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Sometimes, we in Latino media have the tendency to focus on the bigger Latinx stars, of both yesterday and today, while simultaneously complaining that we don’t see Latinx actors getting the shine they deserve in Hollywood. When the ones who really need the consistent shine are the actors and actresses who are coming up, the more unknown yet super talented. The ones who have been around for a bit, but aren’t given their due credit. Here are 30 such Latinx actresses who you should have on your radar!
Jeanine Mason
Cuban-American actress Jeanine Mason is currently starring as Liz Ortecho in the TV show, Roswell, New Mexico. She also played Dr. Sam Bello on Grey’s Anatomy and appeared in shows including Big Time Rush, and CSI, in addition to winning the TV dance competition, So You Think You Can Dance.
Isabela Moner
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We were happy when we learned that the popular kid’s cartoon, Dora the Explorer, was headed to the big screen. The 2019 movie starred Peruvian-American Isabela Moner, who also starred in the Nickelodeon show, 100 Things to Do Before High School, and appeared in films such as Instant Family, Transformers: The Last Knight, and Sicario: Day of the Soldado.
Rachel Zegler
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Not that long ago, it was publicized far and wide that director Steven Speilberg was searching for the modern-day Maria for the remake of West Side Story. Well, the legend found her and it’s 17-year-old Colombian-American Rachel Zegler. The film is expected to be released on December 18, 2020.
Soni Nicole Bringas
Soni Nicole Bringas is 17 and plays Kimmy Gibler’s daughter Ramona on the successful sequel to Full House, Fuller House, currently in its fifth season. The Uruguayan-American actress also appeared on the TV show Instant Mom, and Jane the Virgin, among other acting credits.
Heather Hemmens
Afro-Costa Rican-American actress, producer, and director Heather Hemmens is currently playing Maria DeLuca on Roswell, New Mexico. She also starred in the TV show, If Loving You Is Wrong, was a series regular on Hellcats (in addition to numerous other TV and film roles), and starred this year in the Hallmark Channel movie, Love, Take Two.
Ana de Armas
Ana de Armas is a Cuban actress, with several roles under her belt, who will star alongside John Leguizamo and Helen Hunt, in the upcoming film, The Night Clerk. We recently reported that Ana garnered a Golden Globe nomination for her role as Marta Cabrera in the film Knives Out (with Daniel Craig, Jamie Lee Curtis, Chris Evans, etc.). Upcoming projects include the 007 film No Time to Die, Netflix’s Sergio, and Blonde, where she plays Norma Jeane (Marilyn Monroe).
Melissa Barrera
Mexican actress Melissa Barrera has appeared in numerous Spanish and English-language productions. Her latest English role was that of Lyn Hernandez, main character on the TV show Vida. Barrera will play Vanessa in the 2020 film version of In the Heights, and Carmen in the movie adaptation of the classic opera of the same name.
Natalie Martinez
Cuban-American Natalie Martinez, who once was a spokesperson for the J-Lo brand, currently stars in the Netflix’s show, The I-Land. She has already had main roles in a number of TV shows (in addition to film roles), including Fashion House, Kingdom, Under the Dome, and Detroit 1-8-7, and is slated to appear in the 2020 film Reminiscence.
Allegra Acosta
Allegra Acosta might only be 17-years-old, but she is already making a mark on Hollywood. She starred on the Hulu show, Marvel’s Runaways, as Molly Hernandez, and has also appeared in TV/film productions including 100 Things to Do Before High School, American Girl, and One Halloween.
Lindsey Morgan
Mexican-Irish-American Natalie Martinez has had a number of TV roles, including that of Raven Reyes on The 100, and Kristina Davis on General Hospital, which garnered Martinez a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series. Natalie has also acted in films and is rumored to be the new Batgirl.
Melonie Diaz
The ’90s show Charmed is back, and Melonie Diaz is playing one of the three (now) Latina characters. Diaz has also appeared in films such as Fruitvale Station, and A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints — two roles which earned her Independent Award nominations for Best Supporting Female — and roles on TV shows including Girls, Nip/Tuck, Law & Order, and CSI: Miami.
Mishel Prada
Dominican-Puerto Rican-American Mishel Prada stars in the show Vida, as Emma, and Riverdale as Hermosa Lodge, Veronica’s older sister. Mishel portrayed Gabi in Fear the Walking Dead: Passage, and has been in films including Tell Me How I Die. She has also served in productions as a producer and writer.
