11 Latina Actresses Who Have Spoken Out on Hollywood Stereotypes and Lack of Diversity

It is no secret that Latinos have been grossly underrepresented in Hollywood. And when Latino actors are included, they are often portraying criminals and domestic workers. Back in the earlier days of film and television, we were “greasers,” “banditos,” immoral and/or angry women, and comedically dim-witted individuals.

Today, however, the tides are changing, with a variety of roles being interpreted by Latinas, and people of our ethnicity and culture(s) are creating those projects which are absent. But we still have a long way to go. Here are 11 actresses in Hollywood who are holding it down for Latinos everywhere have spoken out about both the stereotypes assigned to us as a people, as well as the notion that all we look, act, and are the same.

4Eva Longoria

As a producer, Eva Longoria has created shows that tell Latino stories, and include mostly-Latinx casts. She has also played a variety of roles in TV and film, outside of the typical characters Latina actresses are given. But she, too, has experienced the effects of Hollywood stereotyping Latinos. “I remember moving to L.A. and auditioning and not being Latin enough for certain roles,” Eva has said. “Some white male casting director was dictating what it meant to be Latin. He decided I needed an accent. He decided I should [have] darker-colored skin. The gatekeepers are not usually people of color, so they don’t understand you should be looking for way more colors of the rainbow within that one ethnicity.

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