Jul 6
'11
Jessica Alba: People don’t give me a chance because I’m “racially ambiguous”

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I feel like I see new photos of Jessica Alba every other day, almost all of them “candids” – like, Alba and Honor going to the doctor, Alba and Honor playing in the park, Alba and Honor walking down the street. It is my belief that Alba is trying to work out the same kind of “Every Mom” likeability that Jennifer Garner has and maintains through her endless candid photo shoots with her daughters. The problem? No one really gives a crap about Jessica Alba. Most people aren’t even interested in her second pregnancy, which has to be a big letdown for Alba. After she gave birth to Honor, she gave lots of interviews about how her body was ruined, and she often came across like she was martyring herself, all for motherhood (and public adulation). It was kind of funny. Anyway, Alba covers the new issue of Latina Magazine, and she’s once again trying to get us interested in anything having to do with her bump. Oddly enough, I find her comments about race to be the most interesting things:

On preparing for her second child: “The first time around, every moment was so new and terrifying and now I know what to expect. It’s like ‘It’s fine, I’ve been there before.’ With Honor, I was constantly asking myself ‘Is she moving? Is her heart beating?’ I’d worry about everything, and with this baby I don’t have the same anxieties.”

On balancing motherhood & her career: “After I had Honor I didn’t leave the house for a while. It was all about changing diapers and feedings and still trying to get back in to the routine of my [acting] thing. I love what I do. But unless it’s worth it, I’m not going to spend time away from my daughter. Before I had her, work was all I had. Now it’s not.”

On the possibility of more kids: “I just have to feel it out,” she says with a wink. “See how my 30s treat me. I just try to live in the moment.”

On showing off your shape: “If you are sporting a pregnant belly, it’s better to show it than to hide it. If you look in the mirror and you look really wide and frumpy, then you’re going to appear really wide and frumpy. The more figure forming your clothes, even though you have more curves, the better. I like long, thin sweaters that kind of hide my hips and my booty, so there’s not a huge emphasis on how big they’re getting.”

On her insecurities: “I was a lot more insecure when I was younger. I was very sensitive to criticism. Now I’m definitely a lot more self-assured.” In 2008, she told Latina: “All of the stuff I got made fun of as a kid– bubble butt, fish lips, the dark skin – I’m proud of now.”

On landing her breakthrough role: “I certainly knew the significance of Dark Angel because I knew how difficult it was just to get to that point. A lot of people didn’t even give me a chance based on how racially ambiguous I looked.”

On studying Spanish: “I’ve definitely considered moving to a Spanish-speaking country for a little while, even if it’s just a month or two, because I think at the end of the day that’s how you really learn.”

[From Latina]

“A lot of people didn’t even give me a chance based on how racially ambiguous I looked.” That quote is driving me crazy, mostly because I interpret Alba as blaming her own “ambiguous” ethnicity on the fact that she doesn’t get the kind of roles she wants (as opposed to her being a crappy actress). CB thinks Alba is saying, “I’m not easily classified as Latina or girl next door American, so I didn’t get considered for parts because of that.” Perhaps Alba is just trying to explain why no one wants to work with someone who thinks that because she’s so amazing, she gets to make up her own lines to any script?

By the way, going back to the race thing – Alba has gotten in trouble (“foot in mouth” trouble) for talking about her Mexican roots in the past – it was in 2007 when she talked about how she didn’t self-identify as “Latina” (ironic, considering this magazine interview). You can read more from that 2007 interview here.

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Photos courtesy of WENN.

Written by Kaiser

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Posted in Jessica Biel


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116 Responses to “Jessica Alba: People don’t give me a chance because I’m “racially ambiguous””

  1. Theuth says:

    Yes, she’s obnoxious, but she has a point (however stupidily pointed out)…if you look just a little different, it could be a disadvantage in the industry. And if she “really” didn’t feel Latina even if she looks like one, I don’t think she should be crucified…IF she’s honest and it’s not for publicity.

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  2. Rita says:

    Let me get this straight. She’s been a victim of Hollywood sterotyping latinas which she is not. She’s a nicely tanned “American” who can’t identify with Cameron Diaz(Scandinavian name)who she identifies as a sterotypical latina, except for the blonde hair.

    It’s a good thing Alba is pretty.

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  3. Turtle Dove says:

    Can’t stand her and her endless photo-ops with her child. She comes across as arrogant and unfriendly.

