10 Latino Celebrities Who Have Made a Mark in Hollywood

"I was in Jersey when the whole World Trade Center thing happened and I felt powerless. So, I went to Hawaii and did a surf movie. It's kind of fluffy."

While minorities are now seeing some on-screen representation on the big screen and television, Latino actors have been a crucial part of the industry for decades. Some of them mention their roots in passing, but most of them own their origins and advocate for the Hispanic population, paving the way for future Latino actors. Today, there is no dearth of such Latino celebrities, but only a select few have gained widespread fame and recognition. 

Cameron Diaz

Once the highest-paid actress in Hollywood, Cameron Diaz reportedly earned around $20 million per film. She was also America’s sweetheart from the ‘90s to the 2010s. Then, after a trail of blockbusters, Diaz took a break for a few years at 40 to enjoy her personal life with her husband and newborn daughter. She is now Back in Action, quite literally, with a film of the same name alongside Jamie Foxx. What stands out about Diaz is that she remains as proud of her heritage as she is of her filmography. Born in a Cuban family with strong Spanish roots, the 51-year-old told Jack Rico in an interview, “I grew up with the Cuban heritage, the Cuban culture, the food, the language, although I don’t speak Spanish… Well, I can barely speak English. And that’s where I am from.”

Sofia Vergara

The Columbian-American actress started with modeling and ad films. She then entered Hollywood at the age of 17 and shot to fame with Chasing Papi. She is best known for her role as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett in the sitcom Modern Family. The 51-year-old actress, who recently announced her separation from her husband, Joe Manganiello, is one of the best-paid TV actresses today. As much as her fans adore her stellar performances on screen, they are also drawn to her distinctive wit and jokes, delivered in that adorable accent. Also, Vergara has always been outspoken and proud of her roots and continues to inspire many with her candor, humor, and talent.

Andy Garcia

Born in Cuba to Amelie Menéndez and René García Núñez, Andy Garcia’s family migrated to the States when he was a child. Garcia initially dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player, but fate had other plans for him. In his senior year, Garcia contracted mononucleosis and hepatitis. Unable to play sports, he decided to act in theater and films and created history in a career spanning many decades. The 68-year-old is most known for his significant roles in acclaimed films like When a Man Loves a Woman, Godfather Part III, Ocean’s 11, and The Untouchables.

Jennifer Lopez

It wouldn’t be a list of top Latino stars without Jennifer Lopez. Born in Puerto Rico to David López and Guadalupe Rodríguez, Lopez found her footing in the industry with a lead role in the 1997 biopic Selena based on the Queen of Tejano Music, Selena Quintanilla Perez. While Lopez’s voice didn’t make it to the songs in Selena, she decided to pursue a career in music after working on the film. She continued working in films and did some memorable ones like The Wedding Planner, Maid in Manhattan, Hustlers, Enough, and Monster-in-law. She found international fame in the music scene with her first album On the 6. Since then, she has gone on to make nine studio albums and over 30 feature films, many of which saw path-breaking success and made her one of the most celebrated Latinas around the world.

Salma Hayek

Her work in films like Frida and Desperado has gotten Salma Hayek a worldwide following. But it’s her anecdotes about her personal life, her charm, and her love for animals that make her one of the most loved stars in the country. She has famously admitted to teaching her daughter about her cultural roots so the mother-daughter duo can share their pride in their shared heritage. The 57-year-old is married to a billionaire businessman, François-Henri Pinault. She was also named one of the 100 most influential people in the world recently by Time magazine and honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. So, it is safe to say that Hayek is a force to be reckoned with even today.

Benicio Del Toro

The award-winning actor from Puerto Rico initially decided to follow in his family’s footsteps and began studying business. But one acting class changed the course of his life, making him drop out of college to pursue acting full-time. Fifteen years later, he won his first Academy Award for his breakout supporting role in the film Traffic. That’s not all! The 57-year-old’s roles in movies like The Usual Suspects, Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Licence to Kill, and Sicario have also put him on the global map as a versatile and prolific actor.

Eva Mendes

The actress and a businesswoman with a successful fashion line is now entering her 50s. Eva Mendes shot to fame with Training Day in 2001 and went on to work in films like Hitch, Ghostrider, and The Place Beyond the Pines. Her love story with her husband, Ryan Gosling, has always been of public interest, although they lead a private life. But what isn’t private is how proud she is of her Cuban heritage. Mendes is often seen sharing hilarious anecdotes with her fans on social media about her culture and Latino mom and teaching Gosling Cuban things, including slang. While you may not find her acting any time soon, she has been vocal about the lack of opportunities for Latina actresses a decade ago and how things have changed now.

Danny Trejo

The Mexican American star has played over 400 roles in films and shows but is most well-known for blockbusters like From Dusk Till Dawn, Heat, the Spy Kids franchise and the Machete franchise. But Trejo’s personal life is a whole other story. Born to a construction worker dad, the actor had a brief brush with the law at the age of 10, transforming his perspective and leading him into philanthropic work and counseling youth. His career in Hollywood started with minor background roles until he hit it big with his breakout role in Runaway Train.

Michelle Rodriguez

The actor of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent is famous for her roles in Avatar and the Fast and Furious franchise but is also known for being sharp and unfiltered. In an interview with TMZ, Michelle Rodriguez advised the Hispanic population to make up their own mythologies and superheroes to find better representation for minorities in the film industry. “The only language that you speak in Hollywood is ‘successful franchise,’” she added.

Antonio Banderas

The 63-year-old Oscar-nominee, Antonio Banderas admittedly found it difficult to categorize himself as a “person of color”. In an interview with Univision’s Jorge Ramos, The Mask of Zorro actor said, “I don’t know what I am.” But he considered himself Latino, he added, because those were the people he “connected with the most.” This is clear, considering the love he gets from the Latino population in the country. In fact, his first massive recognition came from Spanish audiences for his films directed by Pedro Almodóvar between 1982 and 1990. He later hit it off in Hollywood with his breakthrough role as El Mariachi in the film Desperado. After that, he went on to do many path-breaking roles, opening doors for fellow Latinos in the industry.

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