Speaking to Variety, John Leguizamo reflected on his decades in Hollywood while attending the movie’s New York premiere, describing his career as an ongoing fight for Latino representation.
The actor appears in Christopher Nolan‘s epic as Eumaeus, the loyal swineherd who remains devoted to Odysseus throughout his long journey home.
John Leguizamo Says Latino Representation Has Defined His Hollywood Journey
Asked what his own “odyssey” had been, Leguizamo did not point to a memorable role or career milestone. Instead, he framed his experience in the entertainment industry around advocacy. “It’s always been a battle. Hollywood is not the most accepting place,” he said.
The veteran actor also pointed to what he sees as a disconnect between audience support and industry opportunities. “Even though we Latin people are 30% to 40% of the box office and a third of streamers, we’re the most aggressively underrepresented group in America,” Leguizamo said, reiterating a concern he has raised throughout his career.
His comments arrived as “The Odyssey” prepares for its theatrical release. Directed by Nolan, the adaptation of Homer’s classic poem stars Matt Damon as Odysseus and features an ensemble that includes Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong’o, Jon Bernthal, and Leguizamo as Eumaeus, the faithful servant who plays a key role in Odysseus’ return to Ithaca.
Leguizamo has spent more than four decades working across film, television, stand-up comedy, and Broadway. His credits range from “Carlito’s Way,” “Romeo + Juliet,” and the “John Wick” franchise to voicing Sid in the “Ice Age” films and Bruno in “Encanto.”
Alongside his acting career, he has consistently championed Latino stories through projects such as “Latin History for M**ons,” “American Historia: The Untold History of Latinos,” and “Leguizamo Does America,” making representation a defining theme of both his work and his public advocacy.