Oscar, Golden Globe, and Emmy-nominated actress/ choreographer/advocate Rosie Perez to receive Hispanic Heritage Award for Leadership

In addition to Rosie Perez, other 2025 Honorees include: RAUW ALEJANDRO (Vision), FELIX CONTRERAS (Journalism), CHEECH MARIN (Arts),  JULISSA PRADO (Entrepreneurship) and GLORIA TREVI (Legend)

WASHINGTON, D.C.  -The Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) announced today that Oscar, Golden Globe, and Emmy-Nominated Actress/Choreographer/Advocate Rosie Perez will receive the Hispanic Heritage Award for Leadership on September 4^th at the Warner Theatre in Washington, DC.  Perez will be joined by previously-announced 2025 Honorees: Singer Rauw Alejandro, Journalist Felix Contreras, Actor/Comedian/Art Collector Cheech Marin, Entrepreneur Julissa Prado ,and Singer Gloria Trevi. The Awards will be broadcast on PBS during Hispanic Heritage Month.

“Rosie Perez is being recognized for her multifaceted impact on our community and beyond as her shining leadership has blended her artistic accomplishments with her advocacy,” said Antonio Tijerino, president and CEO of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation.  “Rosie is not only an Academy Award–nominated and Emmy-winning actress, dancer, and choreographer whose performances have left an indelible mark on film, television, and theater but she is also an indefatigable activist for justice, service and representation.  We look forward to honoring Rosie during an evening of unity, resilience, impact, vision, and cultural pride.”

Rosie Perez has been a cultural mainstay since her breakout performances in such classic films as Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing,” Ron Shelton’s “White Men Can’t Jump” and Peter Weir’s “Fearless.”

Perez recently starred opposite Billy Crystal in the Apple TV+ limited series “Before.” Previously, she starred opposite Bryan Cranston in the second season of “Your Honor” on Showtime as ‘Olivia Delmont,’ a charismatic assistant U.S Attorney. Prior to that, she starred as ‘Megan Briscoe’ in two seasons of HBO Max’s critically acclaimed series, “The Flight Attendant,” opposite Kaley Cuoco. The role garnered her an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. The Flight Attendant has received multiple nominations, including a Golden Globe nomination for Best Comedy Series and a SAG nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, an Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series. Other recent credits include Apple TV+ bilingual thriller “Now and Then,” the drama series was shot in Spanish and English, the Netflix animated series “Human Resources,” the innovative feature “With/In,” a made-at-home anthology film revolving around themes of confinement and isolation and the short film Coco and Gigi which she wrote and directed.

In 2020, Perez starred in “The Last Thing He Wanted,” opposite Anne Hathaway and Ben Affleck for Netflix and as ‘Detective Renee Montaya’ in Warner Bros. “Birds of Prey,” opposite Margot Robbie. Her other film credits include: Bergman’s “It Could Happen to You,” “Untamed Heart” and “The Take,” in which she was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award.

Perez has also made her mark on the stage. She received strong reviews for her performance in “The Ritz” and made her Broadway debut in the hit revival of Terence McNally’s “Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune.” Perez returned to Broadway in2015 for the highly successful “Fish in the Dark” with Larry David.

Perez is a proud Puerto Rican, born and raised in Brooklyn New York. Throughout her career, Perez has been a vocal activist for a number of causes including HEART 9/11 and serves as the Artistic Board Chair for Urban Arts Partnership. In 2010, President Barack Obama appointed her to The Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA). Rosie is the author of Handbook for an Unpredictable Life: How I Survived Sister Renata and My Crazy Mother, and Still Came Out Smiling (with Great Hair). She is also a long-time boxing fan who can often be found ringside — it’s how she earned the nickname “The First Lady of Boxing.”

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The Hispanic Heritage Awards (HHAs) were established by The White House in 1988 to commemorate the creation of Hispanic Heritage Month in America and are often recognized as “America’s Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration” and supported by 40 national, Latino-serving institutions. The HHAs recognize Latino accomplishment, vision, and cultural pride. Watch highlights from last year’s awards HERE & find all past HHA Honorees HERE.

About the Hispanic Heritage Foundation

The Hispanic Heritage Awards serve as a launch of HHF’s year-round mission focused on education, workforce, societal impact, and leadership. Visit www.HispanicHeritage.org. Follow HHF on Instagram, Facebook, X, and TikTok.  Listen to the HHF podcast Fritanga on your favorite streaming service and HHF YouTube channel.

For more information on the 38^th Hispanic Heritage Awards, please contact John Reilly, [email protected] or Nicolás Peña, [email protected].

For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Jessica Herrera, [email protected]

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