From Edward James Olmos Endorsing Kamala Harris to Calls for More Latino Representation: Inside the Imagen Awards
At the 39th annual Imagen Awards ceremony, Edward James Olmos urged fans to head for the polls.
“Everyone must vote,” Olmos said after accepting his best supporting actor in a television drama award for “Mayans M.C.” “We deserve to be able to leave our children a stronger, more understanding society than the one we have now.”
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The “Stand and Deliver” star added, “I hope Kamala wins.”
A recent poll conducted by Democratic polling firm BSP Research and UnidosUS, the largest Latino advocacy group, found that in Spanish-dominant households, Harris is favored by 64% of Latino voters, while Trump holds 30%.
A number of stars in attendance at the Imagen Awards called attention to the importance of representation among Latinos, who have historically been marginalized in the entertainment industry.
“If anyone says that representation doesn’t matter, I’m here to tell you you are misinformed,” Diana Maria Riva, who was nominated for best supporting actress in a television comedy for her role as Julia Mejia in Netflix’s “Glamorous,” told Variety. “When your community highlights you, it’s humbling, and it brings tears to my eyes…making my community proud, I live for that.”
Riva is the co-founder of Latinas Acting Up (LAU), a platform centered around making a positive impact in the entertainment industry by uplifting Latino voices. Many nominees highlighted projects such as “Acapulco” and “A Million Miles Away” for their commitment to diversity.
“Acapulco,” which received the most TV nominations at the awards ceremony with nine, is heading into its fourth season. Series creator Austin Winsberg expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to continue developing a project championing Latino representation.
Showrunner Sam Laybourne echoed Winsberg’s sentiments. “I feel incredibly privileged to be in this position…to celebrate this cast and the writers and the directors and producers who bring this to life,” he said.
Luna Lauren Velez, who won the best voice-over actor award for her role as Rio Morales, the Puerto Rican mother of spider-man Miles Morales, in “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” reflected on the growth of Latino representation over the course of her career.
Velez said she never could have imagined playing a Latina like Rio would have been possible years ago. “Across the Spider-Verse” went on to win best animated film at the ceremony.
Winner of the best actor in a television comedy award Ignacio Diaz-Silverio joked about not preparing a speech because he was not expecting to win, before dedicating the award to his grandparents. During his speech, the “Primo” star reflected on what authentic representation in the industry should look like.
“I worry we focus too much on the optics,” said Diaz-Silverio. “When we focus on inclusion, representation takes care of itself.”
See more photos from the Imagen Awards below.
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