In the US, Hollywood, whether it be in TV and/or Film, we always see a lack of diversity when Latinos and people of color are represented, even a couple of decades back.They only appeared when a director had to show a typical one-dimensional character belonging to a particular race.For instance, Latinas are only cast to portray a typical housekeeper or cleaning lady.
Hollywood must continue to represent Latinos and people of color in a better light, even in the 21st century.However, in the 90s, many Latina actors paved the way for the next generation of actors by pushing the boundaries of Hollywood typecast.
These actors have not only represented their heritage but also shown their remarkable acting skills.
Luna Lauren Veléz
In the 90s, most Latino characters were portrayed as drug lords and criminals, making it a significant breakthrough for a Latino to be presented as a law-abiding person. It happens when Afro-Latina, Luna Lauren Velézplays Detective Nina Moreno on the hit 90s show New York Undercover from 1995 to 1999. She was also part of other TV shows during the 90s.
Rosie Perez
You cannot talk about the breakthrough Latina starts without mentioning Rosie Perez. The Afro-Nuyorican was the most recognizable Latina face we saw on the small screen in the 90s, thanks to shows like New York Undercover, WIOU, and In Living Color. In that one, she famously choreographed The Fly Girls, including an unknown, Jennifer Lopez, in addition to using her acting chops. At one time, in Hollywood, Ms. Perez lived across the street from Ms. Colognne, unfortunately, although Ms. Colognne made an attempt to befriend her, she abstained from any conversation, not knowing who Ms. Colognne was at the time.
Miriam Colón
She was a Puerto Rican actress, founder and director of the Puerto Rican Traveling Theater in New York City. She was the frontier for opening more doors for Latina actresses. Beginning her career in the early 1950s, she performed on Broadway, later moving into television. She became well known on various television shows from the 1960s through the 2010s, including Sanford and Son and Gunsmoke. She is best known as Mama Montana, the mother of Al Pacino‘s title character in Scarface (1983). (This is despite the fact that the actors had an age gap of less than four years.) In 2014, she received the National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama. Ms. Colognne had the privilege to work personally with Mrs. Colon in her home as Ms. Colognne worked as an actress in her Puerto Rican Traveling Theater in NYC. They stayed in touch although, Ms. Colognne moved to Los Angeles, Mrs. Colon called her to ask her to help another actress, Elizabeth Peña, who was on her way to Los Angeles. Ms. Colognne did what she could to help her and after Ms. Colognne took her to different casting agents and introduced her to the Los Angeles scene, she did pretty good for herself, until her passing in 2014. Mrs. Colon died of complications from a pulmonary infection on March 3, 2017, at the age of 80.
Bernadette Colognne
Bernadette Colognne, “BC,” was born and raised in Bayamon, Puerto Rico; she was raised in NYC and had over two decades of hands-on experience in theater, television, and film.She has appeared in various 90s hit TV episodes, movies, and advertisements, including Pals, Family Medical Center, Hill Street Blues, The Best of Time, and The Jeffersons. She has played various roles, including lead, co-star, and guest star.
She is well-known for her incredible acting abilities and outstanding capabilities, and many firms contact her for projects. She earned her Master’s degree from Columbia University in New York City. Her accomplishment is that she has a Master’s degree and 75 credits beyond the Master’s to acquire a doctorate. She has received Women in Film recognition, a certificate from Bayamon PR for her charitable efforts, and her TV and film work.