23 Reasons Jessica Alba Left The Hollywood Limelight

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5. She Faced Discrimination Because Of Her Ethnicity

Answers Africa

Hollywood has never had a great track record when it comes to casting diversity. Even to this day, many actresses like Jessica Alba still face inequality and discrimination because of their race and ethnicity. There are limited roles for Mexican Americans, and even though Hispanics make up the largest population of non-whites in the United States, they are inordinately underrepresented in movies and television. Many Latinas have a difficult time auditioning for roles unless it’s a part that specifically asks for diversity or multi-ethnicity. Alba, for one, couldn’t land a part in white-bread comedies because of her olive skin tone.

What’s more, Alba couldn’t get meaningful roles because casting directors couldn’t figure out her ethnicity. Because of her diverse ancestry—Danish, English, French, German, Welsh, and Mexican—the lack of belongingness that plagued her during her childhood persisted well into her career. She wasn’t white enough for most Hollywood roles, but the Latin community also shunned her because she wasn’t Latina enough.