Eva Longoria and Jessica Alba have added their names to a list of Latin actors who are demanding more from Hollywood. The pair join over 100 Latino actors and creatives who've signed their names to a letter that urges Hollywood to take steps to stop the erasure of Latin voices.
The open letter was released in the wake of a scandal that erupted following Odessa A'zion's casting in the film "Deep Cuts." While she dropped out of the film and apologized for her involvement, she had initially signed on to play the character of Zoe Gutierrez, who's described as of Mexican heritage.
“Recent casting decisions around the character Zoe Gutierrez in A24’s Deep Cuts have exposed a troubling pattern. We acknowledge and commend Odessa A’zion for listening, reflecting and deciding to exit the project and become an ally. Yet how did this happen?” reads the letter.
“The absence of Latina audition opportunities, and the choice to replace a clearly Latina character with a non-Latina actress, signals a broader, ongoing erasure of our community from the stories that define our culture. This is not about any one actor or project. It is about a system that repeatedly overlooks qualified Latino talent even as our identities, histories, and experiences fuel the most enduring stories.”
Other names of actors and creatives that signed the letter include Danny Ramirez, who's currently dating Alba, Gina Rodriguez, John Leguizamo, Gloria Calderon Kellett, Melissa Barrera, and more.
"Latino communities are already underrepresented and misrepresented in ways that distort reality and harm real people. Casting decisions carry real weight: they influence who is seen as worthy of authentic storytelling and who gets to tell those stories with care, nuance, and authority."
A list of concrete actions
Aside from detailing the plight of many actors and creatives across the industry, the letter provided a list of concrete actions that can be pursued by industry leaders, ensuring that more Latinos are included across all stages of the filmmaking process.
- Audition and hire more Latino actors for a diverse range of roles, including non-stereotypical leads.
- Hire Latino executives in your greenlighting rooms
- Include Latino voices as consultants, writers, and producers from the earliest stages of development
- Create and support pipelines: mentoring, scholarships, and opportunities that expand access all levels of the ecosystem