Some of you might know her from a young age with her role in the film Innocent Voices (Voces Inocentes), where she played a young girl living through the Salvadoran Civil War.
Gaitán is perhaps best known for playing Tata Escobar, the wife of Pablo Escobar, in the Netflix series Narcos in 2015.
© Paulina Gaitan
Barbara Carrera is not only one of the most beautiful models, but she is also widely known for her work as an actress during the 70s and 80s. She is best known for her portrayal of the villainous Fatima Blush in the James Bond film Never Say Never Again (1983), where she starred alongside Sean Connery. Her performance in this role earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Aside from her acting career, Barbara Carrera is also known for her work as an artist, having exhibited her paintings in various galleries. Despite her early success in Hollywood, Carrera has maintained a relatively low profile in recent years, focusing more on her art than on acting.
© Barbara Carrera
Carolina Guerra is a Colombian actress, model, and TV host. She first became famous after winning Miss Bogotá in 2005, which led to a successful career in modeling and television. In Colombia, she's known for hosting shows like Rock Dinner on MTV and acting in popular telenovelas such as Montecristo.
She gained international attention for her role as Ima in the American TV series Da Vinci’s Demons.
© Carolina Guerra
Roselyn Sánchez is a Puerto Rican actress, singer, model, and producer. Her role as Elena Delgado on the police drama Without a Trace made her a familiar face on American television. Sánchez has also appeared in a variety of films, including Rush Hour 2, where she played the love interest of Jackie Chan's character.
© Roselyn Sanchez
Daniella Alonso is perhaps best known for her role as Nora Clayton in the NBC series Revolution, where she played a key character in the post-apocalyptic drama.
Alonso also gained a lot of popularity for her roles in Friday Night Lights and One Tree Hill, where she portrayed Anna Taggaro. Her role in One Tree Hill was notable as she played one of the first openly bisexual characters on mainstream television in 2009.
© Daniella Alonso
Carmela Zumbado is known for her work in the popular Netflix series You, where she played the investigative journalist, Delilah Alves.
Before her breakout role in You, Carmela Zumbado appeared in several other TV shows and films. She had guest roles in series like NCIS: New Orleans and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
© Carmela Zumbado
Natalie Martinez is an American actress and model who's made a name for herself in both TV series and movies. If you're into sci-fi or action dramas, you might recognize her as Deputy Linda Esquivel from Under the Dome – a show based on Stephen King's novel that had everyone hooked a few years back.
FUN FACT: Before acting, Natalie was actually a model and worked as the face of Jennifer Lopez's fashion line.
© Natalie Martinez
Ana de Armas is a Cuban-Spanish actress who has quickly become one of Hollywood's most sought-after stars. She first gained attention in the Spanish film industry before making her way to Hollywood. Most of you probably recognize her from the popular sci-fi movie Blade Runner 2049, where she played Joi, a holographic AI character.
© Ana de Armas
Lorenza Izzo is a Chilean actress who you might know from The Green Inferno, a horror film directed by Eli Roth, who she later married (though they have since divorced). Besides acting, she has also built up quite the career as a model (like all women in this list, she is incredibly beautiful).
Lorenza continued to build her career with roles in thrillers like Knock Knock, where she starred alongside Keanu Reeves as one of two women who turn a seemingly innocent encounter into a psychological nightmare.
She also appeared in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood as Francesca Cappucci, the Italian wife of Leonardo DiCaprio's character. What is really remarkable about her is that she stands out for taking on really challenging roles in both indie and mainstream films.
© Lorenza Izzo
Leonor Varela is a Chilean actress as well, who’s known for her diverse roles in both Hollywood and international films. She first grabbed attention as Cleopatra in the 1999 TV miniseries Cleopatra, which put her on the map. After that, she kicked off her Hollywood career with roles in movies like Blade II (2002), where she played a badass vampire princess alongside Wesley Snipes.
She’s also been in TV shows like Dallas and Marvels Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
© Leonor Varela
Cinthia Moura is a Brazilian model and actress known for her work primarily in the modeling industry. But in 2015, she transitioned into acting with her role in the TV series Mansion of Blood. While her acting career hasn't been as extensive as her modeling work, Moura is recognized for her beauty and versatility.
© Cinthia Moura
Fiona Horsey is an English actress best known for her roles in low-budget horror and thriller films, particularly those produced in Europe's early 2000s. She gained a cult following for her performances in films like My Sweet Killer and Twisted Sisters, where she often portrayed characters in dark, psychological stories.
© Fiona Horsey
Penélope Cruz is a Spanish actress who’s one of the most recognized and respected figures in international cinema. She first gained attention with her roles in Spanish films like Jamón Jamón and Open Your Eyes. Cruz made a successful transition to Hollywood, starring in a range of films from Vanilla Sky to Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.
© Penélope Cruz
Ana Ayora is a rising actress who’s recently been making waves in both film and TV. You might have seen her in the Christmas movie Operation Christmas Drop on Netflix, where she played the lead role of Captain Olivia Reyes. Before that, she appeared in Captain Marvel as one of Carol Danvers' fellow soldiers.
© Ana Ayora
Nadine Velazquez is an actress and model you might recognize from the comedy show My Name Is Earl, where she played Catalina, the hilarious and sassy hotel maid. She’s also had a serious moment on the big screen in Flight, acting alongside Denzel Washington as a flight attendant.
© Nadine Velazquez
Marisol Nichols is an American actress best known for her role as Hermione Lodge on the popular CW series Riverdale. She plays the Veronica Lodge's mother.
Before Riverdale, Marisol appeared in a variety of TV shows and films, including 24, where she played Special Agent Nadia Yassir, and Scream 2. She’s also had guest roles on shows like NCIS and Criminal Minds.
