They come from Ghana, the Dominican Republic, Somalia, Puerto Rico and all over the place in between. There are about 6 million people of Afro-Hispanic descent living in the United States, which is 2% of the adult population. Afro-Latinx actors are as wealthy and diverse because the places they arrive from – and so they are proving that they’ve a spot in the entertainment industry. Despite a long time of underrepresentation and typification, these Afro-Latinx talents are breaking boundaries and barriers.

Prominent Afro-Latin actors

MJ Rodriguez

MJ Rodriguez is best known for her role as Blanca Evangelista, an HIV-positive dancer, nail technician and nurse on the critically acclaimed FX series “Pose.” The Afro-Puerto Rican made history as the primary transgender actress to win a Golden Globe and the primary Emmy nomination in a significant category. Off-screen, she sang the role of Audrey in the Pasadena Playhouse productionJust a little shop of horrors.”

Laza Alonso

Before Cuban-American Laz Alonso hit the silver screen, he may very well be found on Wall Street working as an investment banker. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Alonso got his start in the entertainment industry as a BET and NYLA host before getting his big break in 2009 playing Fenix ​​Calderon in the fourth “Fast & Furious” film. He continued this activity as Tsu’tey in the sci-fi hit “Avatar.” The Howard University graduate has also played various roles on television shows.

Tessa Thompson

Tessa Thompson, of Afro-Panamanian descent, rose to fame as Sam White in “Dear White People” and continued her success that very same yr in Ava DuVernay’s “Selma.” Previously, she appeared in Tyler Perry’s film adaptation of “For Colored Girls” – a touching drama a few group of black women in New York. Thompson was raised in each Los Angeles and Brooklyn, and credits her mother with helping her discover her identity: “My mom is a lady of color, although she will not be easily identified as one, and I feel like due to that she has all the time given me space to find my identity; get in touch with who I’m.”

Rosario Dawson

Rosario Dawson, originally from Cuba and Africa, played her first major role in 1995 in the independent film “Kids” about promiscuous teenagers from New York. In the early 2000s, she was busy with appearances in “Men in Black II”, “Rent” and “Seven Pounds”. She returned to her independent film roots to star alongside Vanessa Hudgens in “Gimme Shelter.”

Gina Torres

Spanish-speaking and opera singer Gina Torres has used her skills on major television shows, including “Suits” and “9-1-1: Lone Star.” In addition to being the foremost character, she has played supporting roles in series akin to “24”, “Gossip Girl” and “The Vampire Diaries”. Torres can be an executive producer of her own spin-off series, “Pearson,” inspired by Jessica Pearson’s character from “Suits.”

Amara La Negra

Diana Danelys De Los Santos, often known as Amara La Negra, sang on the age of 4 on the Spanish-language show “Sabado Gigante” because the only black forged member. De Los Santos’ musical profession included the hit “Ayy”, but she experienced persecution on account of her skin color. In “Love & Hip Hop: Miami,” De Los Santos tackled colorism as an Afro-Latinx.

Colman Domingo

Colman Domingo’s breakthrough role got here as Mr. Bones in the Tony Award-winning musical “The Scottsboro Boys.” His riveting performance caught the eye of director Barry Jenkins, who forged him in the Oscar-winning film “If Beale Street Could Talk.” Domingo’s profession took off much more when he played a charismatic preacher in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” earning widespread acclaim and cementing his status as some of the dynamic and versatile actors of his generation. Domingo is of Belizean and Guatemalan descent.

Jharrell Jerome

Jharrel Jerome quickly rose to fame in 2016 when he was forged as young Kevin in the Oscar-nominated film “Moonlight.” Director Ava DuVernay noticed him during an audition for “When They See Us” and offered him the role of Korey Wise. As a result, Jerome became the primary Afro-Latino and Dominican to win an Emmy in an acting category.

Dasha Polanco

Dascha Polanco, an actress born in the Dominican Republic, dazzled in the years 2013-2019 with the role of Daya Diaz in “Orange is the New Black”. In 2021, she was chosen to play the role of Cuca, considered one of the salon ladies in the screen adaptation of the Latin hip-hop musical “In the Heights”. Her voice will also be heard in the animated series “Świat Karma”.

Liza Colon-Zayas

Liza Colón-Zayas has earned a popularity as a flexible actress through her work on stage, most notably in the acclaimed one-woman show “Sistah Supreme.” Her talent caught the eye of director Steven Soderbergh, which led to roles on television series akin to “David Makes a Man” and “In Treatment.” In 2023, she gained widespread recognition for her role as Tina on the hit show “Bear”, showcasing her dynamic range and securing her place as a outstanding artist in the industry.

The way forward for Afro-Latinx representation in Hollywood

There is all the time a necessity for more diverse storytelling in Hollywood, and Afro-Latinx actors are poised to proceed to fill that gap. These talented creators are changing the narrative about diversity in TV and film while opening doors for others who appear to be them.

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