Constance Marie: Things used to be a lot worse for ladies in the profession

• Constance Marie has been in films such as Selena (1997) and TV dramas such as Undone and Switched At Birth.
• She believes that the Western television landscape is doing a better job of representing changing reality.
• “Back in the day, it was a lot worse,” she says.

As Constance Marie stated, “When it comes to changing portrayal of women on screen in Hollywood, I don’t know if we are at the forefront. Maybe not,” adding, “But yes, one has to note that, back in the day, it was a lot worse.”

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The actor says how, “Like we couldn’t even (do anything). As a woman, you were always the thing that needed to be rescued. You are always (standing there). You are never the lead of anything,”

How? “As if we couldn’t even do it” (do anything). You were always the one who needed to be saved as a woman. You’re always there for me (standing there). “You’re never the leading man in anything,” the actor says.

She is relieved that such preconceptions have now been disproved, “We have had some good years (now) where there will be more representation for people of colour and women in particular,”

The 56-year-old actor, who is proud to contribute to the movement with her web series, Undone, which follows three Latina women as they explore their realities with a focus on their legacy.

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The American actor, who has appeared in films such as George Lopez, Selena, and Switched at Birth said, “I honestly think in television, there are better and more complex as well as richer roles written for women. When it is compared across the border, usually for features, it’s not so much.”

Marie is now crossing her fingers, hoping that the upward trend would continue. She concludes, sending a message to all of her female coworkers, “In fact, women of colour never left (the industry). We have always been here. Now, we just need to keep the momentum going as we have got to the peaks now. So, let’s just keep the bar high.”