America Ferrera is celebrating a major milestone in her career!
It’s been 20 years since the Emmy Award-winning star scored her first paid acting gig, and she’s reflecting on those early days and how far she’s come.
“20 years ago today was my first day as a working actress,” America writes in a post on Instagram.
“My mind was blown that my dream was becoming a reality. I was being PAID to act and dance in a Disney Channel Movie called Gotta Kick It Up!” she continues.
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“I couldn’t believe I was rehearsing with real dancers and choreographers, that all the snacks were free and that my wardrobe fitting was on the famous Warner Brothers lot where I spotted George Clooney playing basketball and Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston hanging out in the door of his trailer!!”
She adds that she “soaked up every moment” of her time on set “because the truth was, I had no idea if I’d ever get the chance to do it again.”
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Well, did she ever!
America went on to play the lead role in Ugly Betty, star alongside Blake Lively in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, voice Astrid Hofferson in the How to Train Your Dragon franchise and somewhere along the way was even named Time’s 100 most influential people in the world. Add to that her activism for the Latinx community, immigrants and women – and yeah, it’s safe to say she’s done a lot.
And she’s only 37.
“I wish I could go back and tell this little baby America,” she continues in her post, “that the next 20 years of her life will be filled with unbelievable opportunity to express her talent and grow into a person, actress, producer, director, activist that is very proud and grateful to be. We did it baby girl. I’m proud of us.”
So are we America. So are we.
(Feature Image Credit: photo by DFree/Shutterstock.com)