That’s what actors are

Baz Dreisinger seems confused about what “race” or ethnicity Jennifer Lopez plays in the movie “Maid in Manhattan” (“J. Lo’s Sleight-of-Hand,” Dec. 22), yet she says Lopez makes continual references to her Puerto Rican background in the film. What’s so bewildering? Jennifer has always made it loud and clear she’s a Boricua from the Bronx, and she happens to include it in her latest film. Dreisinger asks, “Doesn’t all this make J. Lo the poster gal for Puerto Rican America?” Maybe.

I commend Dreisinger’s recounting the talents of Rita Hayworth; so then why does it seem like an insult when she calls Hayworth and J. Lo “chameleons”? That’s what all good actors are, and what they get paid to do. And, yes, sometimes J. Lo uses tanning cream and “urban clothing,” and “pulls off European designers with the best of them.” Why is this an issue when it comes to J. Lo? Many actors can act and look “ghetto” one minute and in the next look very “European.” She further states, “If ‘Latin-ness’ can be taken on and off, sported for one film or video shoot and then discarded for another, then how absolute can it be?” I don’t know, Baz, you tell me! As a Latina, I am sure you can enlighten me (no pun intended).

Elizabeth Casillas-Stergiou

Carson