Actress Sofia Vergara has made historical past on the Emmys as the primary Latina girl to be nominated for greatest lead actress in a restricted sequence for her position in Netflix’s “Griselda.”
The nomination comes after Vergara has battled a double-edged sword for years, together with her expertise and Colombian accent a part of the trail she has taken to taking part in Gloria Pritchett on Modern Family.
While Modern Family has received 22 Primetime Emmy Awards and garnered 85 nominations since its debut in 2009, Vergara has been vocal in regards to the limitations the business has positioned on her due to her accent.
Sofia Vergara has stated, “I’m always looking for characters, because there’s not a lot I can play with this stupid accent,” “I can’t play a scientist or play ‘Schindler’s List,’ my acting work is kind of limited.”
With Salma Hayek as a uncommon exception, Latina actresses with accents usually discover themselves relegated to stereotypical roles just like the feisty maid or the sassy greatest buddy. Take Rosie Perez, for instance. The Puerto Rican actress identified for her roles in “Do the Right Thing” and Spike Lee’s “White Men Can’t Jump” has spoken out about how her Brooklyn Puerto Rican accent usually restricted the roles she was in a position to land. Her position in “White Men Can’t Jump” was initially supposed for an Italian or Irish American actress, however she in the end proved she was the proper match for the half.
“Yes, my accent is strong. Yes, I’m Brooklynite. Yes, I’m poor, but does that mean I should be limited to playing unintelligent, downtrodden, and embarrassing stereotypes?” she wrote in her 2014 memoir “Handbook for an Unexpected Life.”
The tendency for Americans to view accents by means of a biased lens has at all times been a problem for Latinx actors. Judgment of individuals with robust ethnic accents is a persistent downside and a prejudice that actors with British or Australian accents not often face. It’s a type of discrimination that must be eradicated.
While Perez, Hayek, and Vergara are plain stars, the identical could be stated for a lot of Latina actresses with robust accents. The business is hesitant to embrace the total spectrum of what Latina actresses can provide, creating boundaries for individuals who can’t (or received’t) shed their accents.
Sofia Vergara has additionally stated that being perceived as much less clever simply because her English isn’t excellent is annoying. “Did you know I’m good at Spanish?”
Then got here “Griselda,” a Netflix restricted sequence wherein Vergara embraces her heritage and accent, talking primarily in Spanish. In this position, she wasn’t simply allowed to — she was inspired to talk Spanish. It was on this position, taking part in the ruthless drug lord Griselda Blanco, that the world lastly noticed the total depth of Sofia’s performing expertise. While it’s unlucky {that a} drug trafficking narrative grew to become her platform, her efficiency was stellar and confirmed her skills past comedic roles.
This is a crucial level as a result of Latinas are an integral a part of American society and Spanish is a broadly spoken language. Diversifying illustration isn’t nearly casting; it’s about creating tales that put the Latino expertise on the heart, even when these tales are predominantly in Spanish. Latinos aren’t a distinct segment viewers; they’re a core a part of America, and Spanish is a major or secondary language for thousands and thousands.
Vergara’s Emmy nomination isn’t only a private triumph; it’s a beacon for change. Shows like “Narcos,” “La Casa de Papel,” and movies like “Roma” have confirmed that an viewers for tasks that characteristic Spanish dialogue not solely exists however could be a highly effective drive. It’s time to push the boundaries and embrace the richness of multilingual storytelling, creating the chance for extra productions that characteristic skills like Vergara’s in addition to rising Latinx stars.