Can celebrities really manifest their dream roles through style choices?
The award-winning singer is half Ecuadorian from her father's side. Despite her Latino heritage and having recorded a Spanish album, Aguilera does not speak Spanish.
Cameron Diaz is Cuban from her father's side of the family. She has been very vocal about her ineptitude to speak Spanish, often citing she sometimes even struggles with English. It seems that all she has inherited from her Cuban ancestry is her Hispanic last name!
Who would believe that Selena, a.k.a. the Queen of Tejano (Texan) music and one of the most admired singers by Latino communities around the world, did not speak Spanish fluently? Selena reportedly learned all her Spanish songs phonetically, most of which were huge hits.
Charlie Sheen's oldest brother and fellow actor Emilio Estevez reportedly doesn't speak the language either. Allegedly Martin Sheen, their father, only speaks a limited amount himself.
Martin Sheen's youngest son, Carlos Irwin Estévez (Charlie Sheen), does not speak any Spanish despite his Spanish ancestry. Sheen's grandfather, Francisco Estévez Martínez, was from Galicia, Spain.
His real name is James David Rodriguez and he was raised in a Mexican household. Despite all that, the Texan-born actor claims he does not speak any Spanish.
The 'Big Time Rush' star was born to a Dominican mother and a father with Venezuelan and Spanish descent. However, PenaVega does not speak Spanish and has admitted in many interviews that he wishes to learn it.
American actress Melissa de Sousa is the daughter of Panamanian parents (who were also of Portuguese descent). Despite her parent's Latino heritage, Sousa was reportedly not brought up to speak Spanish.
Jake T. Austin is known for his roles in 'The Fosters' and 'The Wizards of Waverly Place.' He is not known for Spanish skills, as the actor seems to lack in that department. Austin's Puerto Rican mother is of Argentine and Spanish descent, but he has yet to learn the language.
'Hellcats' star Heather Hemmens has a black belt in martial arts, has directed and produced shows, but does not speak Spanish. Hemmens' family comes from Costa Rica.
The 'Once Upon a Time' actress was born to a Sicilian mother and Puerto Rico-born father, and used to speak Spanish when she was young. Parilla reportedly does not speak Spanish anymore.
Ferrera is the youngest of six children and her parents were originally from Honduras, but emigrated to the US in the '70s. She speaks a bit of Spanish, but not fluently.
American TV personality and 'Basketball Wives' star Evelyn Lozada is of Puerto Rican descent, was born in Brooklyn, and moved to Miami in 2007. Despite growing up in states that are heavily populated by Hispanics, Lozada reportedly does not speak Spanish.
Gina Rodriguez is second generation Puerto Rican but was brought up speaking mainly English. Her parents believed that if she was better in English, she would not get bullied. Rodriguez gets by with her Spanish and is a strong believer that not speaking Spanish does not make her, or anyone else, any less Latino.
Julian Castro was the mayor of San Antonio, Texas from 2009 up to 2014, when he joined Barack Obama's presidential cabinet. His Mexican mother was a Chicana (civil rights movement) political activist and passed down her passion for politics to her twin sons. However, it's speaking Spanish that Castro did not take from his mother.
See also: Famous stars you didn’t know are Latinos
Texan-born actor Ryan Guzman has Mexican heritage from his father's side. However, despite his Latino background, Guzman reportedly does not speak a word of Spanish.
The Texas native was not brought up to speak Spanish but reportedly picked up the language later on. Longoria is now married to Mexican businessman José Antonio Bastón, with whom she shares a son.
The diva may have sung in Spanish before, but doesn't speak the language. Carey's father was African American and of Afro-Venezuelan descent. Seems she's done just fine without the added language!
Carlos PenaVega's wife and 'Spy Kids' actress Alexa PenaVega speaks a bit of Spanish, although not fluently. The Miami-born star's father is Colombian and her mother is American.
'Clueless' actress Stacey Dash was born to a Mexican-American mother and an African-American father. Despite her maternal Latino ancestry, Dash does not speak Spanish. According to Chron, the star plans on learning the language in order to pass it down to her children.
Some make a big deal about people who do not speak the language of their parents, ancestors, and culture. What do you think? Do you have to speak Spanish to be considered Latino? While you ponder that question, take a look these Latino celebrities who get by with their Spanish or don't speak it at all, and their reasons for it.
Latino stars who don't speak Spanish
Do you have to speak Spanish to be Latino?
CELEBRITY Latinos
Some make a big deal about people who do not speak the language of their parents, ancestors, and culture. What do you think? Do you have to speak Spanish to be considered Latino? While you ponder that question, take a look these Latino celebrities who get by with their Spanish or don't speak it at all, and their reasons for it.