Latinas nominated for the Academy Awards over the years

Monica Barbaro was nominated for best supporting actress for her work as Joan Baez in “A Complete Unknown.” While Barbaro has been working for decades in film and television, starring alongside icons like Tom Cruise and Arnold Schwarzenegger, her Oscar nomination was one of this year’s best surprises and promises an exciting career for her.

Zoe Saldaña is a name associated with blockbusters and success, being one of the few actors who’s been involved with huge projects like “Avatar” and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Her nomination for best supporting actress for her work in “Emilia Perez” has been welcomed by critics and her peers, granting her some recognition in an industry that she’s been involved with for decades. 

Fernanda Torres is nominated for best actress for her work in “I’m Still Here.” The Brazilian actress is following in her mother’s footsteps; back in 1998, Fernanda Montenegro became the first Latin American actress to be nominated for best actress at the Academy Awards. 

America Ferrera was nominated for best supporting actress for her work in “Barbie.” She’s one of the most prolific actresses of her generation, being involved with beloved films like “Real Women Have Curves,” “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” and cult hits like “Ugly Betty“.

Ana de Armas was nominated for best actress for her work in “Blonde,” where she became the first Cuban to play the role of Marilyn Monroe.

Mexican actress Yalitza Aparicio became an overnight star following her nomination as best actress for the film “Roma.” Since, she’s starred in shorts, movies and TV shows, including “Los Espookys“.

Marina de Tavira was nominated for best supporting actress for her work in “Roma.”

Lupita Nyong’o became a household name in a year. The actress exploded in fame and notoriety following her work in “12 Years a Slave” and has gone on to star in Marvel movies, independent projects, horror films, and much more.

Argentinean actress Berenice Bejo surprised the world when she was nominated in 2011 for her work in “The Artist,” where she played a rising young actress in the era of black and white films, when silent films began to be displaced by “talkies.” Since, Bejo has starred in all manner of films, including “The Past,” in 2013, which awarded her the best actress award at the Cannes Film Festival and a nomination for a Cesar.

In 2006, beloved Mexican actress Adriana Barraza was nominated for an Oscar for her work in “Babel,” the film directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu and starring a talented cast that includes Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Gael Garcia Bernal, and more.

Colombian actress Catalina Sandino Moreno was nominated for best actress in 2004, for her work in “Maria Full of Grace.” The film is a US – Colombian production and was one of the surprise hits of the Oscar season, particularly Sandino Moreno, who received a Silver Bear for her work at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Salma Hayek had been working in Hollywood for little under a decade when she met universal acclaim through her work in “Frida,” where she played the beloved Mexican artist. Hayek produced the film and played a key part in its development, acquiring access to Kahlo’s original work and assembling a cast for the film. The hard work paid off, with Hayek becoming the first Mexican to be nominated for best actress at the Oscars.

Years before her daughter received the same honor, Fernanda Montenegro became the first Brazilian to be nominated for best actress at the Academy Awards for her work in “Central Station,” a film that follows the friendship that forms between a young boy and a middle-aged woman.

Norma Aleandro is one of the most notorious Argentinean actresses of all time. In 1987, her work reached greater heights with “Gaby: A True Story,” a Mexico and US coproduction that chronicled the lives of Gabriela Brimmer and Florencia Sanchez Morales, with Aleandro playing the latter role.

Rita Moreno needs no introduction, particularly when it comes to her Oscars story. The Puerto Rican actress won the Oscar for “West Side Story,” breaking a glass ceiling for women and Latinos and all performers who’d previously never seen themselves represented in Hollywood.

Mexican actress Katy Jurado was known for her film work in the 50’s and 60’s, starring in various popular Western films. In 1954, she was nominated for “Broken Lance,” becoming the first Latin American actress to be nominated for the Oscars.