Sofia Vergara Talks Lack Of Roles For Latinas

Sofia Vergara has some thoughts about opportunities for Latin actors, actresses, and directors in modern film and television, and she shared them in an interview with Cosmopolitan for Latinas. Sofia Vergara talked diversity in the entertainment industry with the magazine, and explained,

There aren't as many roles for Latinas as we would want there to be, but we shouldn’t be complaining because a Latin girl just won a Golden Globe, a Latin director just won an Oscar. We should be very happy that there are people out there who are doing things and being recognized.

For a refresher, the awards that Vergara is referring to are Gina Rodriguez winning a Golden Globe for her role on Jane the Virgin, and Alejandro González Iñárritu winning an Oscar for directing Birdman. Without question, it is a wonderful thing that there has been more recognition for talented big-name Latin players in the entertainment game. Vergara is spot on about that point. However, just because there has been more inclusion in recent years does not mean that people should stop pushing for more diversity when it comes to both roles for actors and behind-the-camera jobs. So it is a bit worrying that Vergara appears to be connecting that push with "complaining."

After all, just because a few Latin actors and directors have achieved great success in recent times does not mean that it's no longer an uphill battle for other Latin actors and directors to get jobs. As per the 2015 Hollywood Diversity Report, released by UCLA, ethnic minorities, who make up nearly 40 percent of the total United States population, only got 17 percent of lead roles in film back in 2013. Sobering statistics like that should serve as a constant reminder that the entertainment industry still has a long way to go in terms of representing people who come from different backgrounds. Awards for Rodriguez and Iñárritu, among others, while encouraging, do not completely solve this issue. So why stop talking about it?

We have come a long way from where we were to where we are in current times. Now, it is only a question of how we can move forward, so that the faces we see on television and film reflect a more accurate picture of the melting pot that is our great country. So making a real effort to push more diversity on the big and small screen should not be seen as complaining, it should be seen as progressing and moving along with the times.

Image: Getty Images