Summary

• America Ferrera delivers an empowering monologue in the Barbie movie, inspiring viewers with a speech about unfair expectations women face.
• Ferrera's other roles, such as Ana in Real Women Have Curves and Helen in Cesar Chavez, also inspire audiences with their focus on representation and social issues.
• Superstore and Ugly Betty showcase Ferrera's talent in portraying strong female characters who challenge societal norms and discrimination in the workplace.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for the Barbie movie.America Ferrera delivered an empowering monologue that proved highlight of the Barbie movie and her career, but the actress has several other roles under her belt that deserve as much attention as her Barbie performance. In Barbie, Ferrera plays Gloria, an employee of Mattel who helps Margot Robbie's Stereotypical Barbie find her way in the real world. When Barbie realizes the real world does not align with the female-forward convictions of the Barbie brand, she becomes terribly disheartened. Gloria lends her a helping hand, inspiring all the other Barbies in Barbieland in the process.

Ultimately, the true villain of Barbie turns out to be Ken and his preference for the patriarchy, something he picks up during his time in the real world. Ken's point of view eventually influences the female-led systems of Barbieland to the point that the Barbies begin catering exclusively to the Kens. However, Gloria intercedes and gives the Barbies a much-needed monologue about the unfair expectations and double standards women face. The speech resonates with the Barbies. It's since had a similar effect on real-life viewers. This adds Gloria to Ferrera's long list of inspiring roles, many of which deserve as much attention as her Barbie character is receiving.

8 Ana in Real Women Have Curves

Ferrera stars as Ana in the 2002 comedy-drama Real Women Have Curves. Real Women Have Curves follows a first-generation Mexican-American girl's struggle to balance the expectations of her cultural heritage with her own ambitions.The landmark film was Ferrera's debut performance, becoming the first of many roles to inspire audiences with their focus on representation. Real Women Have Curves is saturated with moments that champion body positivity, "breaking the mold," and leaving societal expectations behind. It's become a forerunner for projects with similar messaging, like Greta Gerwig's empowering Barbie movie, and it's a must-watch from Ferrera's acting catalog.

7 Helen in Cesar Chavez

In the biographical Cesar Chavez film, Ferrera plays the wife of the titular labor leader and civil rights activist. Throughout the film, Helen and Cesar rely on strikes and consumer boycotts to bring awareness to struggling labor unions. Ferrera stepped into the role with the intention of portraying this important piece of history and inspiring other young leaders. "There could be another Cesar Chavez out there," Ferrera said in an NBC News report discussing the significance of Cesar Chavez. "But we can't wait for him. We have to tap into the Cesar within ourselves."

6 Blanca in How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer

Three generations of women explore love and sexuality during a life-changing summer in How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer. Ferrera stars as Blanca, the youngest member of the Garcia family behind her mother, Lolita (Elizabeth Peña), and grandmother, Dona (Lucy Gallardo). All three women navigate the joys and pitfalls of romantic relationships under the same roof. Embracing of the concept of women finding humanity and beauty at all ages — one that also appears in Barbie's old woman bench scene — How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer is a searing portrait of being a woman in a harsh and complicated world.

5 Christine in Christine

Ferrera's performance in a humble web series produced by WIBSCO and released on YouTube tends to fly under the radar. However, Christine is worthy of attention, as it portrays the challenges of being a woman in modern-day society. Christine was released on the YouTube channel WIGS, which casts well-known actors like Anna Paquin and Julia Stiles for short portrait series and scripted dramas that focus exclusively on the lives of women. Ferrera plays the title character in Christine, portraying her efforts to remain true to herself while navigating the world of speed dating.

Just as she does in her Barbie role, Ferrera's Christine offers audiences poignant insights into what it's like being a woman under the constant scrutiny of men. Fererra delivers her performance in a way that will resonate with viewers long after the web series comes to a close.

4 Amy in Superstore

Ferrera tackles the role of Amy in the ensemble cast of the television sitcom Superstore. Thanks to the series' success, Amy is now one of the actress' most recognizable roles. The hardworking floor manager of the Cloud 9 department store, Amy is an ambitious leader. Unfortunately, her ambition is often undercut by the comical and unpredictable nature of working in retail. Superstore is largely a hilarious, light watch. However, it doesn't miss the opportunity to address important conversations about women and the discrimination they face in the workplace. This cements Superstore as another important and relatable undertaking from Ferrera.

3 Astrid in How To Train Your Dragon

Ferrera shows off her voice-acting skills in the animated How to Train Your Dragon franchise, where she lends her voice to the Viking warrior Astrid. Fererra perfectly embodies the character's self-assured and dedicated personality, so it's no wonder she continues to reprise the role, even in smaller projects like the How to Train Your Dragon video game and TV series. Although Astrid is one girl among a rough group of Viking boys, she carves out a place for herself as one of the franchise's most lovable protagonists. She holds her own in a way that would make the Barbie movie's characters proud.

2 Carmen in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

While some aspects of the early 2000s movie no longer hold up, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants remains relatable in its all-encoming embrace of sisterly love. The childhood staple favors the importance of strong interpersonal relationships as a means of getting through the hardships of life. Ferrera is instrumental as Carmen, one of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants' four leads. She upholds the voice of women of color amid a mostly white cast, even though the movie paints her as the token non-white character at times.

1 Betty in Ugly Betty

Ferrera's leading role in Ugly Betty is one of her best by far. ABC's television show has garnered critical attention over the years, becoming something of a cult classic. Ugly Betty boasts numerous awards and nominations. It even holds an average Rotten Tomatoes critics score of 97%. Fererra's performance as Betty strives to redefine society's views of women, questioning the beauty standards they're often held to. The show also comments on the autonomy women are granted, both professionally and personally. Ugly Betty's feminist views render it similar to Barbie, and Ferrera's performance as Betty is just as praise-worthy as her portrayal of Gloria.

Source: NBC News, Rotten Tomatoes