Oscar nominee America Ferrera has landed her next role outside of Barbie World.
Ferrera has signed on to star alongside Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey in Oscar-nominated Paul Greengrass' upcoming drama „The Last Bus.” Variety Learned exclusively.
Distributed by Apple Original Films with an original script by Brad Inglesby (“Mare of Easttown”), the film is based on the book “Paradise: One Town's Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire” by Lizzie Johnson. It resulted in over 100 deaths and destroyed much of the city of Paradise, California. It became the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in its history at the time. The film centers on bus driver and teacher Kevin McKay (McConaughey) and Mary Ludwig (Ferrera) who lead a school bus full of young students through the devastating California campfire that ravaged the city of Paradise in 2018. Production this spring.
Ferrera earns her first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Gloria, a mother and Mattel employee who embarks on an adventure to Barbie World in Greta Gerwig's billion-dollar blockbuster „Barbie.” She is the ninth Latina actress ever nominated in the category and the first since Ariana DeBose won for „West Side Story” in 2021.
Ferrera first gained attention with the 2002 film „Real Women Have Curves,” which led to her starring role in the comedy television series „Ugly Betty.” As Betty Suarez, she became the first and only Latina to win a lead comedy actress award at the 2007 Emmys, and is the only one to be nominated in the category more than once. A Golden Globe and SAG-winning actor, Ferrera will make his directorial debut with „I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter,” an adaptation of the acclaimed novel, slated for production in 2024 and written by „Flamin' Hot” writer Linda Yvette. Chavez.
Greengrass earned his only directorial nod for the emotional 9/11 drama „United 93” (2006) and has directed Oscar-nominated and winning films such as „The Bourne Ultimatum,” „Captain Phillips” and „News of the World.” ” McConaughey won the Oscar for best actor for “Dallas Buyers Club” (2013), playing Ron Woodruff, a man who takes up a computer after being diagnosed with HIV.
The new project is produced by Academy Award winner Jamie Lee Curtis' Comet Pictures, Jason Blum's Blumhouse, Ingelsby and Greg Goodman. Lizzie Johnson and Amy Lord are executive producers. This marks the second collaboration between Apple and Inglesby (after the upcoming „Echo Valley” with Julianne Moore).
Ferrera is repped by CAA, ID and Peikoff & Mahan.
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