Actress and activist America Ferrera, who turns 40 this week, overcame childhood poverty to become a global star
WORDS: ISOBEL PANKHURST PHOTOS: ANDREW ECCLES, ABC, WARNER BR/EVERETT/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK, GETTY
ALL AMERICA
When America Ferrera heard she had been nominated for Best Supporting Actress at this year’s Academy Awards, for her role as Gloria in Greta Gerwig’s blockbuster Barbie, she couldn’t believe it at first.
“There was a moment where I wasn’t sure if I had made it up,” America admitted. “And then my phone started blowing up so I figured that I must have heard it right.”
Three of those people calling were her co-stars in one of her early movies, The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants, made back in 2005 – Blake Lively, Amber Tamblyn and Alexis Bledel. The trio all jumped on a group video call to congratulate their friend.
“They FaceTimed me as a group right away,” America said at the time. “It was hilarious and funny and emotional, and it’s wonderful to be celebrated and held up by my sisters. These women who I’ve had the honour of growing up with in this industry and being loved and cheered on and supported by them. Which we all do for each other. They’re amazing, and such a gift in my life.”
Growing up in Los Angeles, America, who is celebrating her 40th birthday this week, was close to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood while living worlds apart from the showbiz lifestyle. Born in 1984 to Honduran immigrants América Griselda Ayes and Carlos Gregorio Ferrera, she was the youngest of six children and has been open about times at school when she went hungry as the family struggled financially.
She was just seven years old when her father left the family home and returned to Honduras. Reflecting on this in later years, America said, “My mother taught me the importance of hard work. My father, Gregorio, walked out on us when we were kids so it was all down to her. [My mom] never took benefits and worked all her life, right up to today.”
America’s mother, who worked as a housekeeper at Hilton Hotels, instilled a strong work ethic in her daughter and stressed the importance of higher education. America became interested in acting from a young age, performing in her first stage productions at school. After finishing high school, she studied theatre and international relations at the University of Southern California, however, encouraged by her professors, she took a leave of absence after her acting career took off.
Ten years later she
