61 Latina And Hispanic Actresses Who Are Changing Hollywood For The Better In 2023
And yet Hollywood still hasn’t caught up to the fact that, while there are so many talented Hispanic and Latinx actors, they remain underrepresented in film and television. Latinx actors held just 2.3 percent of top theatrical film acting roles in 2022, according to the 2023 UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report. Angered by the disproportionate amount of Latinx folks in the industry, more than 270 Latinx showrunners, creators, and television and feature writers wrote an open letter to Hollywood in October 2020, calling for systemic change, noting: “We refuse to be filtered through a White perspective.”
The Best Hispanic and Latina Actresses
This list ranks the best Hispanic and Latina actresses in American and English-speaking film history, ranked by your votes. Throughout the history of Hollywood, movies have featured talented Hispanic and Latina actresses. These leading ladies of Latina and Hispanic origin have starred in every genre of film from musicals and comedies to dark dramatic roles. Several of these Latina actresses have even won Academy Awards for their work.
Who are some of the best Hispanic actresses? Jessica Alba made our list. She has starred in great movies like Sin City and Little Fockers . Jennifer Lopez also appears on this list of the best Latina actresses. J Lo first received rave reviews in Selena before starring in comedies like The Wedding Planner and Monster-in-Law .
Rita Moreno won an Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance in West Side Story . She later appeared in the HBO series Oz . 25th Hour actress Rosario Dawson made this list, as did the iconic Foxy Brown actress, Pam Grier.
Who do you think is the best Hispanic actress in the history of film? Vote on this list and share your thoughts in the comments section.
Salma Hayek
Salma Hayek, a Mexican-American actress and producer, has made substantial contributions to both the Hollywood film industry and philanthropic causes. Born in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, Mexico in 1966, her passion for performing arts led her to abandon university studies for a career in acting. Rising through the ranks of telenovelas and films in Mexico, she moved to Los Angeles in 1991 where she eventually achieved international fame. Hayek’s breakthrough came with the movie Desperado (1995), but it was her portrayal of Frida Kahlo in Frida (2002) that cemented her status as an A-list star. The film earned Hayek critical acclaim and an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress – a first for any Mexican actress. Her other notable roles include parts in From Dusk Till Dawn (1996), Wild Wild West (1999), and Puss In Boots (2011). Furthermore, as a producer, Hayek has been instrumental behind-the-scenes on projects like ABC’s award-winning series Ugly Betty. Beyond entertainment circles, Salma Hayek is renowned globally as an advocate for women’s rights and education issues. She co-founded Chime For Change with Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Gucci’s Creative Director Frida Giannini – an organization dedicated to improving health services for women worldwide while promoting gender equality. Equally noteworthy is her work with UNICEF where she contributes towards ending maternal mortality rates around the globe.
Penélope Cruz
Born on April 28, 1974, in Madrid, Spain, Penélope Cruz Sánchez is a world-renowned actress and model. Raised in a working-class family, her passion for the performing arts became evident at an early age. Initially training as a classical ballet dancer at Spain’s National Conservatory, she turned her focus to acting and landed her first TV role at 15. Cruz’s career took off when she was cast in the leading role in the critically acclaimed Spanish film Jamon Jamon in 1992. This performance established her as a serious actress and marked the beginning of a fruitful collaboration with renowned Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar. She went on to star in several of Almodóvar’s films, including Volver and All About My Mother, both of which garnered international attention and accolades. Cruz made her Hollywood debut in 1998 with The Hi-Lo Country, but it was her role in the 2001 film Vanilla Sky that catapulted her to international stardom. She continued to balance her work in both Hollywood and Spanish cinema, showcasing her versatility as an actress. In 2009, she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Vicky Cristina Barcelona, becoming the first Spanish actress to win an Oscar. Cruz’s talent, determination, and ability to effortlessly traverse between different cinematic worlds have solidified her status as one of the most respected actresses of her generation.
Sofía Vergara
Sofía Vergara, a Colombian-American actress, producer, and model, first gained recognition in the 1990s. Born on July 10, 1972, in Barranquilla, Colombia, she was discovered by a photographer while strolling on a Colombian beach and was quickly presented with offers in modeling and television work. This was the beginning of her journey into the world of fame and entertainment. She studied dentistry at a university in Colombia for three years before dropping out to pursue her career in modeling and acting, which eventually led her to relocate to Miami to avoid unrest in Colombia due to her older brother’s kidnapping. Vergara’s acting career took off when she starred in her first film, Big Trouble in 2002, and then in the comedic drama Chasing Papi. However, it was her role as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett on the hit sitcom Modern Family that skyrocketed her fame. From 2009 to 2020, she received critical acclaim for her performance, earning multiple nominations for Primetime Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Awards. Her vivacious character and authentic representation of a Latino family in America resonated with audiences worldwide, making her a household name. Beyond acting, Vergara is also recognized for her entrepreneurial spirit. She co-founded Latin World Entertainment, a talent management and entertainment marketing firm. As a cancer survivor, she’s used her platform to raise awareness about early detection, preventive care, and medical treatment. Vergara has also launched successful clothing and perfume lines, demonstrating her versatile talent as a businesswoman. Her journey from a beachside discovery in Colombia to becoming one of the most influential Latina women in Hollywood embodies her resilience and determination.
61 Latina And Hispanic Actresses Who Are Changing Hollywood For The Better In 2023
The entertainment industry still lacks a lot of authentic representation, but these women are paving the way.
This will come as no surprise, but let’s put it out there anyway: Latina and Hispanic actresses have been leaving their mark on Hollywood for decades. From Dolores del Río, who put Latina actresses on the map with her first roles in 1920s silent films, to Jenna Ortega, the Disney actress turned scream queen, there’s always been a Latina and/or Hispanic actress leading the way for those who come after them.
And yet Hollywood still hasn’t caught up to the fact that, while there are so many talented Hispanic and Latinx actors, they remain underrepresented in film and television. Latinx actors held just 2.3 percent of top theatrical film acting roles in 2022, according to the 2023 UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report. Angered by the disproportionate amount of Latinx folks in the industry, more than 270 Latinx showrunners, creators, and television and feature writers wrote an open letter to Hollywood in October 2020, calling for systemic change, noting: “We refuse to be filtered through a White perspective.”
“As we come to the end of Hispanic Heritage Month in the midst of a global pandemic and continued racial injustice, many of us in the Latinx community have found it difficult to celebrate,” the letter stated. “Inspired by the activism of the Black and Indigenous communities, many of whom also identify as Latinx, we stand in solidarity with our fellow Black, Native and Indigenous writers, co-signing their WGAW Open Letters and echoing their demands for systemic change in our industry.”
Three years later, some progress has been made, but more work needs to be done to ensure Latinx and Hispanic artists have equal representation, and support, in Hollywood as their non-Latinx counterparts. Even when Latinx folks get the opportunity to share their stories in film and TV series, such as Netflix’s Wednesday, HBO Max’s Gordita Chronicles, and the upcoming Snow White starring Rachel Zegler, they often lack the championing of Hollywood executives to stay on air for more than a few seasons, or even air at all.
But this may be the year that meaningful change happens in Hollywood. Many Latina and Hispanic actresses are not only doing the work to benefit their own communities, but they are also participating in the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike to fight for equal pay and treatment for all actors and screenwriters.
To learn more about these trailblazers and change-makers, check out this list of 61 talented Latina and Hispanic actresses who make your (film and television) world go ’round—and make sure to support their next project.