In Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, every character is carefully crafted. From the stereotypical Barbie to Beach Ken and dorky Allan, the dolls stand out, but Gerwig also focuses on human characters.
This includes the goofy Mattel CEO played by Will Ferrell and the abrasive teenager Sasha, portrayed by Ariana Greenblatt. Fans really loved America Ferrera’s character, Gloria. She’s a different kind of silly person, something not often shown in movies.
Ferrera stars as Gloria, a mom and Mattel worker whose doubts and dreams trigger a crisis for Stereotypical Barbie (played by Margot Robbie) in Barbie Land. The LA native’s strong performance has sparked Oscar buzz for her this year, leading to her nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Now, she’s gearing up for another feminist movie but as a director. Fans who enjoyed Ferrera’s performance in Barbie are excited to see her directorial debut as well.
America Ferrera’s Directorial Debut Following Barbie’s Success
America Ferrera will make her directorial debut in the adaptation of I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter. The film is about Julia Reyes, a teenager with a sharp wit and big dreams of becoming a famous writer.
It’s about her trying to meet her parents’ expectations while also breaking away from their Mexican culture. The story focuses on a dysfunctional Mexican family living in the US as a whole. Per Deadline the synopsis of the story is:
“The story follows Julia Reyes, a teen with a sharp tongue, a fierce wit and big dreams of becoming a famous writer, somewhere far, far away from Chicago and her traditional Mexican immigrant parents who just can’t understand her love for Whitman, Dickinson and the Ramones. They wish she was more like Olga, Julia’s sister, now eternally perfect since her tragic death. As Julia seeks to break free of her oppressive home, she tries to uncover her sister’s truth, and in the process gains a deep understanding of the wounds her family carries.”
Check out some fan reactions supporting Ferrera’s directorial debut:
Best director nomination incoming
— Blu💙🐀 (@guest33_44) February 5, 2024
America Ferrera making her directorial debut in the adaptation of "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter" is exciting news! The story of Julia Reyes, a teenager with big dreams and a sharp wit, promises to resonate with many audiences.
— Sobi (@Sobi11692038) February 5, 2024
And we will be seated to support mother
— ATY (@ITAYJJ) February 5, 2024
This is another big win for Queen America!! 😊😊 pic.twitter.com/XpZI1ga4TS
— NinjaRivs (@NinjaRivs) February 5, 2024
This is incredibly exciting news! America Ferrera stepping into the director's chair for the adaptation of 'I AM NOT YOUR PERFECT MEXICAN DAUGHTER' promises to bring Julia Reyes' vibrant character and powerful story to life in an unforgettable way.🎬🌟
— Ekaterina 🌸🤍 (@Eliza381284) February 6, 2024
The 39-year-old has directed episodes of Superstore, the NBC workplace comedy (which she also produced and starred in), but I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter will be her first time directing a feature movie.
More About I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter is in development at Amazon MGM Studios’ Orion Pictures. The screenplay is by Linda Yvette Chávez, based on Erika Sánchez’s bestselling novel. The project was initially set up at Netflix but is no longer attached now.
Producers for the film include Doreen Wilcox Little, Charles D. King, and Poppy Hanks from MACRO Film Studio, along with David Kuhn from Aevitas Creative Management and Anonymous Content. Erika Sánchez and Greta Talia Fuentes from MACRO Film Studio will serve as executive producers.
Looks like fans will have to wait a little longer to see America Ferrera’s directorial feature, but they can definitely watch her Oscar-nominated work in Barbie, available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
