La La Anthony Says Hollywood ‘Hasn’t Been Thinking Outside the Box’ Regarding Latina Actresses

By Kiersten Willis | Published on July 12, 2017

La La Anthony is usually cast as an African-American woman rather than a Latina woman. (@lala/Instagram)

La La Anthony knows the struggles of making it in Hollywood, especially as an Afro-Latina woman, and she wants casting directors to widen their idea of what Latina looks like.

“I definitely don’t feel like I’m what Hollywood thinks of when they think of a Latina actress at all,” she said in a July 5 Latina magazine article. “They are imagining a different look, a different vibe. People still tell me, ‘You speak Spanish? You’re Spanish? You’re Puerto Rican?’ They can’t wrap their minds around it. I actually speak Spanish fluently. The industry just hasn’t been thinking outside the box when it comes to Latina women.”

Anthony, who currently stars as LaKeisha Grant on “Power,” began acting after becoming an MTV VJ on “TRL.” Since becoming an actress, which is the reason she moved to Los Angeles, Anthony has mostly played Black women.

“We come in all colors,” the New York native said. “My grandfather was extremely dark and from Puerto Rico, but his brother had blond hair and blue eyes. There are so many different shades, and I think Hollywood has yet to realize that. It is challenging, but all I can continue to do is try out for the roles and show them, ‘Hey, we come in all shades and with all hair textures and all colors and all everything!”

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