Remember when Hollywood seemed to speak just one language? Those days are long gone – and thank goodness for that! As this year's Academy Awards approach, it's refreshing to see more and more Spanish surnames lighting up marquees and grabbing headlines in Tinseltown.
In this post, we'll explore 10 famous Spanish actresses whose talents have captured Hollywood's attention. Even better – if you're learning Spanish with Lingopie, you can catch many of their earlier performances right in our catalog!
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10 Famous Spanish Actresses In Hollywood
Salma Hayek
It would be impossible to start any such list without mentioning the first Mexican woman to be nominated for an Oscar.
She is now one of Hollywood's most influential producers, to the point that it's a bit hard to still think of her as an outsider. Before she was Frida, however, Salma had a long career playing telenovela villains and literary heroins alike.
Some of her best-remembered roles include Julia, a supporting character in El Coronel no tiene quien le escriba (Nobody writes to the Colonel) and Lola, the leading lady at La Gran Vida.
Here, she merges the latin bombshell and "manic pixie dream girl" tropes masterfully, as a waitress who saves a bus driver's life.
Úrsula Corberó
Úrsula Corberó skyrocketed to international fame as Tokyo in Money Heist (La Casa de Papel), but Spanish audiences had been following her stellar career for years. Before becoming the fierce bank robber we all know and love, this Barcelona-born actress was already a household name in Spain, starring in popular series like Física o Química and El Internado.
Looking to catch more of Corberó's dynamic performances in Spanish? Beyond Money Heist, you can find her in several Spanish shows, including the thriller El Árbol de la Sangre and the drama series Isabel. Now if you want to see her in a Hollywood film, be sure watch Snake Eyes!
Penelope Cruz
Penelope Cruz became famous in Hollywood next to Tom Cruise in Vanilla Sky. However, this was her second time playing that very same role: in 1997, she had starred in Abre los Ojos (Open your eyes), the original low-budget run of the 2001 blockbuster.
Penelope started working towards her current success very early on: she was only 14 when she landed her first modeling gig. Born and raised in Madrid, she has managed to steer clear from stereotypical roles, and landed star-billing roles in several artsy auteur films.
Despite being a household name now, she still calls Madrid home. Over the past couple of years, she has branched out her interest by designing fashion accessories.
Ana de Armas
Ana de Armas' meteoric rise in Hollywood might seem sudden to English-speaking audiences, but this Cuban-Spanish actress had already mastered her craft in Spanish cinema. Before captivating audiences as Marilyn Monroe in Blonde or stealing scenes in Knives Out, she was turning heads in Spanish hits like El Internado, a supernatural teen drama that ran for seven successful seasons.
Eiza González
Eiza González proves that telenovela stars can become Hollywood powerhouses. Before landing roles in blockbusters like Baby Driver and Godzilla vs. Kong, this Mexican actress was stealing hearts in Spanish-language television, most notably in the teen drama Lola, Érase Una Vez. Her transition from Mexico's sweetheart to international action star showcases the incredible range she's developed over her career.
Want to see where Eiza got her start? You can catch her early performances in Spanish telenovelas like Sueña conmigo and Amores verdaderos!
Sofia Vergara
Born in Colombia in 1972, Sofía Vergara's story is one of grit and openness so subsequently difficult challenges.
She was an outstanding telenovela actress before trying out her luck in the United States. Her modeling and acting career began when she was just 17, and by the late 90s, she had aready reached the peak of what local stardom would allow: she was an instantly-recognizable face as the co-host of two talk shows that were seen across the subcontinent via Univisión.
The next logical step in her career was to cross over into Hollywood – something she was at first hesitant to do out of fear of being stereotyped into "spicy Latina" roles.
However, she found a new niche in comedy next to Tyler Perry, taking on supporting roles in Meet the Browns and Madea goes to jail. However, the real consolidation of her career happened in Modern Family, where she imbues her seemingly-stereotypical role with surprising depth.
Maria Gabriela de Faria
Although not as instantly-recognizable as the other names on this list, Maria Gabriela de Faria is on her way of becoming one of the most talked-about Venezuelan names. This Caracas native started out as a soap opera diva after participating in the hit Toda una dama (A complete lady).
After coming to the United States, she was onboarded as part of Nickelodeon's new cadre of young stars. As the lead star of Deadly Class, she plays an assassin-in-training in this 80s-inspired TV series. Expect to hear more from her in the coming years.
Yalitza Aparicio
Before her Oscar nomination for Alfonso Cuarón's Roma, Yalitza Aparicio was a relatively minor, yet unconventional actress in her native Mexico.
Rather than pursuing traditional acting training, Yalitza's hopes lied on becoming a school teacher. Before being discovered for her role as housekeeper Cleo in Roma, she had been limited to stage productions at her university. Her soft, yet stoic personality earned her widespread critical acclaim and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
America Ferrera
America Ferrera might be your all-time favorite Ugly Betty, but this Honduran-American actress was making waves long before she donned those iconic braces. After her breakout role in Real Women Have Curves (2002), Ferrera became a champion for authentic Latin representation in Hollywood, proving that leading ladies come in all shapes and sizes.
Fast forward to today, and she's not just acting – she's directing, producing, and making Oscar history as the first Latina actress nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Barbie (2024). While most of her work is in English, you can catch her Spanish-speaking skills in several interviews and speeches where she passionately advocates for Latino rights and representation in entertainment.
Eva Mendes
Eva Mendes burst onto the Hollywood scene in the early 2000s with Training Day, but what many don't know is that this Cuban-American actress brings an authentic flair to her Spanish-speaking roles. While she often jokes about her "Spanglish" in interviews, Mendes has embraced her Latin roots throughout her career, appearing in both English and Spanish-language productions.
Though she's stepped back from acting in recent years to focus on family and her business ventures, you can still catch her speaking Spanish in several films and interviews on Lingopie. Her most notable Spanish-language appearances include heartfelt interviews on Spanish television where she discusses her Cuban heritage and her journey in Hollywood.
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Ready to Watch Your Favorite Spanish Actresses While Learning Spanish?
Let's be real – there's no better way to learn Spanish than by watching the shows and movies you actually want to watch. And now that you know these Hollywood stars started in Spanish-language productions, why not learn Spanish while watching their greatest early performances? It's like getting backstage access to their rise to fame, all while picking up authentic Spanish naturally.
Lingopie Team
On Lingopie, you can watch Spanish TV shows and movies with smart dual subtitles that help you learn as you watch. No flashcards, no boring exercises, just you enjoying amazing performances!
So what are you waiting for? Start learning Spanish the way it was meant to be learned – through incredible entertainment that keeps you coming back for more!
