Latinos are one of the most underrepresented groups in film, with Latino actors landing only 4.9% of all speaking roles, according to a recent USC study. When they are on screen, they’re more likely to be sexualized, costumed in revealing clothing, and generally portrayed as objects of desire. Which is why Gina Rodriguez’s win is so important. She won for portraying a living, breathing, complex person, not a one-dimensional caricature. Her victory is evidence that people want to watch stories about real people, not stereotypes, regardless of their ethnicity. Hollywood might finally be slowly opening up to telling different stories, and moments like this could be the push it needs.
Gina says it best:
Amen.