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  4. lucy2 says:

    She always seemed to try to distance herself from her family and heritage, and now suddenly is on Latina magazine? Seems like she’s looking for a new angle.

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  5. sassenach says:

    I think she was just trying to be honest about how she feels about being labeled a Latina. Cameron Diaz and Christina Aguleira could say the same things and people wouldn’t care because they don’t look as ethnic as Jessica. There are a lot of things to critize her for but I don’t see the point in critizing her because of how she sees herself racially.

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  6. Sloane Wyatt says:

    meh Another pretty girl with no talent.

    Gimme more posts on Emma Stone, Hailee Steinfeld, Jennifer Lawrence, or any young, beautiful, and TALENTED celebs.

    Please.

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  7. I don't remember the previous name I used says:

    I think her stance of 2007 is understandable. It is not because you have roots somewhere that you will automatically feel related to them – particularly if you’ve never been connected to them by a mean or another.

    Culture is not a thing you were born with but something you will get (if you want to)throughout your whole life.

    Being one race is one thing, but it doesn’t mean you belong in.

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  8. yesyesyes says:

    @ theuth and lucy 2 : co-sign!

    you still get more roles than “laquisha” jessica so spare me.

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  9. benny says:

    She’s a pretty girl. Her looks are not her problem, it’s her total lack of talent. In fact, I’d wager the only roles she’s gotten so far have been BECAUSE of her looks, not in spite of them. I think she lives in opposite world.

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  10. You don't say says:

    Just to be clear. Being Hispanic/Latino is not a race, it is an ethnicity, since people in that group can be of many races and come in all shades and colors. Some are fair, some are very dark brown, but they are still Hispanic/Latino. That is why it is a different question on the census.

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  11. Jag says:

    She was on Latina magazine shortly after the big backlash when she said not to call her Latina, and that she knew nothing of the culture. (I believe she said the latter.) She’s been saying nice things about wanting to identify and whatnot ever since.

    Can’t stand the woman. She’s pretty, but she’s completely lost me because she’s arrogant and ridiculous.

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  12. TG says:

    @I don’t remember the previous name I used – You are so right. Just look at our President for an example. But I still think Jessica is just plain dumb and not aware of it.

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  13. normades says:

    I thought people didn’t give her a chance because she’s a bad actress.

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  14. bagladey says:

    Ha ha, she’s a joke; she gets no roles because she’s talentless and not likeable.

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  15. JennJenn says:

    She’s whining about her “racially ambiguous” looks keeping her from getting good roles? Please. As others have noted, she can’t act. She owes what career, what fame she has to her hot looks – her big, dark eyes with long lashes, full lips, long, dark tresses, and skin that tans well. Her coloring isn’t that different from Julia Roberts, who became America’s sweetheart through her ability to portray likeable characters on screen.

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  16. stella says:

    She’s had her whirl in the movie business. Maybe if she did stage work and improved on her craft instead of talking about learning Spanish, or better yet, just go be a mother and wife. There’s really no such thing as having it all.

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  17. Sigh. says:

    Does she EVER take responsibility for HER OWN “acting skills?” I swear, straight from The Biel School of Acting Excuses.

    SCREENWRITERS are awful.
    The DIRECTOR told me to pull back.
    A lot of PEOPLE think I’m too ethnic/not ethnic enough.

    TRUST ME, her pretty racial ambiguity is EXACTLY what keeps her afloat in Hollywood.

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  18. ZenB!tch says:

    Jessica, miel (intentionally bad translation of “Jessica, honey”)

    You grew up in the barrio of Pomona. You may be 1/4 Danish but tu papi must be daaark cuz you don’t look white. If anything you look part West Indian or East Indian but luckily for them you aren’t. I look and am 1/2 white (Southern EU not Northern EU like Cam) – most people think I’m middle eastern or Italian. I don’t think I’d be too hard to cast. They make mob movies left and right.

    However, da teeng eez que ellos cast people out of type all the time if the person is talented or “in” enough. The evil J-Lo has played white. Eva Longoria who looks Mexican (unlike you) is on a top TV show. I don’t even know why you are on the cover of a national magazine – no one cares about you – I guess it must have been a slow month for Latina or did you pay them?

