Father's Day Tribute: 'Jane the Virgin' Star Gina Rodriguez Praises Dad's Wisdom in New Book
Golden Globe winner and "Jane the Virgin" star Gina Rodriguez is paying homage to her father, who has helped shape her positive outlook on life with an upcoming book.
Fittingly, the announcement comes on the cusp of Father's Day. Talk about a gift!
The 30-year-old star is penning a book giving praise to her beloved father, Genaro Rodriguez, whose wisdom she carries with her daily, People reports. Genaro, who is of Puerto Rican descent, is a boxing referee.
The title of the book, "I Can and I Will: Tools My Daddy Gave Me," is very appropriate considering Rodriguez paid tribute to her family and recalled her father's words of wisdom during her touching acceptance speech at the Golden Globes. (She won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Comedy Series.)
The book will be published this year by Simon & Schuster, the publishing house announced this week.
"My father would always remind me to give away your blessings to make room for more," Rodriguez said in a statement. "This book has been a dream of mine for many years now, a love letter to a father who has given me strength I only know is right to share with others. If you can move, stretch, teach, inspire, encourage and motivate others by telling your stories why wouldn't you?"
Let's relive that treasured Golden Globes moment for a minute.
During her emotional Golden Globes acceptance speech, a gracious Rodriguez thanked her bosses CBS' Leslie Moonves and CW Network's Mark Pedowitz and Jennie Urman, praising them for giving her a chance and believing in her. Rodriguez also thanked her two families -- the cast of "Jane the Virgin" cast and her actual family.
"Thank you to my entire cast. I am nothing without you," she said. "Thank you to my mom and my dad for telling me to dream big and never stop dreaming. Thank you to my sisters and my siblings ... for being the biggest role models."
But it was the line below that struck a chord for many, especially fathers and their kids who have a special bond, as well as a proud Latino community.
"This award is so much more than myself. It represents a culture that wants to see themselves as heroes," added Rodriguez, who had tears streaming down her face. "My father used to tell me to say every morning: 'Today is going to be a great day. I can and I will.' Well, Dad. Today is a great day. I can and I did."
Rodriguez beat out Lena Dunham ("Girls"), Julia Louis-Dreyfus ("Veep"), Edie Falco ("Nurse Jackie") and Taylor Schilling ("Orange Is the New Black").
Revisit Rodriguez's emotional acceptance speech at the 72nd annual Golden Globe Awards -- and make sure to grab a tissue!