In Disney’s musical fantasy film, Descendants: Rise of Red, the fourth installment of the popular Descendants franchise, actress Kylie Cantrall plays the title character, Red, the rebellious daughter of the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland. Cantrall, who is Venezuelan on her mother’s side, has a long history with Disney spanning several series, including Raven’s Home, Gabby Duran & the Unsittables, and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.
When Latina Media Co asked Cantrall during a recent interview about the opportunity to represent women of color in Disney projects like Descendants: Rise of Red, she said she embraced that aspect of her role and the fact that a movie like this one doesn’t have to rely on a love story to advance the narrative.
“There are so many aspects of this film that are game changers,” Cantrall, 19, said. “It’s really a reflection of the time that we’re in. For [Black actress Malia Baker and I] to be carrying a franchise and carrying a movie as women is such a cool thing. We’re definitely not waiting for some knight in shining armor to come and save us.”
Below is a look at five more Latina actresses who have starred in live-action Disney roles in TV series and made-for-TV movies. Descendants: Rise of Red debuts July 12, 2024 on Disney+ and August 9, 2024, on the Disney Channel.
Scarlett Estevez in Ultra Violet & Black Scorpion
In the 2022 action-comedy series Ultra Violet & Black Scorpion, Scarlett Estevez plays Violeta “Violet” Rodriguez, a 13-year-old girl who becomes a speedy superhero after she puts on a magical luchador mask. She teams up with her superhero uncle, Black Scorpion, who becomes her mentor. Estevez, who is half Mexican, is best known for her role in the TV series Lucifer and for playing Mark Wahlberg’s daughter in the comedy movies Daddy’s Home and Daddy’s Home 2. Some of her other Disney projects include Bunk’d, Raven’s Home, and Christmas…Again?!
Sara Echeagaray in Big Shot
In Season 2 of Big Shot, Mexican American actress Sara Echeagaray plays Ava Navarro, a talented albeit hot-headed beach volleyball player who is recruited to play basketball by coach Marvyn Korn (John Stamos) and the Westbrook Sirens after she gets kicked off her volleyball team. Ava isn’t excited about attending an all-girls high school, but after she warms up to her new teammates, the Sirens start finding success on the hardwood.
Adrienne Bailon in Cheetah Girls
Cheetah Girls follows four teenage girls from Manhattan who sign with a music label after an impressive audition for the school talent show. One of the girls is Chanel “Chuchie” Simmons (Adrienne Bailon). Bailon, who is Puerto Rican and Ecuadorian, stars in all three TV films, The Cheetah Girls, The Cheetah Girls 2, and The Cheetah Girls: One World. The group also became a real-life musical act, which released three albums: Cheetah-licious Christmas, In Concert: The Party’s Just Begun Tour, and TCG.
Raini Rodriguez in Austin & Ally
In Austin & Ally, actress Raini Rodriguez plays Trish De la Rosa, a sarcastic 15-year-old fashionista who becomes the personal stylist and manager of Austin Moon (Ross Lynch) and best friend of Ally Dawson (Laura Marano). During the series, Trish is always changing jobs and works as an employee at several fictional stores, including Cupcake City, Yo-Yo Cart, Cheese Out of My League, Pirate Frank’s Fish Fry, and Megaphone World.
Selena Gomez in Wizards of Waverly Place
Mexican American megastar Selena Gomez got her first lead role in a TV series when she played a teenage wizard from Manhattan named Alex Russo in Wizards of Waverly Place. The series, which ran for four seasons, follows Alex and her two brothers, Justin (David Henrie) and Max (Jake T. Austin). In it, Alex uses her magical powers every day but tries to keep them a secret. Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie premiered as a TV flick in 2009.