    *I apologize for the funky BH Chihuahua language, if it offended anyone but THAT is what she brings out in me. She’s ashamed of being Latina yet she doesn’t really even look like one, I really don’t know what she looks like other than ugly. YUCK!”

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  19. ZenB!tch says:

    @I don’t remember the previous name I used If she grew up in West LA or the Valley and not the barrio of Pomona that would make more sense. I admit I don’t “feel” Latina because I grew up in a multi-culti area where no one culture dominated and American prevailed. Heck, maybe she’s ashamed of the people in Pomona. I am or was until I saw the Jersey Shore (they are very similar – now it’s just funny).

    However, I don’t say I’m not Latina. I say Latina, I’m not like those people with the winged hair and liner. I’m not preppy and WASPy either. I don’t think khaki and pastels flatters my coloring.

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  20. Jana says:

    Spare me. She’s so boring in life and on screen that I don’t even know how she gets parts. She’s beautiful, but it’s like a beautiful that never comes to life.

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  21. ADS says:

    She comes across whiny and entitled. Much like Gwyneth.

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  22. Elizabeth says:

    She has a nice touch in light comedy but if she’s not getting roles, she might want to check out some acting classes.

    And I can’t believe she doesn’t speak spanish. I speak it (somewhat) and my parents are anglos from England. Mark Sanchez said something about wanting to learn Spanish too. What is it with middle class latino kids in LA? Don’t their parents speak spanish to them? I grew up in Canada and if your parents spoke the “old country” language, you were raised speaking it. I grew up with kids who spoke ukranian or polish or italian because their parents were from there and spoke it. Weird that she doesn’t. And US schools teach it all the time. Weird.

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  23. blue says:

    Thank God for her looks because she certainly doens’t have much else going for her, she can’t act and clearly her brain is stuck on dumb.

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  24. Elizabeth says:

    @ Zenb!tch

    UR my new hero! I could almost hear the pronunciation as I read it – too much, miel!

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  25. nona says:

    She is not racially ambiguous.She is mexican.A mexican who wore a blond wing and blue contacts on that horrible movie: The Four Fantastics,or whatever the title is.
    Too bad she can’t explode her potential as a latina woman.Being hyspanic and a bad actress is a combo that worked very well for chicks like Salma and Penelope…

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  26. mln76 says:

    I think the only reason she’s ever got work is BECAUSE of her look and racial ambiguity if she was any good or had a better attitude she could have played a lot of different ‘types’

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  27. Relli says:

    @ Elizabeth it is not weird that many Latinos in the United States dont speak fluent Spanish. In fact a little over half of the Latino population in the United States consider themselves fluent.(THANKS LATINA magazine for that fact)

    I am 100% Mexican but I grew up upper middle class in IOWA, by my Mexican parents who were also raised there during the 50′s and 60′s and racially speaking it wasn’t a good time for people who were not white. For them being children of immigrants Spanish was what set them apart and made them different and for my mother caused some language skill barriers. TRUE Spanish is taught in school but that’s text book Spanish or SPAIN Spanish and isn’t the same. IN FACT Spanish is different in every country its spoken in, I now live in a PR neighborhood and what they speak is completely different dialect than anything i grew up hearing or learning.

    NOW this “old country language” you speak of sure, we know phrases and how to ask for the bathroom, food terms, say your name and introduce yourself but to have a complete conversation and have a native tongued person understand… not so much. SOME of it is insecurities because there people running around saying crazy stuff like, “wow you speak good English for being Mexican” or “why dont you speak better Spanish your parents do and they teach in school, you must be dumb.” Seriously many of us are 2nd and 3rd, even 4th or 5th generation Americans just like people from Germany, Ireland and other European and Asian country’s. I don’t expect my friends to have knowledge of their native tongue so why do people expect me to know Spanish?

    so why do they want to go another country to learn Spanish? because they know they would be submersed in it and be forced to learn out of survival. I cant believe i was just forced to defend Jessica Alba.

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  28. Lisa Turtle says:

    Oh I see whats happening here… “Racially Ambiguous” is the new “I’m too pretty for good roles” – boo f*cking hoo.

    Blame some immutable trait for the complete lack of career. I’m sure Jessica Biel is practicing this line right now, “I’m too racially ambigous for Hollywood! I have a big butt and big lips so nobody knows what race I am!”

    seriously?

