America Ferrera: 'We are still just fighting to be visible’ - BBC 100 Women, BBC World Service

Actress, producer and director America Ferrera has built a career fighting against the labels that everybody told her would hold her back. But beyond her recognisable roles in the series Ugly Betty or the 2023's record-breaking blockbuster Barbie, Ferrera is a committed activist working to engage Latino communities and has even invested in women's football.

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She sat down with BBC 100 Women to discuss her experience growing up in a family of immigrants, the need to have more representation on screen, and how she uses what she calls her 'superpower'.

00:08 Intro – who is America Ferrera, a Latina icon and the woman behind Barbie’s epic monologue about women
01:35 The story behind the name America
02:23 "It was very hard growing up with a name like mine"
02:59 Where did she feel at home?
04:57 The labels she had to fight against
06:58 A "devastating report" that shows the reality of Latino representation in media
08:04 The first Latina to ever win an Emmy for a leading role (and the only one!)
10:04 Her "superpower" – how did that come about?
12:23 America’s work in US politics
13:49 Barbie and the monologue – her part in making a record-breaking film
16:23 "For women of colour and underrepresented communities, there is so much expansion that needs to happen"
17:09 Her views on feminism – and her own feminist fight
18:23 The MeToo movement: How can more women get support to speak up against sexual abuse?
20:04 Her upcoming debut as a feature film director
20:50 What does Hollywood need to do to fix the gender gap among directors?
22:43 Angel City Football Club: her involvement in women’s football
24:26 What would America tell her six-year-old self?

The BBC 100 Women team has a mission to address the under-representation of women in media. If you are interested in their content check out these playlists:

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Presented by Beatriz de la Pava
Produced by Laura García and Valeria Perasso
Filmed by Andrew Blum and Andrew Carey
Edited by Ed Hanson and Sara Hegarty
BBC 100 Women senior producers: Valeria Perasso and Amelia Butterly
BBC 100 Women editor: Golnoosh Golshani
Commissioning editor: Vara Szajkowski
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