
Gina Torres Shares Personal Struggles Of Navigating Hollywood As An Afro-Latina

Gina Torres has had an expansive career acting in The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, Angel, and probably her most famous role as Jessica Pearson in Suits. But with her many acting roles, Gina revealed that she struggled with showing her full, authentic self as an Afro-Latina on screen. The mother of one is of Cuban descent and was raised in Bronx, NY. However, due to her skin color, she found herself often boxed in with roles as only a Black woman and not acknowledging her Latin roots.
The 9-1-1 Lone Star appeared on MSNBC’s The Culture is: Latina and talked about her experience navigating Hollywood as an Afro-Latina.
“I feel like I was living in three worlds. There was my world that I grew up in, also Spanish-speaking. Home, Cuban parents, and then you go out into the world and I’m speaking English, and I’m in the Bronx,” she explained. “And then, going into this industry as an actress, then nobody recognizes you as either one.”
She noted that she may present as a Black woman but said she’s more than that. “I didn’t identify as a Black woman because for me it was cultural. Because, of course, I present Black, I am a Black woman,” she said.
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“I am also Cuban. When you’re here in the United States and they ask you to be in a box, and you don’t fit into the box, culturally, it was different. It was not one that I identified with, but to work, to survive, it was something that I had to learn.”
For her to gain opportunities in Hollywood, Gina shared that she had to learn how to be “whatever Black was” and that it became a “Jedi mind trick to keep myself from just being sad all the time about not being able to fully experience and express the entirety of myself.”
When Gina entered the entertainment industry in the ‘90s, Afro-Latino actors were few and far in between. But over the last few decades, more Afro-Latino actors have been taking up space in the industry and speaking up about their roots.
Here are some Afro-Latinas in Hollywood that you should know.
1. Rosario Dawson
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Along with Gina, Rosario Dawson was one of the few Afro-Latina actresses gaining recognition in the industry in the ‘90s and early 2000s. The Men in Black II actress is Afro-Cuban and Puerto Rican.
2. Ariana DeBose
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Academy Award-winning actress Ariana DeBose, who won the trophy for best-supporting actress in West Side Story, is Puerto Rican on her father’s side.
3. Reagan Gomez-Preston
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Former childhood actress Reagan Gomez-Preston identifies as Puerto Rican and Black.
4. Yaya DaCosta
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Cycle 2 America's Next Top Model runner-up turned accomplished actress Yaya DaCosta is Afro-Brazilian and Black.
5. Dascha Polanco
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Dascha Polanco won our hearts as Dayanara "Daya" Diaz in Orange is the New Black and is Dominican-American.
6. Tessa Thompson
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Thor: Love and Thunder star Tessa Thompson is Afro-Panamanian on her father’s side and European and Mexican on her mother’s side.
7. La La Anthony
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Media personality/ actress La La Anthony is of Puerto Rican heritage.
8. Zoe Saldaña
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Zoe Saldaña, who has appeared in many films such as Avatar, Colombiana, and Drumline, is half Dominican and half Puerto Rican.
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Adrian Marcel On Purpose, Sacrifice, And The 'Signs Of Life'
In this week's episode of xoMAN, host Kiara Walker talked with R&B artist Adrian Marcel, who opened up, full of heart and authenticity, about his personal evolution. He discussed his days transitioning from a young Bay Area singer on the come-up to becoming a grounded husband and father of four.
With honesty and introspection, Marcel reflected on how life, love, and loss have shaped the man he is today.
On ‘Life’s Subtle Signals’
Much of the conversation centered around purpose, sacrifice, and listening to life’s subtle signals. “I think that you really have to pay attention to the signs of life,” Marcel said. “Because as much as we need to make money, we are not necessarily on this Earth for that sole purpose, you know what I mean?” While he acknowledged his ambitions, adding, “that is not me saying at all I’m not trying to ball out,” he emphasized that fulfillment goes deeper.
“We are here to be happy. We are here [to] fulfill a purpose that we are put on here for.”
On Passion vs. Survival
Adrian spoke candidly about the tension between passion and survival, describing how hardship can sometimes point us away from misaligned paths. “If you find it’s constantly hurting you… that’s telling you something. That’s telling you that you’re going outside of your purpose.”
Marcel’s path hasn’t been without detours. A promising athlete in his youth, he recalled, “Early on in my career, I was still doing sports… I was good… I had a scholarship.” An injury changed everything. “My femur broke. Hence why I always say, you know, I’m gonna keep you hip like a femur.” After the injury, he pivoted to explore other careers, including teaching and corporate jobs.
“It just did not get me—even with any success that happened in anything—those times, back then, I was so unhappy. And you know, to a different degree. Like not just like, ‘I really want to be a singer so that’s why I’m unhappy.’ Nah, it was like, it was not fulfilling me in any form or fashion.”
On Connection Between Pursuing Music & Fatherhood
He recalled performing old-school songs at age 12 to impress girls, then his father challenged him: “You can lie to these girls all you want, but you're really just lying to yourself. You ain't growing.” That push led him to the piano—and eventually, to his truth. “Music is my love,” Marcel affirmed. “I wouldn’t be a happy husband if I was here trying to do anything else just to appease her [his wife].”
Want more real talk from xoMAN? Catch the full audio episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don’t miss the full video drops every Wednesday on YouTube. Hit follow, subscribe, and stay tapped in.
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Ashley Versher is known for her work in the Tyler Perry's Beauty In Black series and more recently, she starred alongside Taraji P. Henson in the Netflix film Straw. But she is more than just her acting credits and stunning looks (her hair alone is everything). In an xoNecole exclusive, Ashley dishes on her first celebrity crush, how she spends her downtime, and her go-to haircare products because we need the deets.
Get to know Ashley below.
xoNecole: Where are you from?
Ashley Versher: San Francisco - BAY AREAAAAAA!!!!
xoN: What was your first major acting role?
AV: A 49ers Super Bowl commercial - I think I was 3.
Ashley Versher
Johnny Marlow
xoN: Have you ever had an embarrassing or funny audition story? If so, what happened?
AV: Yes! I was doing a self-tape once and I forgot to take off my bonnet. But the tape was so good I sent it in anyway.
xoN: Your hair is gorgeous. What has it been like navigating Hollywood with natural hair?
AV: Thank you so much! Navigating Hollywood with natural hair has definitely been a journey of self-discovery. Early on, I had to make a conscious decision about how I wanted to show up—not just in this industry, but for myself. Once I fully embraced my natural hair and committed to the journey, everything else began to align. It’s been nothing short of empowering.
Navigating Hollywood with natural hair has definitely been a journey of self-discovery. Early on, I had to make a conscious decision about how I wanted to show up—not just in this industry, but for myself.
xoN: What are your favorite go-to hair products?
AV: Ooooooo, right now I’m loving Camille Rose’s Jai Twisting Butter—it’s super moisturizing and gives me a fun, bouncy twist-out! I’ve also recently gotten into oils, and I’m especially loving sweet almond oil.
xoN: We know you as an actress, but what is another special talent you have that most people don't know about?
AV: I trained as a classical violinist for 13/14years.
xoN: Who is your hero?
AV: My mom. She’s incredible - full stop.
Ashley Versher
Johnny Marlow
xoN: How do you like to spend your down time?
AV: Ha! What’s that!? Jk jk, I love to travel, that’s honestly my favorite thing.
xoN: Who was your first celebrity crush?
AV: Prince.
xoN: What is your dream role?
AV: One day I will play a witch with Harry Potter-like powers!
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Feature image by Johnny Marlow