    If racial ambiguity were the actual problem with Alba then she would have never gotten the role in Valentine’s Day where she dyed her hair blond and played a bubbly blond girl. I don’t think being Latina has held her back, I think sucking at acting and being content with romantic comedy side parts and “hot chick” roles is the problem with her career.

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  29. Alice says:

    I don’t give her a chance because long ago she proved to be irritating beyond words. The final straw was during her first pregnancy when she expressed her wish for a ‘brown baby’ who could speak Spanish, despite the fact that she doesn’t speak Spanish herself.

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  30. mannequin says:

    Maybe people just plain don’t care. Or maybe people just don’t like you.

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  31. sahidul says:

    I just watched little fockers today and she played the part of Andi Garcia superbly! I just wish she would get offered scripts that suit her.

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  32. garvels says:

    Wow,Hollywood certainly has blessed Penelope Cruz and Selma Hayek…..give me a break,she needs to realize that she lacks the talent to make A list in Hollywood. It has nothing to do with her ethnicity. She looks like a U.S. citizen with a tan. This girl is such a flake.

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  33. jc126 says:

    She got made fun of for “dark skin”? I’ve never, ever seen her skin look dark. And I would have to agree that she doesn’t get roles because her talent is thin at best, and the roles she does take are in horrible movies, so that’s probably why no one puts her in good ones.
    I want to buy this magazine, however; the beauty secrets and 4 must-know recipes are intriguing me.

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  34. XIOnce says:

    Oh… Jessica, Jessica, Jessica. It is not that you’re not Latina enough. It’s just that you’re a TERRIBLE actress and kind of a bitch :)

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  35. 4Real says:

    Its hard for her because she is what we like to call a “coconut”.

    Oh MichaelK is going to GO OFF! I can’t wait…hee hee.

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  36. 4Real says:

    She is NOT Mexican. She is an AMERICAN of Mexican decent (no box on the census for that). PLEASE don’t make me defend the shallow bytch.

    She simply isn’t CULTURED like Penelope and Selma. BIG DIFFERENCE!

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  37. KJ says:

    This “racial ambiguity,” if anything, should HELP girls like her (if they’re somewhat talented) because it frees them up to play roles that aren’t explicitly written for a certain race. There are so many men and women of color who have gotten those roles because they have features that fit multiple ethnicities. I don’t know what she’s smoking, but her “racial ambiguity” being a problem is like her being “too pretty,” like another commenter pointed out.

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  38. Callumna says:

    Racially ambiguous global megastars:

    Keanu Reeves (Asian/Caucasian)
    The Rock (black/Samoan)
    Selma Hayek (actually part Lebanese)
    Johnny Depp
    Lou Diamond Phillips
    Mariah Carey

    We can do this all day.

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  39. Chris says:

    People don’t give her a chance? What freaking world is she living in? She’s a multimillionaire because people have given her multiple chances.

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  40. Camille says:

    Jessica is a pretty woman, but her bitchy, fake ‘nice’ personality and lack of talent turn me right off her. So much so that I can’t stand her.

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  41. Dea says:

    She is a total mediocre acctress with an unattractive personality. She is just one of these lucky chicks that made it in Hollywood.

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  42. gee says:

    I am kicking myself for not saving the study, but there are studies that show women of “ambiguous race” are preferred to whiter looking women to generation Y and younger. So her excuse isn’t totally valid, she just sucks.

    So many actresses of “ambiguous race” are casted today, look at Zoe Kravitz, Mariah Carey, Maggie Q, Olivia Munn, Vanessa Hudgens, Hallee Berry, Rashida Jones.. I can go on. They all act, she needs to get over it.

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  43. Kim says:

    Bubble butt, fish lips?? She has neither? I think she wants to have them but she doesnt. A few yrs ago she said she didnt get hired for good roles because she is to pretty. oh brother! She needs to get a grip- you cant act thats why you dont get decent roles. This girl is one of those where i scratch my head and go why is she famous? Honestly ive seen her in 1 movie and she was terrible.

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  44. Str8Shooter says:

    No Jess…your (stunning) looks have nothing to do with your ‘problem’…its because your unborn baby could probably act circles around you at this point.

    Simply put, you SUCK.

    Oh…and sorry, you’ve had WAY too many chances due to your looks…not the other way around.

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  45. Az says:

    Oh, so NOW she’s Latina. Whatever.

