Oscar organizers quelled some of the controversy surrounding their predominately white Academy on Wednesday by introducing its more diverse class ever.

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences announced 683 people ranging from actors to writers to hairstylists will join Hollywood's elusive club. Nearly half of the invitees are women, and about two-thirds are minorities.

 "We're proud to welcome these new members to the Academy, and know they view this as an opportunity and not just an invitation, a mission and not just a membership," Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs said in a statement. "This class continues our long-term commitment to welcoming extraordinary talent reflective those working in film today."

Seven Mexicans were invited: actors Silvia Pinal and Ignacio López Tarso; directors Maria Novaro, Patricia Riggen, Carlos Carrera, and Israel Cárdenas; and writer Carlos Reygadas.

Other Latino actors include "Punch-Drunk Love" actor Luis Guzmán, "The Fast and the Furious" series mainstay Michelle Rodriguez, and Cuba-born Jorge Perugorría. Pepe Serna arrives after 45 years in movies and credits in notable films like "Scarface," "Car Wash," and "American Me."

The influx of Latinos, Asian-Americans, and African-Americans is a response to the year-long #OscarSoWhite social media campaign that called attention to the lack of minorities being recognized by the Academy. February's Oscars marked the second year in a row in which every acting nomination went to a white actor or actress.

This year's crop of newcomers features prominent Latinos and Latinas who have become household names, some with careers spanning a half-century. Here's a look at a few of the incoming actors and actresses.

America Ferrara

Best known for her Emmy and Golden Globe-winning "Ugly Betty" role - the American version of Colombian telenovela "Yo soy Betty, la fea" - Ferrera also earned the title as one of TIME's most influential people and recognition as a Latino rights advocate.

Last July, Ferrara penned an open letter to presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump thanking him for invigorating the Hispanic community.

"You see, what you just did with your straight talk was send more Latino voters to the polls than several registration rallies combined! Thank you for that," Ferrera wrote. "Remarks like yours will serve brilliantly to energize Latino voters and increase turnout on election day against you and any other candidate who runs on a platform of hateful rhetoric."

Eva Mendes

The daughter to Cuba-born parents, Mendes landed a breakthrough role with 2001 crime thriller "Training Day." She went on to appear in summer blockbusters "2 Fast 2 Furious," "Once Upon a Time In Mexico," and buddy-cop comedy "The Other Guys."

Speaking to Glamour last September, Mendes said it is a great time to be a Latina actress.

"I remember reading scripts when I started in the business, nearly 15 years ago, and [Latino roles] were either nonexistent or written as the maid or the drug dealer," Mendes said. "We're no longer just that. I'll play any part that challenges me. What's important is that all races have choices."

Mendes is annually voted as one of the country's more attractive people and earned scorn from women around the world when she began dating actor Ryan Gosling.

Oscar Isaac

Isaac was born in Guatemala but lived most of his youth in Miami, where performed in plays before attending Julliard in New York City. By 2016 he would become one of TIME's most influential people in the world.

Before his standout role in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," Isaac earned critical acclaim for his portrayal of a hapless folksinger in "Inside Llewyn Davis." In 2009, the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts - a counterpart to the U.S. Academy - named Isaac Best Supporting Actor for his depiction of Nobel Peace Prize winner José Manuel Ramos-Horta.

As for his part in the latest Star Wars installment, Isaac said a lot of the character of Poe Dameron was influenced by his Latino heritage.

"One of Guatemala's biggest claims to fame is that Guatemala is featured in the end of 'A New Hope,' At the medal ceremony, that was filmed in Tikal," Isaac told Tech Insider. "So I said, 'How cool would it be if that's where Poe was from?"

Ignacio Lopez Tarso

López Tarso doesn't have the blockbuster success of a Mendes or Isaac, but he is one of the reasons so many Latinos have that chance today.

The Mexican actor has won everything from Golden Gate Awards to Mexican Film Academy Awards to Hispanic Heritage Society Awards throughout his 50-plus-year career.

Most recently, López Tarso earned a 2014 Best First Actor nomination for his role as Don Ramiro in telenovela "Corazón Indomable," this being the eighth time TVyNovela Award voters have recognized him since 1983.

Silvia Pinal

Anyone who grew up in a Latino household likely saw one of Pinal's black-and-white films. She is considered a living legend; a call back to the Golden Age of Mexican cinema when Mexico became Latin America's motion picture capital. Pinal herself comes from the northwestern Mexican state of Sonora.

The 84-year-old appeared in nearly 90 films between 1949 and 2013, none gaining as much worldwide recognition as "Viridiana;" The controversial masterpiece won the Palme d'Or at the 1961 Cannes Film Festival. Pinal later called it the highlight of her career.

She released a 384-page autobiography earlier this year detailing her life as an actress, a politician, and a mother.

"This book took a long time coming into my life I never thought about writing a book, I didn't believe or consider that it was important to people," Pinal told EFE in February. "But it turns out they were interested."