Dawson was born in New York City, the daughter of Isabel, a Bronx-born professional vocalist, and Greg Dawson, a construction worker. The two are now divorced. Dawson's mother is of Puerto Rican and Afro-Cuban descent and her father is of Irish and Native American ancestry.

Dawson grew up on Manhattan's Lower East Side and has a brother named Clay. She and her family squatted in an abandoned Read more...

Although showing no interest in acting as a child, Rosario was discovered on her front porch step by photographer Larry Clark and Harmony Korine, where Harmony lauded her with praise as being perfect for a part he had written in his screenplay that would become the 1995 controversial film Kids. Since then Dawson's films have varied; ranging from independent films, to highly successful big budget Read more...

Dawson dated former Sex and the City star Jason Lewis for two years. They lived together in Los Angeles until they separated in November 2006. She has also been rumored to have dated Dawson's Creek star Joshua Jackson.

Dawson is involved with the Lower East Side Girls Club and supports other charities such as environmental group Global Cool, the ONE Campaign, Oxfam, Amnesty International, Read more...