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  46. YAWN! says:

    People don’t give her a chance because she is not a good actor. Many actors have made it bigger then her and do not blame their genes on not getting a role. She really needs a reality check.

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  47. Violet says:

    I never thought she looked “racially ambiguous” — she looks exactly what she is, which is Latina. As to whether that’s hurt her career, there’s probably some truth to that but it certainly doesn’t help that she ad libs her lines.

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  48. liv says:

    i think she’s got it backwards. being “racially ambiguous” would be an advantage not a hinderance. think about it, if you’re racially ambiguous then lots of people could identify with you, thus a larger audience.

    @violet, i don’t think she looks “racially ambiguous” either. she looks like so many latinas in cali, i never looked at her and thought she was anything else. there are people out there that are much more “racially ambiguous.”

    i think it’s funny that miss “don’t call me latina” is on the cover of latina magazine. lol

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  49. courtney says:

    Ms Alba is a talentless braindead ho. the likes of her shouldn’t be allowed to be actresses same goes for Vanessa Hudgens. Julia Roberts can actually act and has the awards to prove it

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  50. pill301 says:

    Did you seriously link to an interview that’s been proven to be fake – that Latina magazine attempted to verify and could not in their previous article and yet, here you are, 4 years later pointing to this made up thing as some “real” interview? Media takeout is SO reliable, after all. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised since you apparently didn’t even read her interview – she says people DID NOT give her a chance BEFORE Dark Angel. note: DIDN’T – she’s not saying right now, she’s saying prior to Dark Angel, she had a hard time getting roles. She’s not talking about now, or complaining about roles NOW, she’s talking about the 20th century, more than 10 years ago. And you seriously turned that into a little screed about her work RIGHT now or in the past few years? I guess it’s not so surprising you think Media TakeOut is reliable or interviews proven by the very magazine you’re referring to be fake are a good link.

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  51. jo says:

    What a shallow vapid twit…. love how she admits her over the top jealousy etc… her kid is kinda fug too… sorry but it’s true.. and her husband.. what the hell does he do? Besides being some old stars son? They are a good couple Mr and Mrs Whiney and the little Whineys

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  52. MorticiansDoItDeader says:

    @relli, thank you so much for the explaination (which saved me from having to write precisely what you said so brilliantly). My grandfather came over from Cuba on the USS North Carolina. When it sank, he and his parents had to swim to shore. They often told neighbors they were Italian and NEVER spoke Spanish. When my grandfather married my grandmother (who was also Spanish-from Spain) they decided that they wouldn’t speak Spanish to my mother and their other children because they thought that would help them assimilate. As a result, we’ve “lost” a part of our cultural identity by abandoning our language. A very sad, but common occurance.

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  53. MorticiansDoItDeader says:

    “I am kicking myself for not saving the study, but there are studies that show women of “ambiguous race” are preferred to whiter looking women”

    @gee, I too remember reading that. I believe the study was focused on how actresses in television commercials were considered more likable when they were racially ambiguous, because most everyone was able to identify with them in some way.

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  54. lachica says:

    I’d like someone to please explain to me how a dark-haired Mexican woman and her African-American husband have managed to produce a BLONDE daughter. Jessica should be ashamed of herself for trying to get her daughter to pass for White.

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  55. rose80 says:

    lachica…ummm are you serious with that question? Both Alba and her husband are half white. Furthermore…blonde hair is not exclusive to those of European descent.

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  56. Katija says:

    @ Callumna

    Not to mention Lenny Kravitz, who just got cast in The Hunger Games movie thanks to his stellar performance in ONE film.

    Racial ambiguity is USEFUL in Hollywood. A lack of talent and a self-pitying attitude when you’re gorgeous, however, is not.

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  57. Jon K says:

    She’s been given many chances to put in a good acting performance, and she has failed every time. She makes a pretty model, and that’s about it.

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  58. Desert Cat says:

    I won’t give her chance because she’s COGNITIVELY ambiguous.

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  59. Desert Cat says:

    I won’t give her chance because she’s COGNITIVELY ambiguous.

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  60. Lucy says:

    I have always thought Jessica Alba was absolutely gorgeous..too bad she can’t act or string two intelligent words together…

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  61. Seth-W says:

    @Rose80
    You’re quite right about being blond is not only a European thing, I was amazed on a trip to Australia to see black people (Aborigines) who had blond shoulder length hair and some even had blue eyes.

