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Whether or not many people know it, Latinos have always gotten their shine on in Hollywood. OK, so maybe it was for "Best Dust Pile Swept in a Back Lot" or "Best Fluffer," but hey, we'll take it. But in all seriousness, before the recent surge in Academy Award nominations for Latinos, the rise to recognition for brown folk was a slow uphill journey. However, pioneers like Anthony Quinn, Rita Moreno, and Edward James Olmos inspired others to keep reaching for that golden idol. Check out some of the latest actors to be in the Oscar spotlight.

Javier Bardem: In 2001, the Spanish actor put on his best Cuban accent (and a pair of pom-pom shorts) to play poet/novelist Reinaldo Arenas in Before Night Falls for which he was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role. This year, he is nominated for Best Performance for an Actor in a Supporting Role in No Country for Old Men where he isn't a lover at all, but a ruthless killer. Suerte, Javi!

Salma Hayek: 2002's Academy gave a nod (nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role) to this beautiful mexicana--and her gemelas--when she rocked a unibrow and mustache for her role as famous Mexican painter in 2001's Frida.

Penelope Cruz: After over a decade of working in Spanish and American films, La Penny scored her first Oscar nomination in 2007. She was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Volver where she plays a single mom dealing with encounters of the supernatural kind. No baby daddy drama, here (check the movie).

Benicio del Toro: He may always look like he just woke up, but the Academy didn't sleep on this Puerto Rican bull's portrayal of a Mexican cop fighting illegal drug smuggling in Traffic. Benny won the Oscar for Best Performance for an Actor in a Supporting Role in Traffic and in another dark role (an ex-con in 21 Grams) he was nominated again.

Catalina Sandino Moreno:  This first-time actress meant business when she downed handfuls of mock drug pellets for her role as Colombian mule in 2003's Maria Full of Grace. That repaso of powder-filled balloons was clearly enough for a nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role in 2004.

Adriana Barraza: OK, so she might have played an irresponsible immigrant housekeeper in Babel, but her locura earned her a chance at a statuette in 2007 for Best Performance for an Actress in a Supporting Role. 

Gustavo Santaolalla: John Williams, ten cuidado! This Argentinean musician is about to knock you and all the other movie composers outta their lanes! He's had two wins for Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score-first for Brokeback Mountain in 2006 and then Babel in 2007.

Pedro Almodovar: In 2002, el rey del cine Español brought another masterpiece to fans with Hable con Ella, a drama about two men in love with comatose women. In 2003, the film won an Oscar for Best Writing, Original Screenplay and earned him a nomination for Best Director.

After the power punch of nominations in 2007 by directors Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu (Babel nominated for Best Achievement in Directing and Best Motion Picture of the Year), Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth nominated for Best Writing, Original Screenplay) and Alfonso Cuaron (Children of Men nominated for Best Achievement in Editing and Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay) Hollywood fully embraced their artistry. The trio united to start a production company, Cha Cha Cha, for which Universal and Focus Pictures signed a five-picture deal worth $100M.