slut! Do you?!”

WATCH: Ronda Rousey Recreates Her Epic 'Furious 7' Fight Scene with Michelle Rodriguez

The revelation is surprising considering that the role was
Rodriguez’s first major part following a breakout performance in Girlfight. But it was that tough-girl
attitude that helped her fight for and get what she wanted out of the blockbuster
film.

“I fought for the punch, because they didn’t think a girl
would ever get involved,” she says.

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While the franchise has helped bolster Rodriguez’s film
career, it hasn’t come without its difficulties. Last year, the loss of co-star
Paul Walker proved difficult for the actress, who recently admitted she went “pretty
crazy” following his sudden death.

Watch the video below for more on that story.