    I like Jessica Alba she’s not the greatest acting talent but she’s not the worse either, and if she is unable to identify with a racial/ethnic group,,well that just makes her American.
    I myself tend to be a polyglot, when I read a book with multiple languages, without thinking about it, I would read through three languages and I can partially read two more and yet I don’t feel any real attachment to any one of them, but show me an American flag and everything changes.

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  62. Leticia says:

    She has a huge chip on her shoulder ,and unlike J-Lo, Eva Longoria, etc, Jessica Alba seems to feel conflicted about being Hispanic. She should get over it. She is beautiful and rich, and that transcends all barriers of entry.

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  63. K-MAC says:

    you don’t get work because you are a cry-baby, obnoxious tool of an actress-period.

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  64. So,she’s feeling sorry for herself,because of her race,her looks,and now no one will give her a chance.We all have one life to live,either sit to the side and bumble along,or make the decision to *measure up*and walk against the wind.Making excuses is the easy way out.

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  65. TL says:

    Hmm think of the chance unattractive people get? ummm none

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  66. Carmen says:

    This thing’s problem is she is not as beautiful and talented as she thinks. The industry may pass on her because of the above two. She also had an eating disorder in the past that made her tardy all the time for that flop show dark angel.

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  67. Lulu says:

    The bottom line is she’s just not that talented. She could have had more success being a TV actor than movie actor.

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  68. Isa says:

    Loving some of the comments. Honestly, I don’t even consider the color of her skin when I look at her. You just see a pretty face.

    I know what it feels like to be racially ambiguous. I’m half Mexican half Caucausion. But I’m always getting asked, “What are you?” It’s not a big deal. People are just curious.

    Elizabeth- I don’t speak Spanish. My father never speaks it at home. And even now I ask him to speak it to my daughter and he doesn’t. He has taught her one word, “pinche” which is a cuss word. He tells her to say “pinche bugs” which she has translated to “bugs will pinch you.” He thinks it’s hilarious.

    Quite a few of the half Mexicans I know don’t speak it either. Which we are made fun of for….but everyone gets made fun of for something.

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  69. Launicaangelina says:

    @Relli & @Mortician Ditto.

    My dad is from Mexico & mom is probably a third generation Mexican-American.

    When mom was growing up in the 40s & 50s, speaking Spanish would get them in trouble at school. They would actually receive corporal punishment.

    My parents always wanted us to be successful and educated. In their opinion, to be successful, one needed to speak and write English well. Growing up, they spoke to us in Spanish all the time and we responded in English. Unfortunately, we never became fluent Spanish speakers.

    This seems to be a very common thing among our peers. My sis and I are kids of the 80s and I notice that lack of Spanish speaking skills among my generation to be common. I can speak enough to get by when visiting my family in Mexico but when I want to get more detailed, I have trouble conveying my thoughts clearly.

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  70. jover says:

    Thank you chris and desert cat; this is why much of the public despises these morons; she’s a multi-millionare on almost no talent and no brains – how much more self-absorbed can you get; and she has a fat cosmetic contract and she’s not even a good model – taking a job away from a real model. how about a story on far more worthy esperanza spalding?

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  71. Meanchick says:

    Soooo, she’s beautiful, has a handsome husband, making decent money, having her second child and she’s bitching? Tell you what: stop making movies like ‘Into The Blue’ where u run around in wet panties and allow the camera to film up your hoo-hoo in the water and maybe you’ll get out of Megan Fox territory!

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  72. RocketMerry says:

    I think she’s saying that she never really felt that close to her grandparent’s parents’ culture.
    She could be a bit more gracious about it, though.

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  73. ZenB!tch says:

    @Elizabeth and @Relli I’m not “fluent” either. My accent is perfect north central Mexican. Mi mama es de Durango but I have a very limited vocabulary, I come across as a Mexican with a stuttering problem because I have to stop and think of the Spanish word for what I want to say. My mom wouldn’t let me take Spanish in HS. She said it was too easy. I had to take French. Well I tested into College French 2 and I didn’t want to waste elective spots en Francais so I retested in Spanish, I couldn’t test out. But I did only have to take 3 and 4 vs. 2, 3 and 4. I got an A in 3 – advanced grammar. I knew what sounded right. I got a B- in 4 because we had to read novels.

