Weeks after NBC made renewal of its comedy Superstore for a sixth season public, the lead actress America Ferrera announced she will exit at the conclusion of the on-going fifth season, according to Variety. Ferrera additionally cited feeling isolated as a Latina in the television industry and wanting to explore different opportunities. She explained that the Latin American community “can write the new mandate for Latinos in this industry. A mandate that says we will lift each other up, and we will lift each other through new doors, that we will celebrate each other’s successes” at the 2020 National Hispanic Media Coalition’s Impact Awards. The actress has established herself as a producer in addition to her various television roles. Ferrera has stated that with the opportunities she’s been granted, she is capable of offering further opportunities for the Latin American writers, directors, actors, and actresses.
Ferrera has been a staple in multiple network television series in addition to starring in successful films dating back to the early 2000s. The actress got her Hollywood start starring in 2002’s Real Women Have Curves, which won the Special Jury Prize at Sundance Film Festival. Further exposure came when she starred in the hit teen comedy-drama The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Television audiences first noticed Ferrera in her lead role as the memorable Betty Suarez on ABC’s hit comedy Ugly Betty. For this role, Ferrera won a Primetime Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2007. The actress has also voiced the lead role of Astrid Hofferson in the How to Train Your Dragon film franchise. Recently, she has had a main role in Superstore, portraying the store manager Amy Sosa. Additionally, Ferrera directed and produced the first season of Netflix’s comedy-drama, Gentefied.
Superstore follows the lives of the employees at St. Louis’ Cloud 9 store and is in the midst of its fifth season. The comedy has been critically acclaimed for its ensemble cast, writing, and Ferrera’s performance in particular. With Ferrera’s departure, many fans have voiced their concerns about the future of the series. While it has been upsetting for the series’ fans, Ferrera’s exit has been well embraced and the future is bright. With her new series Gentefied, critics have applauded the series for its writing, diverse cast, and acting. Check out the trailer for the Netflix series that follows three Mexican-American relatives pursue the American Dream: