Hispanic Heritage Month: Celebrating Talented Actors

Fandango celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with our photo guide of the top Hispanic actors working in Hollywood. Enjoy!

Spanish
Known for: No Country for Old Men, The Sea Inside, Live Flesh, Mondays in the Sun
Upcoming: Biutiful

We saw the Oscar winner make his way into Julia Robert’s heart in Eat, Pray, Love this summer but in real life Bardem stole the heart of another major star, Penelope Cruz. They're now married and expecting a child, but the newlywed is back at work starring in Biutiful, the new Alejandro González Iñárritu film.

Javier Bardem wins the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for No Country for Old Men.

Puerto Rican
Known for: The Usual Suspects, Snatch, Traffic, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Upcoming: Somewhere

Voted one of People's "50 Most Beautiful People" by People magazine, Oscar winner Benicio Del Toro is a mainstream favorite with a robust resume. He starred and produced in this year’s remake of The Wolfman. Del Toro will also have a quick cameo in Sofia Coppola’s Somewhere and is rumored to be starring next in White Widow and Lunar Park.

Benicio Del Toro and Emily Blunt in The Wolfman.

Mexican
Known for: Amores Perros, The Motorcycle Diaries, Rudo y Cursi, Y Tu Mama Tambien
Upcoming: A Little Bit of Heaven

If you saw Rudo y Cursi or Amores Perros, you’ll know why Gael García Bernal is so loved and admired. Consider him the Mexican Jude Law who’s not afraid to push the envelope or play a laugh-out-loud character (Quiero Que Me Quieras) Bernal will co-star with Kate Hudson next in A Little Bit of Heaven.

Gael and best pal Diego Luna.

Mexican-American
Known for: Stand and Deliver, Mi Familia, Blade Runner
Upcoming: America, The Green Hornet

Edward James Olmos is the grand-daddy of them all—the living godfather of Latino actors in Hollywood. He’s helped pave the way for many actors and at 63 years old Olmos is still in demand. He'll be seen next as Michael Axford, a former cop turned investigative journalist and avid pursuer of the Green Hornet.

Edward James Olmos in Stand and Deliver.

Cuban
Known for: The Godfather: Part III, The Untouchables, Ocean’s Twelve, City Island
Upcoming: Cristiada, Hemingway & Fuentes

Ah, Andy, the Cuban George Clooney, never disappoints and gets better with age. He reached incredible popularity as Terry Benedict in the Oceans franchise and just recently co-starred with his daughter in City Island. Garcia will be back on the big screen in Cristiada with Eva Longoria-Parker and Oscar Isaac.

Andy Garcia, Matt Damon, George Clooney and Brad Pitt promoting Ocean's Thirteen.

Cuban, Guatemalan, French, Israeli
Known for: Body of Lies, Robin Hood, Che: Part I
Upcoming: Cristiada, W.E, Sucker Punch, Drive

Oscar Isaac is more than just a pretty face, and in case you don’t recognize him, he played Prince John earlier this year in Robin Hood alongside Russell Crowe. Make sure you take note because this handsome mutt is starring in Madonna's directorial debut film W.E, a two-tiered romantic drama focusing on King Edward VIII’s forbidden affair.

Oscar Isaac as Prince John in Robin Hood.

Mexican-American
Known for: Machete, Grindhouse, From Dusk Til Dawn
Upcoming: Vengeance

Danny Trejo made headlines this year as the first Latino action superhero in Robert Rodriguez's film Machete. Known for his B-movie roles as a tough Mexican, Trejo has been working in the industry for years and he’s not stopping anytime soon. Trejo stars next in Vengeance, in theaters this fall.

Colombian, Venezuelan
Known for: "That ‘70s Show," Fast Food Nation, Unaccompanied Minors, The Dead One
Upcoming: Larry Crowe, The Girl is in Trouble

Wilmer Valderrama entertained audiences for years as Fez in the TV hit "That ‘70s Show." Slowly and steadily he’s made his way into the film industry and he currently has a few films in the works. Valderrama will join the cast of Larry Crowe, directed by Tom Hanks, and will co-star with Alicja Bachleda in The Girl is in Trouble.

Ashton Kutcher and Wilmer Valderrama.

Spanish
Known for: Desperado, The Mask of Zorro, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Shrek 2
Upcoming: You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, Dali, Puss in Boots

Desperado was Antonio Banderas’ break-through role in the U.S. and since then the Spanish actor has made quite a name for himself. Banderas' career continues to flourish with his starring role in Woody Allen’s You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger and the Shrek series spinoff Puss in Boots.

Catherine Zeta-Jones and Antonio Banderas in The Legend of Zorro.

