Seda's Glory
Jon
Seda talks about being a Latino actor in Hollywood.
By
qvStaff
 Jon
Seda is one of Hollywood's brightest young stars. The handsome
Latino actor has earned thousands of fans who have flocked to
see him in movies like "Selena," and "I Like It
Like That" and on television on the Emmy Award-winning dramas
"Homicide: Life on the Streets," and "Oz."
Seda's first acting role
was in the film, "Gladiator," in which he played a
boxer. The role was right at home for Seda, a former Golden Gloves
amateur boxer who had won more than 20 bouts.
After "Gladiator,"
Seda earned roles in many other big films including "12
Monkeys," and "Primal Fear." Some of his most
memorable roles were in the films "I Like It Like That,"
for which he earned a 1995 Spirit Award nomination, and "Selena,"
in which he portrayed Chris Perez, the husband of the slain Tejano
singer, Selena.
Seda is a great Latino actor and role model in the sense that
nearly all of his roles have been positive portrayals of Latinos.
He explains to qvMagazine, "It's always a plus to do as
many positive films as you can. For me, that's been a big part
of my career to do as many positive roles as I can. I've been
very fortunate."
 In
his latest film, "Price of Glory," Seda again portrays
a very positive character named Sonny Ortega. Seda explains,
"Sonny, my character, is a Golden Boy, kind of like Oscar
de la Hoya. He has to deal with the pressures of being pushed
into the career of boxing by his father, who is played by Jimmy
Smits. It is his dream that he is trying to live through me.
My character, when he gets older, wants something outside of
just boxing-he wants marriage, a family. That causes some turmoil
in the family because my father forgets that he is a father-he's
more like a manager. He thinks it's going to affect our goal,
which is to become champions of the world. My character has to
come to the decision to have to fight for what he wants, outside
of his father."
Seda's character in "Price
of Glory" takes him full circle in his boxing experience.
He says, "When I read the script, I had to do it. I dreamt
of being this character. I thought that was going to be me for
real. When I had the opportunity to play it, basically, I had
the opportunity to live a dream."
Seda believes that it is
very important for young Latinos to see other Latinos on screen.
"It gives them confidence in the fact that they can achieve
their goals and dreams," he says. "It shows that there
are others out there that happen to be just like them and grew
up in the same way. It's a matter of feeling good about yourself
and seeing that Latinos can succeed."
And what kind of advice
does Seda have for his fans? Work hard and never give up! "Nothing
good comes easy. I've learned that the harder you work, the more
you will receive."
Next up for Seda is an
A&E Network movie called "Thin Air." He also just
shot a pilot for NBC for a new TV series called "Good Guys,
Bad Guys," in which he plays a Cuban crime boss. As for
"The Price of Glory," check your local listings to
see where it's playing in your area.
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