In early August, the University of Southern California revealed that Hispanics are highly underrepresented in top Hollywood movies. Now, actors from the Hispanic community are reacting.

The six-year-long study, "Race/Ethnicity in 600 Popular Films: Examining On Screen Portrayals and Behind the Camera Diversity," examined over 25,000 characters in all of the top-grossing films from 2007-2013. The study found that Hispanics played a mere 4.9 percent of the characters studied, despite the group representing 16.3 of the U.S. population (according to the U.S. Census Bureau) and 25 percent of movie ticket sales.

"I didn't realize we were doing so poorly, but you have to remember, most people in Hollywood only interact with Latinos in subservient positions," Rick Najera, a Hispanic actor, producer and writer, told NBC News. "They think we are all maids, gardeners and nannies. They don't know Latinos who are professionals."

Najero pointed out the 2012 film "Argo," which stars Ben Affleck, as Tony Mendez, a Latino character from Colorado.

"And if you are not seeing Latinos on camera, that means there are probably few Latinos behind the camera, or writing scripts," he said.

In addition, the study found that Hispanic actresses were "more likely than females from all other races/ethnicities to be shown partially or fully naked on screen," at 37.5 percent.

Patricia Rae ("The Big Wedding," "Maria Full of Grace") notices this "all the time on the breakdowns," or casting notices.

"It's like if you are Latino, you have to get naked," she said. "It seems like many projects, even for TV shows, say 'Nudity Required.'"

In addition, Rae laments the lack of diverse roles available to Hispanic actors.

"It is frustrating, especially because they want us all to have the stereotypical Latino look," she said. "I have fights with my managers all the time because I don't want to go in and audition for the role of the maid. I studied at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute. I have done off-Broadway shows. I don't want to play a cleaning lady."

"We have been having these conversations for a long time," said Esai Morales, who has a role in the HBO pilot "The Brink." "I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor get to be the hero?"

Elaine Del Valle ("Donnie Brasco," "Night Runs Red") recommends that Latinos create their own roles in the industry. The actress herself has worked as a producer, casting director and writer.

"We are not being cast by us, we are not being produced by us, we are not being written by us, so the only thing that people do with us is based on stereotypes," she said. "We need to take on the responsibility of creating and elevating our own culture. ... Hollywood is a study in conventions -- and it is time to update those conventions."
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Follow Scharon Harding on Twitter: @ScharHar.

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