Puerto Rican
Known for: Gladiator, Walk the Line, Signs, The Village
In Theaters:I'm Still Here

How happy are we that he didn’t throw away his acting career for a shot at being a rap star? Well, Joaquin Phoenix, thanks for keeping us entertained. The Puerto Rican actor continues to be a superstar and while his latest film, out in theaters, I’m Still Here was a hoax you can’t deny that he’s one bad-ass actor.

Joaquin Phoenix and P.Diddy in I'm Still Here.

Spanish
Known for: Volver, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Broken Embraces, Nine
Upcoming: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

The beautiful Penélope Cruz is one of the most desired international actresses in Hollywood. Her repertoire is impressive, she’s the second Spanish performer to win an Oscar for acting (the first was given to her husband Javier Bardem). Diligent and phenomenally talented Cruz will co-star with Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean 4.

Penelope at the Variety Magazine Party after her Oscar win for Best Supporting Actress - Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

Penelope and Woody Allen.

Puerto Rican, Dominican
Known for: The Fast and the Furious, Resident Evil, S.W.A.T., Avatar
Upcoming: Battle: Los Angeles

Michelle Rodriguez has climbed the ranks to stardom with tough roles that deviate from traditional female parts. She’ll star next as another strong character opposite Aaron Eckhart in Battle: Los Angeles.

Michelle Rodriguez in Machete.

Mexican
Known for: Backyard, Dust to Dust, Cop Out, Ladies’ Night
Upcoming: Cowboys & Aliens

Mexican soap opera superstar Ana de la Reguera is cunningly making her way up the ranks in Hollywood. Next up is a starring role in the highly anticipated Jon Favreau film Cowboys & Aliens.

Puerto Rican, Afro-Cuban, Irish, Native American
Known for: Sin City, Death Proof, Eagle Eye, Seven Pounds
Upcoming: Unstoppable, The Zookeeper

This multi-ethnic actress has worked with some of the best actors/directors in the industry. But Rosario Dawson has been expanding her portfolio for years, also working on her singing and film producing skills. This fall she’ll co-star with Denzel Washington in Unstoppable.

Mexican, Lebanese
Known for: Frida, Desperado, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, From Dusk til Dawn
Upcoming: Puss in Boots

Salma Hayek got her big break in Robert Rodriguez's film Desperado, which put her on a road to stardom that ultimately led to her dream role as Frida Kahlo...which earned her an Oscar nomination. But her journey was a difficult one as executives repeatedly told her she didn’t have a chance in Hollywood. Now, the star produces original content for Latino audiences, and her biggest success came with the hit TV series "Ugly Betty."

Cuban-American
Known for: 2 Fast 2 Furious, Training Day, The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call – New Orleans, Hitch
Upcoming: Southbound, Last Night

Eva Mendes has become synonymous with sexy. Starting from the ground up this Cuban-American actress has taken center stage in Hollywood. She co-stars with Keira Knightly and Sam Worthington in Last Night and will be acting alongside Matthew McConaughey in Southbound.

Eva Mendes, Mark Walhberg and Will Ferrell from The Other Guys.

Mexican
Known for: American Visa, Trade, Julia, Under the Same Moon
Upcoming: Without Men, Rio

Kate del Castillo is one of the most talented actresses to come out of Mexico. She’s been highly underrated but look out for this starlet. She joins Eva Longoria-Parker, Christian Slater, and Maria Conchita Alonso in Without Men.

Puerto Rican, Dominican
Known for: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Star Trek, Avatar, The Losers
Upcoming: Colombiana, Untitled Star Trek Sequel

Zoe Saldana is the current "it" girl in Hollywood. From starring roles to cameos to endorsements, everyone wants a piece of Saldana. She stars in Colombiana, her first role as a Latina in a major picture. In it, she plays Cat, a young woman who witnessed her parents' murder as a child in Bogota, and who then grows up to be a stone-cold assassin. Saldana will also be returning as Nyota Uhura in the Star Trek sequel.

Zoe Saldana in The Losers.

Colombian
Known for: "Modern Family," Four Brothers, Chasing Papi
Upcoming: The Smurfs, Happy Feet 2

Her vivacious look and accent have become ever popular since her starring role in ABC’s "Modern Family" became a hit. But Sofía Vergara began her career long ago as a Spanish speaking television host and slowly climbed her way to stardom. She’ll be lending her voice in two upcoming animated films, The Smurfs and Happy Feet 2.

Mexican, French, Danish
Known for: Sin City, Fantastic Four, Honey, Machete
Upcoming: Little Fockers, An Invisible Life

Jessica Alba has cemented her name in Hollywood with romantic comedies, playing non-Latina roles. This year she played her first Latina character in Robert Rodriguez’s Machete. Alba confesses to loving romantic-comedies the most and she’s off to what she does best in Little Fockers and An Invisible Life.