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America Ferrera Brings Diversity to New Barbie Movie
Honduran-American actress and producer America Ferrera , is set to star in the new “Barbie” movie, which promises to be a groundbreaking addition to the world of cinema. Ferrera is no stranger to breaking barriers. From her breakout role as Ana in the 2002 film “Real Women Have Curves” to her starring role in the hit TV series Ugly Betty, Ferrera has always been a champion for diversity and representation.
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Who is America Ferrera?
America Ferrera is a talented actress and producer who has been active in the entertainment industry since the early 2000s. She is best known for her leading role as Betty Suarez in the hit TV show Ugly Betty, which earned her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Series Musical or Comedy. Ferrera has also appeared in a number of films, including “Real Women Have Curves,” “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” and “How to Train Your Dragon.”
America Ferrera’s role in the “Barbie” movie
Now, Ferrera is set to make history again with her role in the upcoming Barbie movie. Ferrera will play Gloria, a Latina mom and assistant to Mattel’s CEO. The film, which is directed by Greta Gerwig, has been praised for its diverse cast and its potential to challenge traditional gender stereotypes.
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The film is a live-action adaptation of the popular toy line, and will follow Barbie as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery. In a recent interview with The Cut, Ferrera spoke about her excitement for the film and the importance of representation.
“I think it’s so important for young girls to see themselves reflected in the media,” she said. “And I think this movie is going to do that in a really fun and exciting way.”
The “Barbie” movie promises to be an important and diverse addition to the world of cinema. In addition to America Ferrera, the film features a star-studded and diverse cast playing numerous other Barbies, Kens, and humans. This includes Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Issa Rae, Ncuti Gatwa, Hari Nef, Simu Liu and Ritu Arya, among others. In talks with Los Angeles Times, the actress also defines Barbie as “an opportunity to change history.”
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According to Ferrera, the diversity of the film is incredibly important. The actress never played with a Barbie growing up because, like many women of color, the Latina didn’t feel a connection to the famous blonde doll with blue eyes and a thin white skin, and her family couldn’t afford to buy them.
In an interview with Refinery29, she said,
“I think it’s important that we’re not just talking about diversity, but that we’re actually seeing it on screen. And not just seeing it, but seeing it in a way that’s not tokenizing, that’s not just a nod to diversity, but that’s actually woven into the story.”
“As a mother, I was so thrilled that this movie was getting made because it’s a different world for young women and boys and non-binary people growing up in this day and age. To be seen and to feel like they can look up into the things that we value in our culture… and that they’re represented in it [the movie], means everything to us,” she added.
Ferrera has also spoken out about the importance of Latino representation in the film. In an interview with Mitu, she talked about how important it is to her that young Latinos see themselves represented on screen.
She said, “I couldn’t afford Barbies growing up, and I’m so grateful that now there’s a Barbie movie that represents Latinos.”
Mattel commemorated Ferrera by creating a doll of her character Gloria and, therefore, she became the first person of Central American descent to have a Barbie made out of them. In an interview with GMA, American said, “It’s such a big deal that we have Latino representation in such a big movie about such a dominant and influential icon like Barbie.”
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“I am so grateful to Greta [Gerwig] for writing the character Latina,” she added. “And inviting us to be part of the fun. Inviting us to be represented in this big, shiny, heartfelt, beautiful, hilarious world.”
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