Disclaimer/ Scope
Due to the fluidity of identity and labels, some of the following actors/actresses might have a different relationship to specific terminology and might not identify as Chicanx or Latinx-American. While some of them were born outside of the United States, their careers have been in Hollywood productions, thus qualifying their works to be included in the list.
Selected Actors
America Ferrera by ISBN: 9781604139679Date: 2010-09-01In just a few short years, America Ferrera has gone from being an unknown struggling actress to America's sweetheart, winning awards and accolades from critics and audiences alike. But there's more to her than her best-known role, television's Ugly Betty. In films such as Real Women Have Curves and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, she has not only redefined the role of Latinas in television and film, she has helped redefine what it means to be beautiful in Hollywood.
Carmen Miranda by ISBN: 9781844574339Date: 2013This title traces Carmen Miranda's origins as a radio singer, recording artist and film star in Brazil in the 1930s, before exploring in depth her Hollywood screen roles and the construction of her long-lasting star persona in the U.S.
Eva Longoria by ISBN: 9780766069930Date: 2015-07-30From soap operas to sitcoms, Mexican-American actress Eva Longoria is a familiar face on television. Far more than just a superstar, Eva is committed to raising awareness about issues facing the American Latino community. Discover the secrets of how she turned her struggles into success and what she is giving back to her community.
Handbook for an Unpredictable Life by ISBN: 9780307952394Date: 2014-02-25Oscar-nominated actress Rosie Perez's never-before-told story of surviving a harrowing childhood and of how she found success--both in and out of the Hollywood limelight. Rosie Perez first caught our attention with her fierce dance in the title sequence of Do the Right Thing and has since defined herself as a funny and talented actress who broke boundaries for Latinas in the film industry.
Invention of Dolores Del Rio by ISBN: 9780816634095Date: 2000-05-16Joanne Hershfield explores the intersection of ethnicity, gender, and stardom in American popular culture through the lens of del Río's successful and unusually lengthy career, which lasted until the 1960s. Throughout this astute and imaginative case study, Hershfield looks at del Río's Hollywood films in relation to shifting ideologies about nationality, gender, and race between the 1920s and 1960s, offering an important contribution to the debate surrounding Hollywood's ability to both reflect the nation's racial and sexual obsessions and influence its perceptions about ethnic and gender identity.
Lupe Vélez: the Life and Career of Hollywood's "Mexican Spitfire" by ISBN: 9780786461394Date: 2012-07-10Here is the first extensive, full-length biography and career record on the life and work of Mexican whirlwind Lupe Velez (1908-1944). Included are never-before-told family stories and photographs from Lupe's second cousin, and an analysis of the actress's lasting influence on popular culture. The foreword by Oscar-winning film historian Kevin Brownlow focuses on the fact and fancy behind Lupe Velez's colorful public image.
The Queen of Technicolor: Maria Montez in Hollywood by 
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ISBN: 0813182581Date: 2022-07-26Best known for her appearances in the six Technicolor "Neverland" movies, Maria Montez is a film icon. Growing up as one of ten children in the Dominican Republic, her rise as a film star in the United States seemed unlikely. With her thick Dominican accent, Montez struggled to make herself intelligible to an American audience. However, unlike some of her Latin contemporaries, she did not present a caricature of her culture or use her accent for comedic purposes, giving her credibility with a Latin American audience. Zimmerman skillfully recounts the story of Montez's fiery ambition and her ascent to Hollywood fame, giving her the opportunity to live on in public memory.
Rita Moreno by ISBN: 9780451416377Date: 2013-03-05In this luminous memoir, Rita Moreno shares her remarkable journey from a young girl with simple beginnings in Puerto Rico to Hollywood legend and one of the few performers, and the only Hispanic, to win an Oscar, Grammy, Tony and two Emmys.
Salma Hayek by ISBN: 9781422297834Date: 2015-02-03Salma Hayek is the first and only Mexican actress to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress. She has broken down racial barriers in Hollywood, establishing herself as the most influential Hispanic woman in the movie industry.
Almost White by ISBN: 9781401943127Date: 2013-09-16In Almost White, award-winning writer, actor, director, comedian, playwright, and producer Rick Najera explores what it means to be a Latino against the ever-changing backdrop of his life as a Hollywood creative. A bona fide chameleon, this L.A.-based everyman is "Mexican hyphen American" or, as he wryly puts it,"almost white."
Beyond Paradise by ISBN: 9781604734577Date: 2010-04-19The first Latin American actor to become a superstar, Ramon Novarro was for years one of Hollywood's top actors. Born Ramon Samaniego to a prominent Mexican family, he arrived in America in 1916, a refugee from civil wars. By the mid-1920s, he had become one of MGM's biggest box office attractions, starring in now-classic films, including The Student Prince, Mata Hari, and the original version of Ben-Hur. Yet, despite his considerable professional accomplishments, Novarro's enduring hold on fame stems from his tragic death. Beyond Paradise presents a full picture of the man who made motion picture history.- A Book byISBN: 9780688003425Date: 1976-01-01A Book, by Desi Arnaz is the memoir of "Ricky Ricardo"--the man who loved Lucy. He was a Cuban-born American actor, bandleader, and film and television producer.
Cheech Is Not My Real Name by ISBN: 9781455592340Date: 2017-03-14Cheech Marin came of age at an interesting time in America and became a self-made counterculture legend with his other half, Tommy Chong. This insightful memoir delves into how Cheech dodged the draft, formed one of the most successful comedy duos of all time, became the face of the recreational drug movement with the film Up in Smoke, forged a successful solo career with roles in The Lion King and, more recently, Jane the Virgin, and became the owner of the most renowned collection of Chicano art in the world.
The Films of Anthony Quinn by ISBN: 9780806504704Date: 1975-03-01Discusses the life and career of the Mexican-American actor who has starred in such movies as "Viva Zapata," "Lawrence of Arabia," and "The Shoes of the Fisherman."
José Ferrer by ISBN: 9781496816627Date: 2020-09-30José Ferrer (1912-1992) became the first Puerto Rican actor to win the Best Actor Academy Award for the 1950 film version of Cyrano de Bergerac. Proud of his Puerto Rican heritage, he donated his Oscar to the University of Puerto Rico and championed the work of Latino writers. He continuously evolved, stretching his talents. Ferrer's life is an American success story and a testament to reinvention and resilience.
Reflections by ISBN: 9780385128780Date: 1980-03-01Ricardo Gonzalo Pedro Montalbán y Merino was a Mexican-born American radio, television, theatre and film actor. He had a career spanning seven decades (motion pictures from 1943 to 2006) and multiple notable roles.
The Works of John Leguizamo by ISBN: 9780060520700Date: 2008-01-08Alternately hilarious and poignant, always candid and searingly intelligent, The Works of John Leguizamo is a must-have for fans of this inimitable performer.