    There is a point which is that before the Liberals created bilingual education our parents wanted us to learn English and assimilate. Now my mom says I assimilated too well. She is the only person I speak Spanish with. Cousins, friends all speak English.

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  74. ZenB!tch says:

    @Relli @Morticiansdoitdeader There is one difference between us and Jessica Alba – we aren’t saying we aren’t Latinas – I grew up in WLA and the Valley. We are saying we aren’t very good at it. We’re the next phase, like Germans and Irish and Italians before us. Were Americans of Latina extraction, she’s denying she’s Latina. That is the difference. She’s ashamed. We are saying that the stereotype may still exist but we aren’t it.

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  75. Ruby Red Lips says:

    To all those posters above who dismissed the names ‘bubble butt’ etc that Jessica said she was bullied with, how the f*ck can u know she wasn’t bullied!?!!? Kids pick on anything!!

    Also I co-sign with poster above who said she was great in ‘little fockers’. ok so she may not be the best actress but she can def act and is beautiful to boot.

    I have friends of varying ethnicities who have struggled

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  76. Ruby Red Lips says:

    ….with their identities, being raised in a westernised environment whilst disovering their own culture so I understand her point, doesn’t make her ashamed of her heritage

    Also @ Lachica, whst a stupid and ignorant post! Really!?!?!

    (sorry 4 split post!)

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  77. Jazmin says:

    There is nothing ambiguous about her mediocrity as an actor.
    Her voice & tone is also beyond annoying, and that’s another tool for an actor that in her case is missing or put away in some drawer.

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  78. jocular says:

    She’s referring to her breakthrough role. I doubt that 10 years ago people could have accepted a mixed ethnicity president either. Times have thankfully changed even if her acting hasn’t got any better

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  79. Sara says:

    I really liked her after ‘Sin City’ but then every interview I read she sounded like an arrogant bitch and she always says the same few things over and over and over.

    Sick of her.

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  80. eternalcanadian says:

    I have no idea what “racially ambiguous” means so I am just going to ignore Jessica. ;)

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  81. really says:

    racially ambiguous? She looks so very Latina. She is so BORING, and sounds like she has racial insecurity issues.

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  82. gabby says:

    Penelope Cruz is NOT Hispanic. She is a Spainard, who is white.

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  83. Klassy says:

    i can’t name a single movie she’s worked on since fantastic four…why is she still getting magazine covers

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  84. Eve says:

    “A lot of people didn’t even give me a chance based on how racially ambiguous I looked.” That quote is driving me crazy, mostly because I interpret Alba as blaming her own “ambiguous” ethnicity on the fact that she doesn’t get the kind of roles she wants (as opposed to her being a crappy actress).

    It’s ironic because the reason why she’s got roles is directly related to the fact she’s “racially ambiguous”. She owns every single one of her Mexican and Black genes for her beauty yet she acts and talks like she hates having both.

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  85. Iggles says:

    @ jo:
    “her kid is kinda fug too… sorry but it’s true.. and her husband.. what the hell does he do? Besides being some old stars son? They are a good couple Mr and Mrs Whiney and the little Whineys”

    I know it’s mean to talk about kids… but I agree! *runs away from flames*

    Ugh, her husband is gross. Didn’t he cheat on her with Lindsay Lohan?

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  86. jover says:

    Ruby red lips not to put too fine a point on it but much of latin culture is an offshoot of western culture. All the countries – from mexico to argentina – are western democracies, and all the greatest latin american writers/nobel laureates – octavia paz (mexico) gabriel garcia marquez (colombia) admired, studied read the traditional western classics and were friends with and admired by western (american,european) authors/public. This whole cultural thing would be more interesting if the net were cast wider than simply pop culture, certainly each latin country has unique and interesting cultural elements, but they are (unless truly indigenous) rooted in the western tradition. COnsider a country like uruguay settled by italian and spanish immagrants and the subject of a recent wall street journal article. Jessica alba is just a moron and for her to talk about culture is useless – she knows nothing about anything period.Btw, a dozen latin american writers have won the nobel prize but when we talk about “culture” we descend to the taylor swift daddy yankee level as though that circumscribes culture.

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  87. Turd Ferguson says:

    Airhead.
    She cant act, never smiles, and comes across like a robot in every film.