Outside of acting, Marisol is deeply involved in activism, particularly in combating human trafficking. She’s been a vocal advocate and has worked closely with organizations to raise awareness and fight against this issue.
© Marisol Nichols
Martina García is a Colombian actress and model who’s made a name for herself in both Latin American and international films. She’s best known for her role in the thriller The Hidden Face (La Cara Oculta), where she played the intriguing character Fabiana. If you’re into dark, psychological stories, this movie is a must-watch.
© Martina García
Everyone knows Selena Gomez... she is an American singer, actress, and producer who rose to fame as a Disney Channel star on the show Wizards of Waverly Place. After her Disney days, Selena transitioned into a successful music career, releasing hit albums like Revival and Rare, which feature popular tracks such as "Good for You" and "Lose You to Love Me." Beyond music and acting, she's also a producer, known for her work on the hit Netflix series 13 Reasons Why.
© Selena Gomez
Eva Mendes is an American actress, model, and businesswoman who became a major Hollywood star in the early 2000s. She gained fame with her roles in movies like Training Day alongside Denzel Washington in 2001.
Beyond acting, Eva Mendes is also known for her work in fashion and beauty. She has collaborated with brands like Calvin Klein and has her own clothing line with New York & Company.
© Eva Mendes
Some of us will know and love her for her role as Ella Lopez in Lucifer, some might know her from Dexter, where she played Jamie Batista, and some might recognize her voice in Denise from The Addams Family animation of 2019. Garcia is known for her bubbly personality and strong acting skills, and has become a much loved actress in the film industry.
© Aimee Garcia
Ok hear me out – I know that Chel is a fictional character. But she is definitely one of the most iconic Latinas in film history, so she just HAS to be inside this ranking. Most of us probably has a crush on her as children, and not without reason. DreamWorks really did not HAVE to make her this hot...
© DreamWorks
Andrea Londo is a Mexican-American actress best known for her breakout role as Maria Salazar in the third season of hit Netflix series Narcos.
In 2018, she then appeared in the film SuperFly, where she took on the role of Cynthia, as well as The Free Fall in 2021.
© Andrea Londo
Morena Baccarin is a Brazilian-American actress best known for her roles in both TV and film. She got really famous as Inara Serra in the cult sci-fi series Firefly and later as Jessica Brody in the show Homeland, where she even earned an Emmy nomination.
© Morena Baccarin
She is best known for her role as Isabella Bautista in the popular Netflix series Narcos: Mexico. In the show, she portrayed a character inspired by real-life cartel figures. Even before that, she had a strong career in Mexican cinema, where she starred in films like Viaje Redondo, which earned her the Best Actress award at the Guadalajara International Film Festival.
Teresa Ruiz's work extends beyond just acting, she has also been involved in theater, both as an actress and a producer.
© Teresa Ruiz
Genesis Rodriguez is an American actress of Cuban and Venezuelan descent who has made a name for herself in both Spanish and English TV.
Some of her notable film appearances include Man on a Ledge and Casa de Mi Padre alongside Will Ferrell, and even The Last Stand with Arnold Schwarzenegger. She also starred in the action-thriller Hours with Paul Walker.
© Genesis Rodriguez
Eiza González is a Mexican actress and singer who has rapidly become one of the most prominent Latina actresses in Hollywood. She first gained fame in Mexico for her role as Lola Valente in the telenovela Lola, érase una vez, which was a teen musical drama, where she also proved her talent for singing.
Her breakout role in the U.S. came in the action movie Baby Driver (2017), where she played the character Darling, one of the members of a criminal gang.
Following Baby Driver, González appeared in several major films, including Alita: Battle Angel, Hobbs & Shaw, Godzilla vs. Kong, and I Care a Lot.
© Eiza González
Mayra Leal gained attention for her role in the 2010 action thriller Machete, directed by Robert Rodriguez, where she played the character of Nurse Mona. This film helped her to become a face in the action genre. In addition to Machete, Leal has appeared in other films such as Playing House and Sorrow. She is gorgeous, talented and deserves our fourth place more than anything. © Mayra Leal
Jenna Ortega is particularly famous among younger audiences. She first gained recognition for her role as young Jane on the series Jane the Virgin. Following that, she starred as Harley Diaz, the lead character in Disney Channel's Stuck in the Middle.
Later on, Ortega has also appeared in the second season of the popular Netflix series, You, where she played the role of Ellie Alves, and she starred in the horror-comedy film The Babysitter: Killer Queen. These roles represent her shift to more adult audiences. However, her most significant breakthrough came when she was cast as the lead in Tim Burton's Wednesday, a Netflix series based on the character Wednesday Addams from The Addams Family.
© Jenna Ortega
Many remember her from her role as Gabrielle Solis on the hit television series Desperate Housewives. The show, which aired from 2004 to 2012, brought her a lot of attention and several award nominations. Longoria has also appeared in films such as The Sentinel and Overboard. Beyond acting, she has become a prominent producer and director, working on various TV shows and films.
© Eva Longoria
Salma Hayek is a Mexican-American actress, producer, and director who is one of the most prominent Latinas in Hollywood. She first gained attention with her portrayal of the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo in the biographical film Frida in 2002. This role earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, making her the first Mexican actress to achieve this honor.
Beyond acting, Hayek has made significant contributions as a producer, most notably producing Frida and the hit television series Ugly Betty, which earned her a Golden Globe Award. She is also known for her work in films like Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003), Grown Ups (2010), and House of Gucci (2021). This woman is a real multi-talent!
© Salma Hayek
Let's highlight some of the most successful and influential Latina actresses who have not only impressed us on screen but also played important roles in representing their cultures. Whether they are well-known stars or newer faces, these actresses have made a lasting impact on the industry and continue to inspire many.
