The entertainment industry is notorious for struggling to add diverse talent to its rosters. Latinos, whose roots come from many different races and countries, have historically had the least amount of representation. This has led to a lack of understanding of who is Latino, and who isn’t. These 7 celebrities aren’t often identified as Latino, but they all have Latino ancestry and have openly talked about their identity and their roots.
Zoe Saldaña
Known for her roles in blockbuster films like "Avatar" and "Guardians of the Galaxy," Zoe Saldaña is of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent. Growing up, she lived back and forth between the U.S. and the Dominican Republic. In recalling how she was often overlooked for main roles in Hollywood, she told Porter magazine, “I will never accept that I am not a traditional anything. I come from where I come from, I can’t change that, and you come from where you come from. But if you tell me that where you come from is the only right place, and therefore I don’t fit that traditional mold, let’s just establish, very clearly, that you are the one who’s wrong. Because everything about me and where I come from is just as right.”
Bruno Mars
Bruno Mars took the music world by storm with hit singles like "Just the Way You Are," "Grenade," and "The Lazy Song." Though he’s been defined as a Black artist, Mars is a Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter of Filipino and Puerto Rican ancestry. Both his songs and his performances reference his Latino roots. In his cover story for Latina magazine, Mars said, “When you say ‘black music,’ understand that you are talking about rock, jazz, R&B, reggae, funk, doo-wop, hip-hop, and Motown. Black people created it all. Being Puerto Rican, even salsa music stems back to the Motherland [Africa]. So, in my world, black music means everything.”
Cameron Diaz
Looking at Cameron Diaz, you wouldn’t know she has Cuban ancestry through her father, and that proves the point that Latinos don’t fit into the stereotypes set out for them. Known for her roles in films like “There’s Something About Mary” and “Charlie’s Angels,” she’s not often identified as Latina. Diaz has spoken little about her heritage, but when she does, she’s proud of it. During her press junket for the movie “Bad Teacher,” she said, “I grew up with the Cuban heritage, the Cuban culture, the food, the language, although I don’t speak Spanish. I can barely speak English, honestly.”
Aubrey Plaza
Known as the queen of deadpan, dry humor, Aubrey Plaza has been in shows like “Parks and Recreation” and “White Lotus,” and movies like “Safety Not Guaranteed.” She’s of Puerto Rican descent and she has expressed appreciation for her Latino roots. In her cover story with Vanity Fair, she was asked about an article that discussed Latinas playing moody characters, and she said, “I love that. That sh*t is important to me because that’s my whole thing. [...] Sofia Vergara is not the only Latina personality. There are other ones! [...] It’s important to normalize that there are all kinds of different Latina people.”
Oscar Isaac
Oscar Isaac, acclaimed for his performances in films like "Ex Machina," and shows like “Scenes from a Marriage” and “Moon Knight,” was born in Guatemala to a Guatemalan mother and a Cuban father. Despite his diverse background, his Latino heritage isn’t widely recognized, but he doesn’t hide it. In his opening monologue for “Saturday Night Live,” he poked fun at the industry’s perception of Latinos by saying, “I’m half-Guatemalan, half-Cuban. Or, as casting directors call that: ‘ethnically ambiguous.’
Jessica Alba
Jessica Alba, known for her roles in movies like "Sin City" and "Fantastic Four," is of Mexican descent through her father's side. She’s been involved in a variety of Latino-focused initiatives and has spoken openly about her cultural background, something she’s very proud of. In an E! News interview where she discussed her Latino heritage, she said, “Celebrating our culture and our family is an everyday thing because that's who we are. We're always surrounded by our culture and our community and the family and the traditions."
Christina Aguilera
Christina Aguilera is one of the figures in the music industry who helped define 2000’s pop culture. She’s the powerhouse singer behind hits like "Genie in a Bottle," "Beautiful,” and many more. Aguilera is of Ecuadorian descent through her father's side and she’s often celebrated her Latino roots in her music, particularly her album “Aguilera,” making her one of the prominent Latina figures in the industry. In an interview with People Chica, she said, “[...] I was surrounded by Latin music, Latin culture, and the language since I was a baby. It has always stayed close to my heart and has never left me."
If you’re surprised to find any of these celebrities on this list, you’re not alone. As the entertainment industry continues to try and put Latinos in boxes, they will continue to break through and redefine people’s ideas of what Latinos look like and are capable of.
