Barbie’s America Ferrera accepted the SeeHer Award at the 2024 Critics Choice Awards with an encouraging speech, recognizing Jenna Ortega, Selena Gomez in her address.
America Ferrera accepted her SeeHer award with yet another moving speech, following up her stunning monologue in Barbie, which ended up being one of the film’s highlights. Actresses who support gender equality and portray minorities on screen are recognized with this award.
“Thank you so much to the Critics Choice Association!” said the 34-year-old after accepting the prize from her co-star Margot Robbie. People’s perceptions of and appreciation for the stories we present are shaped by your strong voices. You have my sincere gratitude for this distinction.
It means so much to me to be recognized for my contributions to more realistic representations of women and girls.
because, as a first-generation Honduran-American growing up, I was enamored with theater, cinema, and television and yearned to contribute to a storytelling history in which I could not see myself represented,” she continued.
In addition, Ferrera discussed the dearth of Latina representation in Hollywood, stating, “Of course, I could feel myself in characters who were strong and complex, but these characters rarely, if ever, looked like me.”
“I longed to see myself and other like-minded people represented fully on screen. It seemed unthinkable that someone could pursue a career playing fully realized Latina roles when I first began working more than 20 years ago, the actress remarked.
“But because of writers, directors, producers & executives daring enough to rewrite outdated stories and challenge deeply entrenched biases, I and a few of my sister colleagues have been superemly blessed,” she said, praising the filmmakers who have helped to increase the representation of minorities in films.
We were able to introduce some quite complex Latina characters as a result. Personas I never could have imagined as a child. But I can see her now,” she remarked.
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants actress stated that she now sees her growing in the next generation of talent, like my dear Ariana Greenblatt, who plays my daughter in Barbie, Jenna Ortega, and Selena. She also listed other Latina singers and actresses in Hollywood.
