If anything, the recent Oscars have showed us that the true strength of Hollywood comes from all corners of the world, and does not necessarily look white. Here are a few non-Caucasian actors making their mark at the movies and enriching the industry. Of course, we’ve skipped the ones that won an award recently, ’cause you already know how cool they are!
Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz
Simu Liu
Simu Liu’s journey began from China and ended at the US via Canada. With Marvel Cinematic Universe’s film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Liu became the first actor of Asian descent to land a lead role in Marvel, signalling to Hollywood and the world, that he had arrived.
Salma Hayek
Salma Hayek’s journey from a young gymnast to a successful actress with over 23.1 million fans following her social media, is truly an inspiring one. Voted as one of the world’s most beautiful women, Hayek was an actress in Mexico, before hitting Hollywood. In 2002, with her film Frida, she became the first Mexican actress to be nominated for the Oscars.
Kumail Nanjiani
Often mistaken as Indian, Kumail Nanjiani is an actor, stand-up comedian, and screenwriter from Karachi, Pakistan. He moved to the US when he turned 18, and a lot of stand-up comedy followed, giving way to acting roles in Veep, Silicon valley, etc. His success led Time magazine to name him one of the 100 most influential people in the world, in 2018.
Sofia Vergara
You know her more as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett than Sofia Vergara and that’s the true mark of an actor. A native of – where else – Colombia, she is known to play Colombian characters, alongwith appearing on reality shows.
Henry Golding
Malaysian Henry Golding acted and hosted a popular TV show in in the UK for many years, before setting eyes on Hollywood. And once he did, the swept up a fan base of women who just couldn’t get enough of him in Crazy Rich Asians.