The air is crisp and the leaves are turning the golden colors of fall. This can only mean one thing: it’s “Gilmore Girls” season! The popular television series, which first aired on the WB channel, in 2000, remains an important part, aka new tradition, of autumn for fans across generations. Yet, while many enjoy the show’s quick wit and timeless charm of the show, few know that one of its stars, Alexis Bledel, is Latina.
In fact, Bledel’s own backstory adds a fascinating layer to her role as Rory Gilmore, a bookish and ambitious young woman navigating her way through life in Stars Hollow. Despite her portrayal of an all-American girl, Bledel’s identity is deeply tied to her Latina roots — a fact that even some of the show’s most devoted fans might find surprising. This is why it’s time to rediscover this Gilmore Girl.
The Latina Roots of Alexis Bledel
“My father was born in Argentina, in Buenos Aires. And my mom was raised in Mexico, in Guadalajara. And they met in Texas, so they started their family there,” Bledel shares in a 2020 interview, while visiting her father’s birth place. “She’s American, but she was raised there since the age of two, so, culturally, es muy Mexicana.”
For Bledel, her childhood in Houston, Texas, was a mix of Latin American cultures. “From the food we ate, to the music we listened to, to the things we did around holidays, it was all very Latin — a mixture of the Mexican and the Argentine,” she says.
The actress, whose parents only spoke to her in Spanish at home, recalls how her early years were firmly planted in a “Latina bubble.” “Some people go to the United States and don’t want to speak to their children in Spanish, but my parents only spoke to me in Spanish,” she shared in fluent Spanish during the Argentine interview. “It was at school where I had to learn English, and they didn’t speak any English, so, in reality, I was in a Latina bubble.”
Clips of her explaining her Latina roots have over 20 million views on TikTok alone.
Caught Between Cultures
Growing up between two cultures wasn’t always easy. “I’m not completely American. And I’m not completely Hispanic. I’m really right in the middle,” Bledel explains. “It does leave you searching for an identity, I think. … I think that’s why I was attracted to acting because I could make up my own identity in a character and explore all different sides of my personality.”
Houston’s international community offered her a sense of connection and belonging. “We grew up in a group of five Latin American families. And the Mexican population in Texas is huge as well,” she says. Still, navigating her dual identity led her to acting, in a way.
‘I Learned A Lot’
Acting wasn’t initially part of Bledel’s plan. A naturally shy child, she turned to the stage to overcome her reticence. “My parents encouraged me to act to get over my shyness,” she said. Her very first acting job? None other than Gilmore Girls.
“I started acting when I was 18. My first job was Gilmore Girls. … It lasted for a long time. … It was a very lucky experience to have a show introduce me to this job for so long. I learned a lot,” Bledel says.
Of course, in her role as Rory, the Connecticut-raised daughter of a single mom, her character only spoke English, as is common for most non-Hispanic kids growing up in the States.
“It’s funny that she’s fluent because there’s a scene in Gilmore girls where she talks to a maid and says she only knows a little Spanish,” a fan comments on TikTok.
Clips of this decades-old scene were posted to social media just this week, as fans are discovering Bledel’s heritage.
The series not only launched her career, but it also resonated with audiences for its portrayal of intelligent women – sadly, a rare site on television in the 2000s. “The characters are strong and smart women,” she says of the show. Her character Rory’s journey to Yale, in particular, continues to inspire viewers. “I’ve met so many women who say that either their daughters wanted to go to Yale, or go to a great school because they watched the show. If a show can inspire that, it’s fantastic.”
Being Latina in Hollywood
Bledel’s commitment to representing her culture extends beyond acting. “I’ve always been interested in doing work either in Spanish, as an actress, or a Spanish-speaking production — a Latin American production — in the U.S.,” she said. Acknowledging the challenges of her appearance, she added, “I don’t look stereotypically Latin, so it’s a tricky thing to accomplish. I’m very interested in making it happen. … it’s like a great challenge.”
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For now, hints of Bledel’s background are making the rounds online, breaking the misconception that Latinas have to look a certain way. Even Netflix is shattering preconceived notion, sharingthe “fun fact” that its very own Rory Gilmore is a Latina who is fluent in Spanish, on its Instagram account ConTodoNetflix in 2022.
So, as you cozy up to watch Rory and Lorelai banter over coffee this fall, remember the fascinating journey of the actress behind the screen — a Latina breaking stereotypes and redefining what it means to belong.
