America Georgina Ferrera (April 18, 1984) is an American actress, producer, and activist of Honduran descent who debuted her feature film in 2002’s “Real Women Have Curves.” She has since earned accolades for her roles in films such as “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” and as the lead in the TV show “Ugly Betty.” She has won numerous awards, including a Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, and Primetime Emmy for Best Actress, and was included on Time Magazine’s list of “100 most influential people in the world” in 2007. She also co-produced and starred in the NBC comedy series “Superstore” from 2015 to 2021.
Early Life
America Ferrera, a well-known American actress, producer, and activist, was born in Los Angeles, California, on April 18, 1984. She was the youngest of six children and grew up in a close-knit family. Her parents, América Griselda Ayes and Carlos Gregorio Ferrera were immigrants from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, who came to the United States in the mid-1970s for better opportunities.
Ferrera‘s parents worked hard to provide for their family. Her mother, América, worked as the Director of Housekeeping at a Hilton Hotel and instilled in her children the value of education. Ferrera has spoken publicly about how her mother’s emphasis on education significantly influenced her life and helped her pursue her dreams.
Despite her parents’ hard work and dedication, Ferrera’s childhood was not without challenges. When she was seven, her parents separated, and her father returned to Honduras. This separation was difficult for Ferrera, and she became estranged from her father, losing contact with him completely.
Ferrera attended a bilingual school in Los Angeles as a child, where she learned English and Spanish. She excelled in her studies and was a high-achieving student. Ferrera was also involved in extracurricular activities such as dance and theatre, which allowed her to express herself creatively.
After graduating from high school, Ferrera attended the University of Southern California, where she studied international relations. During her time at USC, Ferrera discovered her love for acting. She participated in several school plays and eventually landed her breakthrough role as the lead character in the hit television series “Ugly Betty.”
Throughout her career, Ferrera has been vocal about her heritage and the importance of representation in the media. She has spoken about the challenges Latinx actors face in Hollywood and advocated for greater diversity and inclusion in the entertainment industry.
Despite her challenges growing up, Ferrera has achieved incredible success in her career and continues to inspire others through her activism and advocacy work.
Career
After graduating from college, America Ferrera began pursuing an acting career. She appeared in a few minor roles on television before landing her breakthrough role as the lead character in the hit television series “Ugly Betty” in 2006. Ferrera’s performance as Betty Suarez earned her critical acclaim and several awards, including a Golden Globe, an Emmy, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
Following the success of “Ugly Betty,” Ferrera continued to work in television and film. She appeared in movies such as “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” “Real Women Have Curves,” and “How to Train Your Dragon.”
Ferrera also advocated for diversity and representation in the entertainment industry, using her platform to speak out about the lack of opportunities for Latinx actors and the need for more excellent representation in front of and behind the camera.
In addition to her acting work, Ferrera has also worked as a producer. She produced and starred in the television series “Superstore,” which aired from 2015 to 2021. Ferrera has also served as an executive producer on other projects, including the Netflix series “Gentefied.”
Ferrera has been recognized throughout her career for her contributions to the entertainment industry and activism. In addition to her Golden Globe, Emmy, and Screen Actors Guild awards, she has also received awards for her advocacy work, including the Hispanic Heritage Foundation’s Inspira Award and the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts Horizon Award.
Personal Life
America Ferrera first met actor, director, and writer Ryan Piers Williams when he cast her in a student film at the University of Southern California (USC), where they were both students. The couple became engaged in June 2010 and married on June 27, 2011.
They have two children together, a son named Sebastian, born in 2018, and a daughter named Lucia, born in 2020. On the anniversary of their marriage in June 2020, Ferrera announced that they had been together for a total of 15 years.
Besides her personal life, Ferrera has been politically active and supported Democratic political campaigns. She was a leading member of the Hillblazers organization in support of Hillary Clinton‘s campaign during the 2008 presidential primaries and has been a speaker at multiple Democratic National Conventions in 2012 and 2016.
Ferrera has also been actively encouraging voter registration and voter education, particularly within the Latino community in the United States, through her work with Voto Latino and other news programs and with actress Eva Longoria through She Se Puede, a digital lifestyle platform. She has also worked to educate and inform voters about strict Voter ID laws ahead of the 2020 and 2021 Georgia Senate runoff.
Ferrera has also been a vocal advocate for social justice issues, particularly in the #MeToo movement. In October 2017, she revealed that she had been sexually harassed when she was nine years old and later became a founding member of the Time’s Up legal defence fund in January 2018. She was an opening speaker for the Women’s March on Washington in January 2017 and spoke at the Families Belong Together protest on June 30, 2018.
In July 2020, Ferrera was announced as an investor in a female-led group awarded a Los Angeles-based franchise in the National Women’s Soccer League, the team named Angel City FC, which began playing in 2022. Additionally, Ferrera published American Like Me: Reflections on Life Between Cultures in 2018, an anthology of stories.
Award & Nomination
- Sundance film festival awards
- Imagen awards
- Alma awards
- Primetime Emmy awards
- Golden globe awards
- Satellite awards
- Teen choice awards
- Gracie awards
- Alliance of women films journalist
- MHMC awards
Social Media
- Instagram @americaferrera
Net Worth
Ferrera is an influential figure in the entertainment world, with a total net worth estimated to be approximately US$16 million.