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Summary
There are many famousPuerto Ricanactors whom audiences will know from their appearances in Academy Award - win film , mega - blockbuster franchises , and smaller but memorable movies . A large island southeast of Florida , Puerto Rico retains a unique culture that mixes factor of mainland USA , Europe , Africa , and South America . Music , dance , cuisine , and sports are all important word form of Puerto Rican identity . Movies and television also constitute an important part of Puerto Rican culture , with Spanish - linguistic process programs being the most democratic in the bilingual territorial dominion .
doer suffer in Puerto Rico and those who are Puerto Rican descendants let in prolific , award - win natural endowment who have been a part of just about every genre and character of movie . Action films , animation , in high spirits - concept indie drachm , and record - breaking blockbuster have all featured Puerto Rican actors in small and major roles . Some of the most famous Puerto Rican histrion , that is both those born on the island and those with Puerto Rican family tree , have their fair share of films that worked and others that did n’t , but their best comprise memorable entries in cinematic history .
Zoe Saldana has made a life history out of wreak some of the toughest characters ever put on CRT screen , with these being complete badasses .
10Rosario Dawson (Unstoppable)
Rosario Dawson Plays Connie Hooper In Unstoppable (2010)
Cast
Rosario Dawson was support in New York City to parents of Puerto Rican , Taino , Cuban and African descent . Her celluloid life history start in 1995 with the coming - of - old age dramaKidsas Ruby , and she quickly began appearing in many more productions , notably in the Disney+Star WarsseriesAhsokaas the deed part . Dawson has a knack for playing badass charactersand can bring gravitas to every theatrical role without losing her humanity .
Her good role allows her to twist her ability to see to it a room and also be a well - rounded character able of humor and exposure . InUnstoppable , Dawson plays Connie Hooper , the point of contact between the runaway train conductors and emergency rescue workers on the primer . She ’s at her cool , smartest , and most subtle here .
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9Luis Guzmán (Boogie Nights)
Luis Guzmán Plays Maurice Rodriguez In Boogie Nights (1997)
Luis Guzmán is a Puerto Rican - born actor whose most well - do it role is also his best . Guzmán playact Maurice Rodriguez inBoogie Nights , an ensemble dramatic comedy . Maurice is a nightclub owner and a incessant bearing in the pic . play alongside the memorable performances of Julianne Moore , Mark Wahlberg , and Burt Reynolds , Guzmán has his own unique and singular performance . Guzmán has move inmany Paul Thomas Anderson movies , includingMagnoliaandPunch - Drunk Love . principally a funny actor , Guzmán inserts pathos into any of his performances , and his knack - blackguard spirit enjoin a lot without him verbalize a word .
8Rosie Perez (Fearless)
Rosie Perez Plays Carla Rodrigo In Fearless (1993)
abide in Brooklyn , New York , both of Rosie Perez ’s parents are from Puerto Rico . Perez come to interior attention for her entry office inthe Spike Lee classicDo the Right Thingas Tina . Only four years later on , Perez earned an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe nominating speech for Best Supporting Actress inFearless , her best function .
As Carla Rodrigo , Perez create a whole young variety of character , a plane clash survivor who is coloured and active , rather than frightened and jolty . It ’s the foundation of her career conk forwards . Perez often portrays a tough - talking , Brooklyn - stress character whose nomenclature and history contradict a softness , humor , and grace that can be found in films swan fromThe CounselortoPineapple Express .
7Jennifer Lopez (Hustlers)
Jennifer Lopez Plays Ramona Vega In Hustlers (2019)
Jennifer Lopez may be best have sex for her Grammy - nominated songs , but the Puerto Rican entertainer has an impressive and acclaimed acting career to go along with her medicine . Born in the Bronx to Puerto Rican parent , Lopez began acting before her melodic career took off , with performances inMoney TrainandJack . Her cinematic magnanimous break came withher moving performance as the titular singer inSelena , a role which earned her a Golden Globe nomination .
As a fertile player , Lopez has been a part of great deal of critically panned films and boxful business office togs . No matter her stuff though , Lopez never mails in a performance and is often the good part of her picture show . Every Jennifer Lopez moviehas something exciting in it because of her energy . attend no further thanHustlers , her good film , where she earned a Golden Globe and SAG nomination for her patronise role as Ramona Vega . It ’s a nuanced , funny , and emotional performance that express how impressive her tip performing can be .
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6Lin-Manuel Miranda (Mary Poppins Returns)
Lin-Manuel Miranda Plays Jack In Mary Poppins Returns (2018)
Lin - Manuel Miranda is an actor , director , songwriter , and singer of Puerto Rican descent . His career started on the stage , which leave in one of the magnanimous pop culture phenomenons of the 2010s , Hamilton . The musical rocketed him into stardom , and soon he was write the Academy Award - nominated soundtracks forMoanaandEncanto , as well as directingTick , Tick … Boom!It ’s easygoing to bury this multi - gifted Maker is also an splendid screen actor .
His best role is in theMary PoppinssequelMary Poppins Returns . There , he plays Jack , a cockney lamplighter and the substitute for Bert in the original film . Miranda ’s singing and dancing are superb , as to be gestate , and his animated and confident playacting fit in well with the colorful earth of the film .
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5Zoe Saldaña (Avatar)
Zoe Saldaña Plays Neytiri In Avatar (2009)
Zoe Saldaña is of Puerto Rican and Dominican heritage and a fixture of modern smash hit moving-picture show . With safe looks , telling physicality , and cryptical and emotional acting talent , Saldaña can slot into just about any movie . That may be why her use as Neytiri in the firstAvataris her best . She gets to show off her long suit and physical capabilities in the role and is the worked up core of the film , acting through bed of CGI .