    Who cares what nationality she is, she had her foot in the door already and was a pretty girl – if she had ANY ability she would have tons of great roles.

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  88. Hazel says:

    Honestly, I would love to be “racially ambiguous”. I hate being pinpointed to a specific race, especially when I’m travelling.

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  89. Eve says:

    Eesh! I meant “She owes every single one of her Mexican and Black genes for her beauty yet she acts and talks like she hates having both.”

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  90. Isa says:

    Oh and to top it all off I have a Southern accent. I sound ridiculous when trying to speak Spanish.

    Hola, y’all! haha.

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  91. Kim says:

    She is intelligently ambiguos thats for sure.

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  92. dahlia1947 says:

    Jag: She was on Latina magazine shortly after the big backlash when she said not to call her Latina, and that she knew nothing of the culture. (I believe she said the latter.)
    ______________________
    Yep exactly. So ever since then she’s been making nice with the mag. I think she’s just two-faced and a big complainer!

    In interviews she’s usually blaming everything and everyone else (like her “first time directors” comment in ELLE) but herself for her crappy acting.

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  93. dr.bombay says:

    Yawn. This girl needs to find a new whining topic. Everytime she’s interviewed, it’s the SAME thing!

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  94. dahlia1947 says:

    It seems like she’s desperately trying to stay relevant. First it was those topless and post preggo pics (very gross by the way).
    Then those shots of her leaning against a railing with a short skirt and a thong while paps snapped away right around the time Machete was released.

    Um it just doesn’t seem to be working.

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  95. Nikki Girl says:

    What the hell is she babbling about? She comes across as pretentious and dim-witted. Maybe her lack of roles comes from the fact that she’s a horrendous actress, not the fact that she’s “racially ambiguous”, wtf that means. Moron.

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  96. Mairead says:

    “A lot of people didn’t even give me a chance based on how racially ambiguous really boring I looked am.”

    There. I fixed it for her :mrgreen:

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  97. leo says:

    she doesn’t get good roles cause she sucks at acting ! she is wooden

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  98. DrM says:

    Sorry honey but people don’t ‘give you a chance’ because you’re boring, you complain a lot and most importantly you are a terrible actor!

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  99. Mouse says:

    *YAWN* Stick to what you’re good at, Alba: getting knocked up and modeling Revlon nail polish.

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  100. Meow says:

    Ugh. Whiner to the max much?

    She’s stunning, I’ll give her that. But she’s terrible at acting, and obviously an obnoxious little twit.

    Great role model. NOT.

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  101. hannah says:

    Seriously, most casting directors are looking for racially ambiguous. they actually specify that. I can only play white, she can play anything, well if she could act!

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  102. Cakes says:

    Or because youre a sanctimonious, no talent, bitch. But nice try using the race card.

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  103. The Bobster says:

    Jessica Alba: People don’t give me a chance because I’m “racially ambiguous”

    __________

    Bullshit. That was the only reason WHY she was ever given a chance.

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  104. koko269 says:

    How about hiring an acting coach? That will help you land some jobs.

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  105. krys says:

    shes pretty, but bad actress and no brain, and i agree it sounds like she hate her racial mix, she dont get roles cuz shes not good ..

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  106. Ash says:

    Yeah you are a terrible actress And who cares about your pregnancy and who names their kid honor?really Latina idiot?

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  107. Shemp says:

    Poor Ms. Jessica A! She gets hundreds of thousands, if not millions, for appearing in many lame movies and she’s CRYIN’ THE POOR-ME BLUES.

    I WONDER IF Ms. Alba ever heard of Ricardo Montelban? [excuse please if I misspell his name] This guy had a H’wood career than spanned DECADES and he’s played virtually every ethnicity on this planet in westerns, drama, science fiction, etc. Also, she should look up the name “Anthony Quinn” (Mexican/Irish) who has played an Inuit, Italian, Greek, etc. blah-blah.

    I liked Ms. Alba in her series “Dark Angel” but in most movies I’ve seen her in, she has proven herself to be, at best, a MEDIOCRE actress. True, she’s beautiful, but that only goes so far in H’woodland. She should take some acting lessons and lose the attitude or become “the next Megan Fox.” (ie, a pretty has-been)

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  108. latina says:

    What is this fake wannabe GRINGA doing in this cover, hold on not even the gringas want her… So where can we get her on there covers…

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