7 America Ferrera Movies & TV Shows That Prove She Has Always Deserved The Spotlight
In a career spanning two decades, America Ferrera's movies and TV shows have always inspired.
While you may know her best as Gloria from her most recent film, Barbie, actress America Ferrera has spent the past two decades starring in beloved movies and iconic TV shows, winning prestigious awards, and cultivating an accomplished reputation. The Los Angeles-born actress began her career in 2002 with a starring role in the acclaimed Real Women Have Curves and has since skyrocketed to stardom. Aside from her work on the screen, Ferrera is an outspoken political activist, advocating for women's rights, Latina empowerment, and voter awareness.
Since the release of Barbie in July 2023, Ferrera has made headlines with her looks on the pink carpet at Barbie premieres across the globe, her runway-side style—seen most recently at Chloé's Fall/Winter 2024 show at Paris Fashion Week—and on Hollywood awards stages, emerging as one of the most buzzed-about actresses of the year, both for her elegant, immaculate style as well as her impressive silver screen skills.
Although Ferrera began her career portraying complex, unsure teenagers—much like Ariana Greenblatt's Barbie character Sasha, Gloria's moody, conflicted teenage daughter—she has moved into portraying strong, inspirational women, an archetype that she nails every time, no matter the genre. Whether Barbie was your first encounter with the actress or you've been an America Ferrera lover since day one, join L'OFFICIEL in appreciating all the best America Ferrera movies and TV shows that prove she's always been destined for the spotlight.
Real Women Have Curves (2002)
In the 2002 American comedy-drama film, directed by Patricia Cardoso, Ferrera makes her feature film debut as Ana García, a teenager who grapples with commitments to her family and a domineering mother while exploring her ambition to attend college. The film explores the real challenges faced by Latina women and received positive reviews for its body positivity. Ferrera quickly established herself as a relatable and inspiring voice for girls, for both Latinas growing up in America and any child facing insecurities about body image. The movie won the Audience Award for Best Dramatic Film and the Special Jury Prize at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival, and in 2019, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry, the first Latina-directed film to be inducted.
Gotta Kick It Up! (2002)
Taking it back to middle school, Ferrera plays young Yolanda "Yoli" Vargas in the Disney Channel Original Movie, Gotta Kick It Up! The plot is based on the true story of a middle school dance team, and the film recounts how a young executive turned teacher works with a group of Latina girls to discover their identity and face societal challenges through their dance group.
Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants (2005)
Ferrera continued in her strong representation of the challenges faced by Latina women in her role in Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, about a group of friends separated throughout the summer but connected by a pair of jeans that mysteriously seems to fit the girls of different sizes. Directed by Ken Kwapis and starring other big names like Blake Lively, Alexis Bledel, and Amber Tamblyn, the film has become a classic summertime tale about navigating family and relationships as teenage girls. Ferrera’s character, Carmen Lowell, particularly encounters these issues as she grapples with her father’s upcoming marriage and feels like she doesn't have a place within his new family.
Ugly Betty (2006-2010)
In another iconic role, Ferrera plays the titular Betty in Ugly Betty, a comedy-drama TV show that aired on ABC from 2006-2010. A seemingly negative name actually celebrates the accomplishments of Betty Suarez, wholesome and naive in her appearance and style but landing a job at a prestigious fashion magazine. While the show was canceled because of low ratings, it has since been celebrated, even gaining a cult following. The series has won two Golden Globe Awards, for best leading actress in a comedy series and best comedy series in 2007, as well as three Emmys during its run.
End of Watch (2012)
She went from romantic comedy to action thriller with End of Watch in 2012, a film starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña as two LAPD officers during their day-to-day police work. Ferrera plays Officer Orozco in the police procedural and she even received tactical training in order to play the role. The film was met with positive reception and praise for the performances from the cast.
Superstore (2015-2021)
More recently, Ferrera has been charming as a store employee in the sitcom, Superstore. The show follows a group of employees working at a big-box chair store in St. Louis. She plays Amy Sosa in the show as well as serves as executive producer. Her character joins an ensemble cast including Ben Feldman, Lauren Ash, and Colton Dunn. With six seasons and 113 episodes, the show aired on NBC from 2015-2021 and is now available for streaming.
Barbie (2023)
Of course, America Ferrera movies and TV shows would not be complete without the newest addition to the roster: Barbie. While Ferrera plays a normal human, her character Gloria catapults Barbie, played by Margot Robbie, into a groundbreaking new understanding of feminism and the patriarchy, embodying a sense of wisdom that no doubt will inspire every moviegoer.
Ferrera's role celebrates motherhood, womanhood, and even personhood in general, elevating the film beyond a fun, ultra-pink flick into a thought-provoking film that explores what it means to be a woman navigating the modern world.
For her performance in Barbie, Ferrera was nominated for several awards, including an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, several Critics' Choice Movie awards, and a People's Choice Award for Movie Performance of the Year, which she won.
