Key Takeaways
- Ariana Greenblatt’s father is of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, and her mother is Puerto Rican
- She has mainly played Latin characters in her career.
- She hopes to be a positive influence on the representation of the Latin community.
The teenage sensation Ariana Greenblatt is the daughter of Solimar Greenblatt, her mother, and Shon Greenblatt, her father.
Her mother is Puerto Rican, while her father is of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. So, Ariana identifies as half-Jewish and half-Puerto Rican.
Furthermore, her ethnical lineage extends to the Caribbean, as her maternal great-grandmother is Taino-Indian.
In a YouTube video posted by Disney Channel celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, she revealed that her grandfather moved to America when he was 19 and learned English by watching TV.
She also seems very fond of her family’s culture of getting together and having fun.
She said,
When everyobody’s together in my family, it’s a humongous party, we dance salsa, and sing loud music
Ariana Greenblatt
In addition to this, she has also inherited one more interesting thing: top-secret recipes!
She says her family has many top-secret recipes that she can not tell anyone.
How Does Ariana Greenblatt Portray Her Ethnicity On Screen?
Talking about her portrayal of her ethnicity on screen, the teenage actress nobly represents both sides of her ethnicity.
However, in general, she has been cast to play Latin characters or younger versions of characters who are portrayed by other Latin actresses.
In Avengers: Infinity War, she played the younger version of the character, ‘Gamora‘, played by Zoe Saldana, who is of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent.
Additionally, in Disney+’s ‘Ahsoka,’ she portrayed the younger version of the character, ‘Ahsoka,’ played in bulk by Puerto Rican actress Rosario Dawson.
Moreover, she has played Latin characters in films like “In The Heights“ and “Barbie.“
Ariana Greenblatt, from her part, has represented the Latin community on the big screen.
However, she says there is still a long way to go until the Latin community is fairly and equally represented in popular media.
Furthermore, she hopes to be a positive influence on the audience.
Speaking to Civilian Magazine, Ariana Greenblatt has also stated that she stays away from negative stereotype roles.
She said,
The writer always has something to say or that they are trying to convey. I stay away from negative-stereotype roles, even if they have some huge director or studio behind them. I’m hyper-aware of my audience and my fan base, which are predominantly other girls just like me, so I always try to remember that.
Ariana Greenblatt
As she continues her journey of fair representation, we all look forward to what she does now.
In Case You Did Not Know
- Her father, Shon Greenblatt, is also an actor.
- Ariana Greenblatt’s advocacy also focuses on teen homelessness & mental wellness, and animal welfare initiatives.
