Ruby Cruz
{{Short description|American actress (born 2000)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ruby Cruz
| birth_name = Ruby Jean Cruz{{cite web | title=The Courtship of Eddie's Father: Biographies/Where are they now? | website=Sitcoms Online | date=1934-01-22 | url=https://www.sitcomsonline.com/eddiesfatherwhere.html | access-date=2023-06-06}}
| image =
| caption = Cruz at the premiere of Bottoms (2023).
| birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2000|03|31}}{{cite web | title=The Courtship of Eddie's Father: Biographies/Where are they now? | website=Sitcoms Online | date=1934-01-22 | url=https://www.sitcomsonline.com/eddiesfatherwhere.html | access-date=2023-06-06}}
| occupation = Actress
| father = Brandon Cruz
}}
Ruby Jean Cruz (born March 31, 2000){{cite web | title=The Courtship of Eddie's Father: Biographies/Where are they now? | website=Sitcoms Online | date=1934-01-22 | url=https://www.sitcomsonline.com/eddiesfatherwhere.html | access-date=2023-06-06}} is an American actress. She has acted in various short films and television series including Mare of Easttown and Castle Rock, and most notably as Kit Tanthalos in Willow.{{Cite web |last=Ropert |first=Sienna |date=February 23, 2023 |title=Ruby Cruz |url=https://www.photobookmagazine.com/features/ruby-cruz |access-date=August 29, 2023 |website=Photobook}}
In 2023, she made her feature length movie debut as Hazel Callahan in Bottoms, directed by Emma Seligman.{{Citation |last=Seligman |first=Emma |title=Bottoms |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17527468/ |type=Comedy |publisher=Brownstone Productions (II), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Orion Pictures |access-date=2023-02-05}}
Career
Ruby Cruz was born to actor and musician Brandon Cruz and Liz Cruz, an entrepreneur.{{cite web | title=The Courtship of Eddie's Father: Biographies/Where are they now? | website=Sitcoms Online | date=1934-01-22 | url=https://www.sitcomsonline.com/eddiesfatherwhere.html | access-date=2023-06-06}}{{Cite web |last=Madden |first=Joane |date=October 17, 2021 |title=Keeping Up With Brandon Cruz: From Child Star to Punk Rocker |url=http://www.tvbanter.net/2021/10/keeping-up-with-brandon-cruz-from-child.html?m=1 |access-date=September 13, 2023 |website=TV Banter}}{{Cite web |last=Wanjala |first=Naomi |date=September 4, 2023 |title=Ruby Cruz's Parents Are Associated with the Arts - Facts about Them |url=https://news.amomama.com/411668-ruby-cruzs-parents-are-associated-with.html |access-date=September 13, 2023 |website=Amo Mama}} Cruz grew up in Los Angeles, California, and began auditioning for film and television roles in high school.{{Cite web |last=Nemiroff |first=Perri |date=December 4, 2022 |title='Willow': Ruby Cruz on How She Carved Her Own Unique Path to Becoming a Disney Series Star |url=https://collider.com/willow-ruby-cruz-interview-disney-plus/ |access-date=August 29, 2023 |website=Collider}} She studied theater at DePaul University before dropping out to pursue her acting career.
In 2018, Cruz played the younger version of Lizzy Caplan's character, Annie Wilkes, in Castle Rock. Cruz received praise from TVLine for the way she captured Caplan's physicality.{{Cite web|url=https://tvline.com/list_item/castle-rocks-annie-ruby-cruz/|title=Castle Rock's Annie (Ruby Cruz)|website=tvline.com|date=March 23, 2021 }} In 2020, Cruz appeared in season 10 of Blue Bloods.{{Cite web|url=https://tv.apple.com/us/person/ruby-cruz/umc.cpc.prtfikjq8ac1shylw8yk41e4|title=Ruby Cruz|website=tv.Apple.com}}
In 2021, Cruz appeared as Jess Riley in the HBO drama series Mare of Easttown.{{Cite web|url=https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/film-tv/g36302225/mare-of-easttown-cast/|title=Keeping Track of the Massive Mare of Easttown Cast|website=Harpersbazaar.com|date=May 30, 2021 }} Later that year, Cruz was cast as Kit Tanthalos, the first openly lesbian Disney princess, in the television series Willow.{{Cite web |last=Hogan |first=Heather |date=January 12, 2023 |title="Willow" Gives Us the Lesbian Disney Princess We've Been Waiting For |url=https://www.autostraddle.com/willow-gives-us-the-lesbian-disney-princess-weve-been-waiting-for/#:~:text=Because%2C%20finally%2C%20she's%20here!,Shining%20Legion%20Knight%20Jade%20Claymore. |access-date=August 29, 2023 |website=Autostraddle}} She took over the role from friend and Mare of Easttown costar Cailee Spaeny, who dropped out due to scheduling conflicts.{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/willow-episode-7-ruby-cruz-kit-jade-1235291084/ |access-date=June 1, 2025 |last=Davids |first=Brian |date=January 4, 2023 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |title=‘Willow’ Star Ruby Cruz Talks Her Complicated Disney Princess and Taking Over the Role From Her Good Friend}} The show, which premiered in November 2022, acts as a sequel to the 1988 film of the same title.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uk.news.yahoo.com/amphtml/willow-reboot-finds-lead-star-102000217.html|title=Willow reboot finds new lead star in Castle Rock actress Ruby Cruz|website=Yahoo.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/willow-ruby-cruz-cast-lead-disney-plus-series-1234711933/|title=Willow': Ruby Cruz Cast As A Lead In Disney+ Series|website=Deadline|date=March 11, 2021 }}{{Cite web|url=https://collider.com/willow-trailer-breakdown-warwick-davis-disney-plus/|title='Willow' Trailer Breakdown: The Magical Cult Classic Returns|website=Collider.com|date=September 15, 2022 }}
