Latino Actors Say Hollywood Representation Still Lacking

Creator Gloria Calderón Kellett speaks out on the Deep Cuts casting controversy and the ongoing challenges for Latino actors and creators in Hollywood.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 8:39pm

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In an op-ed for Deadline, Gloria Calderón Kellett, the co-creator and executive producer of the Emmy-winning sitcom One Day at a Time, responds to the recent backlash over the casting of a non-Latina actress in the role of a Mexican character in the film Deep Cuts. Calderón Kellett argues that the real issue is the scarcity of opportunities for Latino actors and creators in Hollywood, with projects centered on Latino families now considered "too political" and producers often limiting Latino representation to "one or possibly two" characters. She traces her own experience of being typecast in crime-related roles when she first arrived in Hollywood in 1999, and notes that while some progress has been made with more Latino-led shows in recent years, many of those shows have been canceled "too soon." Calderón Kellett frames her piece as a call for honesty about the industry's patterns and the impact it has on the Latino community.

Why it matters

The op-ed by Gloria Calderón Kellett highlights the ongoing challenges and lack of progress in Hollywood when it comes to the representation of Latino actors and creators. Despite some recent successes, the industry continues to limit opportunities for Latino-led projects and characters, often relegating Latino actors to stereotypical roles. This lack of meaningful representation has a real impact on the Latino community's "longing" to see themselves reflected on screen.

The details

In her op-ed, Calderón Kellett praises the decision of actress Odessa A'zion to withdraw from the film Deep Cuts after backlash over her casting as a Mexican character. Calderón Kellett argues that the real issue is the scarcity of opportunities for Latino actors and creators in Hollywood, with producers now considering projects centered on Latino families as "too political" and often limiting Latino representation to "one or possibly two" characters. She traces her own experience of being typecast in crime-related roles when she first arrived in Hollywood in 1999, and notes that while some progress has been made with more Latino-led shows in recent years, many of those shows have been canceled "too soon."

  • Calderón Kellett first arrived in Hollywood in 1999.
  • One Day at a Time, the Emmy-winning sitcom co-created by Calderón Kellett, premiered in 2017.
  • The op-ed by Calderón Kellett was published on January 31, 2026.

The players

Gloria Calderón Kellett

An executive producer, co-creator, co-showrunner, director, and actress best known for the Emmy-winning sitcom One Day at a Time.

Odessa A'zion

An actress who was initially cast in the role of a Mexican character in the film Deep Cuts, but subsequently withdrew from the project after backlash.

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What they’re saying

“That matters. It deserves to be named.”

— Gloria Calderón Kellett, Executive producer, co-creator, co-showrunner, director, and actress (Deadline)

“Hollywood loved saying the word 'representation.' It said it at panels and podcasts. I know because I sat on more than 50 of them. It said it in press releases. It said it during awards season. It said it like a promise. And then, quietly, it stopped keeping it.”

— Gloria Calderón Kellett, Executive producer, co-creator, co-showrunner, director, and actress (Deadline)

The takeaway

This op-ed highlights the ongoing struggle for meaningful representation of Latino actors and creators in Hollywood, despite some recent progress. It calls for the industry to be more honest about the patterns and barriers that continue to limit opportunities for Latino talent, and to take concrete steps to address this systemic issue.