The Stars Are Shining From Puerto Rico

Being Hollywood today is filled to the brim withdone include "Carlito's Way," "Boogie Nights," "Traffic"
various Spanish-speaking groups, from the Spaniardswith del Toro, "Count of Monte Cristo," "Anger
themselves to Mexicans to Argentineans to Cubans,Management," and "The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3."
it seems that the passionate aura they resonate onThough being a typecast in some grim roles,
the big screen attract a certain mass appeal, not toGuzmán has lately been seen on such
mention their amazingly good looks that enthralllighthearted and mainstream roles, further widening
across the world. However, one such group thathis exposure to the world.
invaded Hollywood isn't really a sovereign countryOther noteworthy actors and actresses that are
itself but a part of the territory of the United States.from Puerto Rico or of Puerto Rican descent are
And yet when it comes to acting, Puerto RicoRosario Dawson of "Men in Black II" and "Seven
represents itself well with such a wide array of talentPounds," Rick Gonzales of "The Rookie" and "Coach
that it truly is a world of its own.Carter," John Leguizamo of "Spawn," "Summer of
Heading the list of the many current actors andSam," and the "Ice Age" movie series, Amaury
actresses that proudly wave the Puerto Rican flag isNolasco of "Transformers" and "2 Fast 2 Furious,"
none other than Hollywood superstar Benicio delMichelle Rodriguez of "S.W.A.T.," "Blue Crush" and
Toro. He is the third Puerto Rican to win an Academy"The Fast and The Furious," Talisa Soto of "The
Award for Best Supporting Actor in "Traffic,"Mambo Kings" and "Don Juan de Marco," and Zoe
following the footsteps of such legends likeSaldana of "Star Trek" and "Avatar."
José Ferrer, Best Actor in "Cyrano deThen, of course, one could also not be remiss in
Bergerac," and Rita Moreno, Best Supporting Actressincluding the power couple of Marc Anthony and
in "West Side Story." Del Toro also shone in suchJennifer Lopez, also chart-topping musical artists with
notable films like "The Usual Suspects," playing thesuch panache and style. Marc Anthony can be seen in
tongue-tied thief Fred Fenster, "Fear and Loathing insuch films like "Carlito's Way" and "Man on Fire," while
Las Vegas," as the drug-laden attorney Dr. Gonzo,J.Lo can best be seen in "Selena," "Anaconda" and
"21 Grams," playing the ex-convict turned born-again"Bordertown." They have also shared the limelight in
Christian Jack Jordan, "Sin City," as the abusive"El Cantante," a biopic released in 2006.
ex-boyfriend Jackie Boy, and "Che," playing the iconicWith so much star power to offer, it's no small
role of Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara.wonder that Puerto Rico has been beaming with
Another notable Puerto Rican is the wily characterpride when it comes to Hollywood success stories
actor Luis Guzmán, who is usually identifiedthat shine ever so brightly. And maybe it isn't a big
by his thickset build and menacing expression, whichsurprise that on the Puerto Rican flag, you can clearly
have landed him in roles mostly as a sidekick, asee a single five-pointed star, which may somehow
policeman, or a thug. Some distinguished films he hassignify that honor.