Rosie Perez says ‘it hurts’ that she’s never been invited back to the Oscars since 1994 nomination

Rosie Perez revealed why fans never see her at the Academy Awards, despite being a previous nominee.

The 56-year-old actress explained that she hasn’t been invited back to the Oscars since her 1994 nomination for Fearless during an interview with Variety on Thursday.

‘Not even to sit in the audience, not to present, nothing – and I’m a member,’ the disappointed star said about the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Disappointed: 'Not even to sit in the audience, not to present, nothing - and I’m a member,' the disappointed star said about the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; here at the 1994 Oscars

Missing invitation: Rosie Perez, 56,  explained that she hasn’t been invited back to the Oscars since her 1994 nomination for Fearless during an interview with Variety on Thursday; seen here at the 2021 Golden Globe Awards (left) and the 1994 Oscars (right)

‘I love the Academy Awards. I cheer on my peers, but it hurts. It’s like when your home team doesn’t ask you to come back into the stadium after you got up to bat and hit the home run,’ Perez told the outlet.

She was up for Best Supporting Actress for her work in the acclaimed drama as the survivor of a plane crash dealing with insurmountable guilt, but lost the award to then-11-year-old Anna Paquin.

The Puerto Rican star built an extensive resume that includes hits like Do The Right Thing, White Men Can’t Jump and Birds of Prey, but she said it hasn’t been easy securing a seat at the table in Hollywood as a minority.

Fearless: She was up for Best Supporting Actress for her work in the acclaimed drama as the survivor of a plane crash dealing with insurmountable guilt, but lost the award to then-11-year-old Anna Paquin

Fearless: She was up for Best Supporting Actress for her work in the acclaimed drama as the survivor of a plane crash dealing with insurmountable guilt, but lost the award to then-11-year-old Anna Paquin

Securing a seat: The Puerto Rican star built an extensive resume that includes hits like Do The Right Thing, White Men Can't Jump and Birds of Prey, but she said it hasn't been easy securing a seat at the table in Hollywood as a minority

Securing a seat: The Puerto Rican star built an extensive resume that includes hits like Do The Right Thing, White Men Can’t Jump and Birds of Prey, but she said it hasn’t been easy securing a seat at the table in Hollywood as a minority

‘The biggest struggle has been navigating through other people’s shortcomings. Other people’s bigotry, racism – and specifically the ones that don’t understand that they are bigots or racists,’ she explained.

As the entertainment industry continues facing backlash for its lack of representation, the call for more projects celebrating diversity has only increased.

As Rosie points out, Hollywood is taking too long to evolve: ‘Change is happening, but it’s too damn slow.’ 

Struggle: 'The biggest struggle has been navigating through other people’s shortcomings. Other people’s bigotry, racism - and specifically the ones that don’t understand that they are bigots or racists,' Perez told the outlet

Struggle: ‘The biggest struggle has been navigating through other people’s shortcomings. Other people’s bigotry, racism – and specifically the ones that don’t understand that they are bigots or racists,’ Perez told the outlet

Variety cited a 2018 study by the Motion Picture Association of America which found that Latinos had the highest moviegoing rate among ethnic groups.

However, they also noted a 2019 study by the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative that found only 4.5% of all 47,268 speaking or named characters in the top-grossing films from 2007 to 2018 were Latino, as were a mere 3% of lead or co-lead actors.

Rosie was most recently seen in the HBO Max hit The Flight Attendant opposite Kaley Cuoco, which she said was a much more accommodating production than she’s used to.

Latest project: Rosie was most recently seen in the HBO Max hit The Flight Attendant opposite Kaley Cuoco, and which she said had a much more accommodating production than she's used to

Latest project: Rosie was most recently seen in the HBO Max hit The Flight Attendant opposite Kaley Cuoco, and which she said had a much more accommodating production than she’s used to

Accommodating producers: She said that she was pleasantly surprised the producers supplied her with makeup that matched her skin tone, options for eyelashes and pants that fit her correctly

Accommodating producers: She said that she was pleasantly surprised the producers supplied her with makeup that matched her skin tone, options for eyelashes and pants that fit her correctly

She said that she was pleasantly surprised the producers supplied her with makeup that matched her skin tone, options for eyelashes and pants that fit her correctly. 

‘I’m a full-figured woman and proud of it. In the past, I would have to ask, “Why can’t I get different pants that are going to fit my big f—— a–?,”‘ Perez admitted.

Her most recent public appearance came at the Golden Globe Awards in February, where she served as a presenter. Like the Oscars, she hasn’t received recognition at the event since 1994, but that hasn’t kept organizers from bringing her back.

The 93rd Academy Awards will be handed out on April 25, so there’s still time for the tide to change.

Presenter: Her most recent public appearance came at the Golden Globe Awards in February, where she served as a presenter

Presenter: Her most recent public appearance came at the Golden Globe Awards in February, where she served as a presenter