Latinas Leading
the Way in Entertainment
By Gloria Romano-Barrera and Jenny Lynn Castro
From voice actresses to writers, and producers, we are celebrating Latinas in the entertainment world.
Here are two Latinas inspiring the next generation in a unique way.
her. I really hope that little girls see themselves in
her and see that you don’t have to be one thing.
You can be strong and vulnerable, and you can be
tough and loving. You can do anything; as
long as you have courage and heart, anything
is possible.”
Photo credit: Walt Disney Studios.
Justina Machado
“What attracted me to Zee was that she was
fearless and courageous,” shares Justina
Machado who voices Zee in “Ice Age: Adventures
of Buck Wild.” “She’s a leader, adventurous,
courageous, and she’s someone I want on my side
and team.”
Born in Chicago, IL to Puerto Rican parents,
Machado started her career upon graduating high school.
Machado was very active in drama, always participating in her
school plays. She also took dance at Franklin Fine Arts Center. In
1986, Machado attended Lane Technical College Prep High School. During her
spare time, she performed with the Latino Chicago Theater Company. In 1990,
after graduating from Lane Tech, Machado moved to New York City. The
experience which she had gained as a performer with the Latino Chicago
Theater Company helped open the doors for her in that city. Soon, she was
offered a job as a professional actress in Los Angeles, California. Machado
moved to LA, and in 1996, she landed her first two acting roles.
She was cast as Elsa in the TV series “NYPD Blue” episode #311, and she
was also cast as "Val Cho" in the movie made for television “No One Would Tell.”
Machado has participated in over 15 films. Amongst her most notable roles so
far have been Carmen Rodriguez in “She's So Lovely,” Isabella Hudson in “Final
Destination 2,” Agent Henderson in “Torque,” Natalia in “Little Fugitive,” Teresa
in “Man Maid,” Sofia in “The Accidental Husband,” Tanya in “The Purge:
Anarchy,” and FBI Agent Rosie Gomez in the film “In the Electric Mist.” She was
also the first replacement for Andréa Burns in Broadway's “In the Heig hts.”
Known for her roles in “With Love,” “One Day at a Time,” “Six Feet Under,”
“Elena of Avalor,” and “Jane the Virgin,” to name a few, Machado shared her
excitement to have voiced the newest addition to the Ice Age Franchise, Zee, a
tiny yet strong and confident zorilla (skunk) deeply connected to Buck.
While the film is about hope and beauty, some of the unique messages
the film delivers is the sense of family, community, leadership, and equality
of justice.
“It shows that you don’t need a superpower, you just need heart, and you
can make a difference in this world no matter how small you think you are, you
are special and unique,” she shares. “The audience can expect to meet a new
character in Zee, and expect to have a lot of wonderful adventures and have a
lot of laughs when watching these adventures. I really hope the audience will love
18 www.latinastyle.com LATINAStyle V ol. 28, No. 1, 2022
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