Selena Movie Cast: Where Are They Now?
¿Y Ahora? Where is the Cast of the Selena Bio Pic Today?
For many Latinxs across the world, Selena Quintanilla was a singer who needed no introduction at the time of her stardom. Today — 26 years after her death — the late Tejano singer is still remembered as one of the brightest young performers in Latin-American music history. Various directors have tried to capture Selena's journey from a small-time performer to the beloved international icon she became. Still, one of the most memorable film adaptations is the 1997 biopic, "Selena." Directed by Gregory Nava, the movie premiered two years after her death and was spectacularly well-received by the public. Starring Jennifer Lopez as Selena, the film covers her start in music, her ascent to stardom, her whirlwind romance with fellow band member Chris Perez (played by Jon Seda), and her death at just 23 years old. Selena's own father worked as an executive producer on the film, helping to craft a narrative true to his daughter's legacy. Besides capturing Selena's artistic journey, a central part of the story's narrative is how she surpassed barriers with her music — not just as a performer of Mexican descent in America, but also as a woman in the male-dominated Tejano music genre. Heralded as the "Queen of Tejano Music," Selena represented a bridge between cultures for many Chicanos. Despite not speaking Spanish well, Selena sang almost exclusively in that language, breaking into the American music industry and scoring herself a Grammy. In the movie, Selena's father Abraham says, "We have to be more Mexican than the Mexicans and more American than the Americans — both at the same time! It's exhausting!" Both the movie "Selena" and the star herself show audiences that you don't have to pick a side; you can just come as you are. The movie remains a staple of Mexican-American film narratives and many viewers at the time considered this movie Lopez's big break. Still, she's not the only decorated actor to continue working on notable projects after the commercial success of this biopic — read on to find out where the cast of "Selena" is today.
--Additional reporting by Celia Fernandez
Jennifer Lopez as Selena Quintanilla
Edward James Olmos as A.B. Quintanilla Jr.
Jon Seda as Chris Perez
Constance Marie as Marcella Quintanilla
Jacob Vargas as Abie Quintanilla
Jackie Guerra as Suzette Quintanilla
Lupe Ontiveros as Yolanda Saldívar