What ’s more , her striking and singular visual aspect is essential for a character who is completely motion - captured . Her control of her face bring Neytiri to biography as much as any visual effect . Saldaña is a staple of franchise films , starring in the MCU as Gamora , Pirates of the Caribbeanas Anamaria , andStar Trekas Nyota Uhura .
4Raul Julia (Kiss Of The Spider Woman)
Raul Julia Plays Valentin Arregui In Kiss Of The Spider Woman (1985)
Kiss of the Spider Woman is a 1985 play directed by Héctor Babenco . The photographic film star William Hurt and Raul Julia as two prisoners in a South American jail , one a political activist and the other a cheery gentleman’s gentleman . As they share their biography stories and experience , their conversations expose deeper truths about freedom and the human experimental condition . Hurt ’s functioning garner him an Academy Award for Best Actor .
Born in Puerto Rico , Raul Julia is a four - clip Golden Globe - nominated actor . While many may knowJulia for his function as M. Bison inStreet Fighter , which has become a bit of a meme , Julia ’s career extends much further back than that 1994 cinema . He first appear in the 1971 filmThe Panic in Needle Park , which also featured Al Pacino ’s first leading use . Julia ’s career continued on , andhe rack up three Golden Globe nominationsforMoon overParador , Tempest , and his best film , Kiss of the Spider Woman .
InKiss of the Spider Woman , Julia play a left-wing subversive sent to a Brazilian prison during a military absolutism . There , he receive and befriends an apolitical trans inmate ( William Hurt ) . The film realize four Academy Award nomination , with Hurt winning for Best Actor . Julia is mesmerizing in his role and has unbelievable control over a difficult part . In most of his carrying into action , Julia portrays a cool stiffness with a boiling energy underneath .
3Rita Moreno (West Side Story)
Rita Moreno Plays Anita In West Side Story (1961)
West Side Story is a classic American musical plastic film directed by Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise . The motion picture is an adaption of William Shakespeare ’s Romeo and Juliet , set in New York City ’s Upper West Side . The story revolve around the contention between two gangs , the Jets and the Sharks , and the tragical romanticism between Tony , a former Jet , and Maria , the sister of the Sharks ' loss leader .
Born in Puerto Rico , Rita Moreno is the first Latin American woman to make headway an Oscarand is an EGOT winner as well . immensely gifted and prolific , it ’s difficult to say Moreno ’s best performance , but her part as Anita inWest Side Story , for which she win the Best back Actress Academy Award , is likely her most memorable . The cinema went 10 for 11 at the Oscars that class , but Moreno has been in enough more prize fare . Her skills have interpret her bit in films since 1950 , and she ’s never quit , appearing in 2023’sFast Xas Abuelita Toretto .
2Benicio Del Toro (Traffic)
Benicio Del Toro Plays Javier Rodriguez Rodriguez In Traffic (2000)
Traffic is a plastic film directed by Steven Soderbergh that examines the complex macrocosm of drug trafficking through cross tale . It rivet on the efforts of police enforcement , the effectual organisation , and individuals connected to both side of the drug craft . The film asterisk Michael Douglas , Benicio del Toro , and Catherine Zeta - Jones , among others , and presents a multifaceted scene of drug - associate issues and their permeating social impact .
Puerto Rican - born Benicio del Toro is an award - winning actor with function with talent to sunburn . He has been nominated for two Academy Awards , both in the Best Actor class , for his performances in21 GramsandTraffic . His role inTrafficas Javier Rodriguez Rodríguez , a Mexican police police officer , earned him the Oscar as well as the Golden Globe and SAG awards . Del Toro also has memorable performance in the MCU as The Collector , Star Warsas D.J. , andSicarioas Alejandro Gillick .
Del Toro ’s cutthroat acting expressive style , gravelly , almost slur vox , and piercing gaze make him thoroughgoing for villainous and criminal roles , but he is capable of limn the full range of a function of human emotions on screen . He can credibly frighten a take cartel bravo inSicariojust as easily as he can believably fall in erotic love with an fine art model inThe French Dispatch .
1José Ferrer (Cyrano De Bergerac)
José Ferrer plays Cyrano de Bergerac in the film of the same name, Cyrano de Bergerac (1950)
Cyrano de Bergerac , channelise by Michael Gordon , star José Ferrer in the titular role as the eloquent and large - nosed fencer . countersink in 17th - century France , the plastic film follow Cyrano ’s struggles with unanswered lovemaking for the beautiful Roxane , while aiding his ally Christian in winning her heart . base on Edmond Rostand ’s Hellenic play , this adaptation is renowned for Ferrer ’s compelling carrying out .
José Ferrer is a Puerto Rican - carry actor andthe first Hispanic actor to take in an Academy Award . He take in this Best Actor role for his performance as the titular character inCyrano de Bergerac . This dangerous undertaking comedy film , base on the play of the same name , sees Ferrer as the gifted and fun - love nobleman turn soldier who has low confidence in his appearance due to his prominently large nozzle . The flick was total to the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress ( viaThe Film Stage).
Ferrer earned two more Academy Award nominations over his career . He was nominate for Best Supporting Actor for his performance inJoan of Arcas The Dauphin , Charles VII , which was also his feature film introduction . Ferrer was by and by nominated for Best Actor for his role as Henri de Toulouse - Lautrec inMoulin Rogue . With a career spanning nigh 60 old age , Ferrer is not just one of the most celebratedPuerto Ricanactors or even Hispanic actors ever , but one of the most talented actor to ever appear on the screen .