Emeraude Toubia
Sure, she is la esposa de Prince Royce, but Mexican-Lebanese-American Emeraude Toubia is an actress whose work stands alone. She was nominated two years in a row for Teen Choice Awards (Choice TV Actress: Fantasy/Sci-Fi; the show has won four Teen Choice Awards and one GLAAD Award) for playing Isabelle Lightwood on Shadowhunters. Toubia also starred this year in the Hallmark Channel’s movie Love in the Sun.
Ariela Barer
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21-year-old Mexican-Jewish actress Ariela Barer is best known for her role of Gert Yorkes / Xavin in Marvel’s Runaways. Other roles the L.A. native, and sister of actress Libe Barer, has had include Carmen on One Day at a Time, and Bailey Bennett on Atypical.
Herizen F. Guardiola
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Herizen F. Guardiola is a 23-year-old Afro-Cuban-Jamaican actress from Miami. She played Mylene Cruz on the Netflix show The Get Down, and Freya Nordholm in the 2015 film Runaway Island. For future projects, she will portray Sunshine in the upcoming The Lost Husband, Oshun in American Gods, and Addy Hanlon on the TV series Dare Me.
Sofia Carson
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Colombiana Sofia Carson got her start on the Disney Channel, guest-starring on the show Austin & Ally as Chelsea. Fast forward to 2019, and several roles later, the also singer-songwriter is a part of over nine productions. These include Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists, Descendants 3, and Feel the Beat.
Natalia Reyes
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Another Colombian actress to watch in Hollywood is Natalia Reyes. She has made her mark in both Spanish and English productions, including starring in the successful Netflix show Lady, La Vendedora de Rosas, and Cumbia Ninja. This year, Natalia had the English speaking role of Dani Ramos in Terminator: Dark Fate, and The Woman in Running with the Devil.
Jenna Ortega
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17-year-old Jenna Ortega has a long-acting career ahead of her, but she’s off to an amazing start.The Mexican-Puerto Rican actress has already portrayed young Jane in the show Jane the Virgin, played the vice president’s daughter in Iron Man 3, and snagged the lead in her very own Disney Channel show, Stuck in the Middle, among other roles.
María Gabriela de Faría
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María Gabriela de Faría is another Latina actress to watch for in Hollywood. The 27-year-old Venezuelan, who is also a singer, dancer, and model, and had a lead role on the Colombian Nickelodeon show Yo soy Franky, played Cora on The Moodys, and Maria Salazar on Deadly Class this year.
Ana Villafañe
Ana Villafañe was the actress chosen to portray Gloria Estefan in the Broadway musical On Your Feet!, but the Cuban-Salvadorian, Miami native has also worked in film and on TV. She plays Dr. Valentina Castro on the medical drama New Amsterdam, was Catalina in 2011’s Magic City Memoirs, and Diana Barea on the comedy Sunnyside.
Stephanie Beatriz
Stephanie Beatriz is another Latina actress to have on your radar. The Argentina-born daughter of a Bolivian mother and Colombian father, (who also has German ancestry), is currently Rosa Diaz on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and had roles on other shows including One Day at a Time, and The Closer. Stephanie also played Gloria’s sister, Sonia, on Modern Family, and is slated to play Carla in the upcoming film, In the Heights.
Andrea Londo
Next on our list of Latinx actors to pay attention to is Mexican Andrea Londo. The 27-year-old played Maria Salazar in the third season of the Netflix show Narcos, was Cynthia in the 2018 version of Superfly (among several other roles), and has several projects that are in the post-production stage.
Cierra Ramirez
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Mexican-Colombian Cierra Ramirez is a 24-year-old actress, singer, and producer from Sugar Land, Texas. She is known for playing Mariana Adams-Foster on the show The Fosters, and her starring role in the film, Girl in Progress (alongside Eva Mendes and Patricia Arquette). Good Trouble, a spin-off of The Fosters, starring Ramirez, is currently in its second season.
Camila Morrone
Camila Morrone is an Argentinian actress and model, who has appeared in the following films: Bukowski (2013), Never Goin’ Back (2018), Death Wish (2018), and Mickey and the Bear (2019). Morrone is slated to appear in the TV adaptation of the best-selling book Daisy Jones & The Six, which is currently in pre-production.
Ana Brenda Contreras
The final Latina actress on the list that we suggest you keep an eye out for in Hollywood is Ana Brenda Contreras. The 32-year-old Mexicana has had several roles in both Spanish language TV and film, including in the novelas Teresa, and Juro que te amo, and the film El que busca encuentra. But she forayed into English roles with her 2018-2019 starring turn as Cristal Jennings in the second season of the Dynasty remake.