The small but powerful list of Latinos leading Emmy nominees

The Emmy nominations are here, which means conversations about representation have begun. It’s not only about who made the list but who didn’t. This year, the Latino acting nominees can be counted on one hand. Oscar Isaac, Colman Domingo, and Carlos Manuel Vega are the only actors nominated. Meanwhile, Bad Bunny earned major recognition for his Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show, breaking the record as the most Emmy-nominated halftime show in history.

But taken as a whole, this year’s nominations also paint a familiar reality. While Latino performers continue shaping a global culture on and off the screen, that impact isn’t always reflected across the major acting categories. While things can always improve, here are the artists holding space for la cultura. 

Oscar Isaac 

© Getty

Oscar Isaac has built one of Hollywood’s most versatile careers over the last decade. The 47-year-old actor, born in Guatemala to a Guatemalan mother and Cuban father, was raised in Miami and has seamlessly moved between independent films, television, and blockbuster franchises, becoming one of the industry’s most respected actors.

This year, he earned his second Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for Netflix’s Beef, adding another milestone to his career. 

© Getty

Known for his fearless performances, the Golden Globe winner has never shied away from talking about representation. During his 2022 Saturday Night Live monologue, the actor proudly introduced himself using his full name. “My name is Oscar Isaac, but my full name is Oscar Isaac Hernandez Estrada.”

He then joked about the advice he received early in his career. “I said to Hollywood… you can pick two of these names. Guess what they went with? The white ones.”

His story reflects a reality many Latino actors have shared over the years, where names, identities, and even accents are seen as obstacles, used as stereotypes, or cheap laughs.  Today, Isaac’s nomination represents how far the industry has come, while also reminding audiences why authentic representation still matters.

Colman Domingo

© Amy SussmanGetty

Year after year, Colman Domingo has been unstoppable with nominations. The artist, whose father is from Belize with Guatemalan roots, received two Emmy nominations this year: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for The Four Seasons and Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for Euphoria.

Already an Oscar nominee, Emmy winner, and Tony Award-winning actor, Domingo continues to build one of the most celebrated careers in entertainment while bringing greater visibility to Afro-Latino and queer representation on screen.

Carlos-Manuel Vesga

© Getty

For Colombian actor Carlos-Manuel Vesga, this year’s Emmy nominations marked a career milestone. The Bogotá native earned his first Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for Apple TV+’s Pluribus.

Known to many international audiences through Netflix’s The Hijacking of Flight 601, Vesga’s recognition highlights the growing presence of actors coming directly from Latin America and finding global audiences through streaming television.

His nomination is another example of Latin American talent reaching Hollywood without leaving its identity behind.

Bad Bunny 

© Kevin Sabitus

While Latino representation in the acting categories remained limited, Bad Bunny once again proved that Latino artists continue to redefine television’s biggest moments.

His Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show received nine Primetime Emmy nominations, surpassing Lady Gaga’s previous record to become the most Emmy-nominated halftime show ever.

The Puerto Rican superstar is nominated as both the show’s lead performer and one of its producers in the Outstanding Variety Special (Live) category, adding another historic achievement to a year that also saw him win three Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year for Debí Tirar Más Fotos.

Who is missing?

© Getty

At the same time, this year’s nominations left many expected Latino contenders out. Performers like Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building), Andy García (Landman), Zoe Saldaña (Lioness), Ariana DeBose and Oscar Nuñez all entered awards season with momentum but ultimately did not receive nominations.

It should be noted that while she may have missed out on an acting nomination, she is an Emmy nominee as an executive producer of Only Murders in the Building.

© Getty

Another notable absence was Liza Colón-Zayas. After making history in 2024 as the first Latina to win the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for The Bear, the Puerto Rican actress helped announce this year’s nominations but did not hear her own name called.