America Ferrera and Jennifer Lopez.Photo:GettyJennifer Lopezhas lovely things to say aboutAmerica Ferreraand the way she continues to represent the Latin community in Hollywood.The “Let’s Get Loud” singer, 54, introduced Ferrera, 39, at a special screening ofBarbiehonoring theSuperstoreactress’s role in the filmSaturday night at NeueHouse in Hollywood.“Barbie is all about empowerment. It’s about the magic of the stories we tell ourselves, about our inner imaginary little girl playtime fantasies that turn into our real life big girl dreams and the knowledge that we can be whoever we want to be…no matter if we’re a girl from the Bronx via Puerto Rico, from Los Angeles via Honduras, or from Mattel via the magical pink box,” Lopez said at the event.America Ferrera attends ELLE’s 2023 Women in Hollywood Celebration.Charley Gallay/Getty ImagesNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“There is no one in my mind that embodies this more on and off screen than my friend America Ferrera. She’s such an inspiration honestly. She’s such a constant in this business for Latinas for years and years and years already,” she continued.Lopez went on to say that she admires the younger actor’s activism and talent, but described her personality as “even more beautiful” than the work that she does.Jennifer Lopez.Backgrid"What she does for the Latino community, she shows up when we need her, motivating us to use our voices, and to advocate for a better world. And I’m happy to be one who can say to her, thank you. Thank you for all that you do. It matters," Lopez continued. “And we appreciate you. America, your role in this film is truly authentic.The love between the women was palpable as they hugged after Lopez spoke.Ferrera then introducedBarbie, but not before telling the crowd she was crying. “You would be crying too if JLo just said those things about you,” she said, adding that there was “no roadmap” for how to succeed as a Latin actress in Hollywood before Lopez paved the way.“We’re not just a footnote, we bring incredible value to why things resonate, why things are successful,” Ferrera said of the Latin community.BARBIE, from left: America Ferrera, Ariana Greenblatt, Margot Robbie, 2023.Warner Bros./Courtesy EverettShe then explained that playing the role of Gloria inGreta Gerwig’sBarbiewas important to her because she got to prove to the world that Latin stories didn’t always have to be traumatic.“When I said yes to doing this movie, it was personal and that it was a journey I wanted to go on. But it was a journey that I wanted for us. I wanted us to be in this and to be represented,” Ferrera concluded.At a Q&A session after the film. Ferrera said there was “purposefulness” in the role of Gloria, but “not tokenism.““I wasn’t in there to be a Latina. I got to be a whole person,” she said.
America Ferrera and Jennifer Lopez.Photo:Getty
Getty
Jennifer Lopezhas lovely things to say aboutAmerica Ferreraand the way she continues to represent the Latin community in Hollywood.The “Let’s Get Loud” singer, 54, introduced Ferrera, 39, at a special screening ofBarbiehonoring theSuperstoreactress’s role in the filmSaturday night at NeueHouse in Hollywood.“Barbie is all about empowerment. It’s about the magic of the stories we tell ourselves, about our inner imaginary little girl playtime fantasies that turn into our real life big girl dreams and the knowledge that we can be whoever we want to be…no matter if we’re a girl from the Bronx via Puerto Rico, from Los Angeles via Honduras, or from Mattel via the magical pink box,” Lopez said at the event.America Ferrera attends ELLE’s 2023 Women in Hollywood Celebration.Charley Gallay/Getty ImagesNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“There is no one in my mind that embodies this more on and off screen than my friend America Ferrera. She’s such an inspiration honestly. She’s such a constant in this business for Latinas for years and years and years already,” she continued.Lopez went on to say that she admires the younger actor’s activism and talent, but described her personality as “even more beautiful” than the work that she does.Jennifer Lopez.Backgrid"What she does for the Latino community, she shows up when we need her, motivating us to use our voices, and to advocate for a better world. And I’m happy to be one who can say to her, thank you. Thank you for all that you do. It matters,” Lopez continued. “And we appreciate you. America, your role in this film is truly authentic.The love between the women was palpable as they hugged after Lopez spoke.Ferrera then introducedBarbie, but not before telling the crowd she was crying. “You would be crying too if JLo just said those things about you,” she said, adding that there was “no roadmap” for how to succeed as a Latin actress in Hollywood before Lopez paved the way.“We’re not just a footnote, we bring incredible value to why things resonate, why things are successful,” Ferrera said of the Latin community.BARBIE, from left: America Ferrera, Ariana Greenblatt, Margot Robbie, 2023.Warner Bros./Courtesy EverettShe then explained that playing the role of Gloria inGreta Gerwig’sBarbiewas important to her because she got to prove to the world that Latin stories didn’t always have to be traumatic.“When I said yes to doing this movie, it was personal and that it was a journey I wanted to go on. But it was a journey that I wanted for us. I wanted us to be in this and to be represented,” Ferrera concluded.At a Q&A session after the film. Ferrera said there was “purposefulness” in the role of Gloria, but “not tokenism.““I wasn’t in there to be a Latina. I got to be a whole person,” she said.
Jennifer Lopezhas lovely things to say aboutAmerica Ferreraand the way she continues to represent the Latin community in Hollywood.
The “Let’s Get Loud” singer, 54, introduced Ferrera, 39, at a special screening ofBarbiehonoring theSuperstoreactress’s role in the filmSaturday night at NeueHouse in Hollywood.
“Barbie is all about empowerment. It’s about the magic of the stories we tell ourselves, about our inner imaginary little girl playtime fantasies that turn into our real life big girl dreams and the knowledge that we can be whoever we want to be…no matter if we’re a girl from the Bronx via Puerto Rico, from Los Angeles via Honduras, or from Mattel via the magical pink box,” Lopez said at the event.
America Ferrera attends ELLE’s 2023 Women in Hollywood Celebration.Charley Gallay/Getty Images
Charley Gallay/Getty Images
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“There is no one in my mind that embodies this more on and off screen than my friend America Ferrera. She’s such an inspiration honestly. She’s such a constant in this business for Latinas for years and years and years already,” she continued.
Lopez went on to say that she admires the younger actor’s activism and talent, but described her personality as “even more beautiful” than the work that she does.
Jennifer Lopez.Backgrid
Backgrid
“What she does for the Latino community, she shows up when we need her, motivating us to use our voices, and to advocate for a better world. And I’m happy to be one who can say to her, thank you. Thank you for all that you do. It matters,” Lopez continued. “And we appreciate you. America, your role in this film is truly authentic.
The love between the women was palpable as they hugged after Lopez spoke.
Ferrera then introducedBarbie, but not before telling the crowd she was crying. “You would be crying too if JLo just said those things about you,” she said, adding that there was “no roadmap” for how to succeed as a Latin actress in Hollywood before Lopez paved the way.
“We’re not just a footnote, we bring incredible value to why things resonate, why things are successful,” Ferrera said of the Latin community.
BARBIE, from left: America Ferrera, Ariana Greenblatt, Margot Robbie, 2023.Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett
Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett
She then explained that playing the role of Gloria inGreta Gerwig’sBarbiewas important to her because she got to prove to the world that Latin stories didn’t always have to be traumatic.
“When I said yes to doing this movie, it was personal and that it was a journey I wanted to go on. But it was a journey that I wanted for us. I wanted us to be in this and to be represented,” Ferrera concluded.
At a Q&A session after the film. Ferrera said there was “purposefulness” in the role of Gloria, but “not tokenism.”
“I wasn’t in there to be a Latina. I got to be a whole person,” she said.
source: people.com
