Alexis Bledel was born in Houston, Texas. Her mother, Nanette, is Mexican, and her father, Martin Bledel, is Argentine; her father's family were Danish immigrants to Argentina. She has one younger brother, Eric, born 1986. Her first language is Spanish, and she did not learn English until she began school. In fact, her Sisterhood co-star America Ferrera was surprised during an interview with a Spanish magazine when Bledel started speaking Spanish. Alexis Bledel's mother encouraged her to try community theater when she was a child to overcome her shyness.