Jessica Alba graces the cover of Siempre Mujer’s February/March issue, on newsstands next week. She opens up to the magazine about how she’s reconnecting with her Mexican heritage, how she’d like to star in Spanish-language films and the values she’d most like to instill in her daughter, Honor Marie. Excerpts from the interview follow and are available at Siempre Mujer’s blog www.charlablog.com:

About learning Spanish: “I know the basics, but I just hired a professor that specializes in Hispanic studies to teach me and Honor. God knows that I wish I was raised bilingual. But it wasn’t to be.”

About when the media questioned her about her Hispanic heritage when she was 18: “I tried to explain to them that in this country I’m considered Latina and, thus, I consider myself Latina as well. I grew up eating enchiladas. Even more, in my house the only American-style dish we ate was spaghetti with ground beef. I identify with Mexicans. It’s in my blood whether or not I speak Spanish.”

About why she didn’t defend herself better to the journalists: “I didn’t want to misrepresent Latinos and I didn’t know how to defend myself. But I went to my room and I cried all night. Since then, I’ve preferred not to comment on the subject.”

About why she’s speaking out now: “I want to make movies in Spanish…There are so many interesting themes and stories that are worth sharing, like the lives of immigrants, for example. There’s a whole world that hasn’t been sufficiently explored and I want to be part of it…The violence on the Mexican borders, the political upheaval in Venezuela and Bolivia and the drug trafficking in Colombia.”

About the strong women in her family: “In my house, all of the women surrounding me were strong and decisive. My grandmother and mother and incredibly confident. I’m a little more timid. But I think I’m strong, too. It’s a good balance, I think. I like confident people.”

About why she fell for her husband Cash Warren: “It’s because he doesn’t take life so seriously. Just like me. I couldn’t be with someone who couldn’t laugh at themselves. We have a good life.”

About what she would change about herself: “Well, maybe some stretch marks! But about my personality, I wish I could turn my brain off every once in a while. I’m too analytical.”

About what she wants Honor to learn from her: “To respect her elders. And to ask for their blessing regardless of their age.”

About her conservative upbringing: “I grew up in a very Catholic and conservative environment, in which you felt guilt ridden, as if you did something wrong you would end up in hell. Thankfully, I don’t believe that anymore. But if my grandmother sees me in panties in a movie, she gets really mad. Up until I was 18 years old, I was certain I was going to burn in hell.”

Source: lavozchisme.com