In 2023, she appeared alongside Rachel Sennott and Ayo Edebiri in Bottoms as Hazel Callahan, a co-founder of a high school fight club for girls.{{Cite web |last=Grobar |first=Matt |date=April 11, 2022 |title='Bottoms': Rachel Sennott, Ayo Edebiri, Marshawn Lynch & More To Star In High School Sex Comedy From Orion & Brownstone; 'Shiva Baby's Emma Seligman Directing |url=https://deadline.com/2022/04/bottoms-casts-rachel-sennott-ayo-edebiri-marshawn-lynch-more-1234999993/ |access-date=August 29, 2023 |website=Deadline}}{{Cite web |last=Bosselman |first=Haley |date=November 29, 2022 |title=Ruby Cruz Talks 'Willow,' Sword Fighting And the 'Genius' of 'Bottoms' |url=https://laconfidentialmag.com/ruby-cruz-willow-interview |access-date=August 29, 2023 |website=LA Confidential}} In 2024, she joined the cast for the third season of The Sex Lives of College Girls as Ash.{{cite news |last1=Dela Paz |first1=Maggie |title=The Sex Lives of College Girls Season 3 Cast Adds Bottoms’ Ruby Cruz & More |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/sex-lives-college-girls-season-133405706.html |access-date=7 January 2025 |work=Yahoo! Entertainment |date=19 June 2024}}
Personal life
Cruz is queer and of Mexican heritage.{{Cite web |last=Seth |first=Kenisha |date=2021 |title=Ruby Cruz |url=https://www.photobookmagazine.com/features/ruby-cruz |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=PhotoBook Magazine |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2022-12-21 |title=Inside the queer TV love story that's made the cast, and now fans, lose their minds |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2022-12-21/willow-disney-lgbtq-kit-jade-love-story |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} Her father is American former actor and punk musician Brandon Cruz.{{cite web | last=Gross | first=Ed | title='Courtship of Eddie's Father' At 50: Bill Bixby and Others Look Back | website=Closer Weekly | date=2019-09-18 | url=https://www.closerweekly.com/posts/the-courtship-of-eddies-father-bill-bixby-and-brandon-cruz-remember/ | access-date=2023-06-06}} Her mother, Elizabeth "Liz" Cruz ({{nee}} Finkelstein), is an entrepreneur, whom her father married in 1994 and later divorced. She has one older brother, Lincoln, born 1995.{{cite web | url=http://www.tvbanter.net/2021/10/keeping-up-with-brandon-cruz-from-child.html | title=Keeping up with Brandon Cruz: From child star to punk rocker }}
Filmography
=Films=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
| rowspan="3"| 2018
| Aging Out | June | Short film |
| The Jump
| Luna | Short film |
| Murder On The Green
| Lucy | Short film |
| 2019
| Spin | The School Girl | Short film |
| 2020
|God Is a Lobster | Bea | Short film |
| 2023
|Hazel Callahan |Premiered March 11 at SXSW Festival |
| 2024
|What Would Jesus Do? |Thandi |Short film |
| rowspan="3"| 2025
| Shelia the Intern | |
| Steak Dinner
| Taylor | Short film |
| The Threesome
| Jenny | |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
| 2019
| Teen Annie Wilkes |2 Episodes |
| 2020
| Amanda Webster | Episode: "Where the Truth Lies" |
| 2021
| Jess Riley |6 Episodes |
| 2022
| Princess Kit Tanthalos/Young Bavmorda (voice only) |8 Episodes |
| 2024-2025
|The Sex Lives of College Girls | Ash | 5 episodes |
= Music videos =
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !Title !Artist |
| 2023
|"Salad" |Blondshell |
References
{{Reflist}}
=Further reading=
- [https://ew.com/tv/willow-stars-ruby-cruz-erin-kellyman-break-down-epic-love-scene/ 'Willow' stars Ruby Cruz and Erin Kellyman break down that epic love scene]
- [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/willow-episode-7-ruby-cruz-kit-jade-1235291084/amp/ ‘Willow’ Star Ruby Cruz Talks Her Complicated Disney Princess and Taking Over the Role From Her Good Friend]
- [https://www.news18.com/news/movies/ruby-cruz-says-playing-princess-kit-in-willow-was-empowering-and-therapeutic-exclusive-6507919.html Ruby Cruz Says Playing Princess Kit in Willow Was 'Empowering' And 'Therapeutic' | Exclusive]
- [https://collider.com/willow-ruby-cruz-interview-disney-plus/ 'Willow': Ruby Cruz on How She Carved Her Own Unique Path to Becoming a Disney Series Star]
- [https://deadline.com/2021/03/willow-ruby-cruz-cast-lead-disney-plus-series-1234711933/amp/ ‘Willow’: Ruby Cruz Cast As A Lead In Disney+ Series]
External links
- {{IMDb name|9342097|Ruby Cruz}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cruz, Ruby}}
Category:21st-century American actresses
Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people
Category:Actresses from Los Angeles
Category:American television actresses
Category:American queer actresses
Category:American people of Mexican descent
Category:Hispanic and Latino American actors