The Wonder Woman from Globe, Arizona
Wonder Woman Lynda Carter returns to Hollywood

HOLLYWOOD (By Sandra Marquez) August 24, 2007 — Born to a Mexican-American mother and an Anglo father in Miam, Arizona, Linda Jean Córdova Carter grew up to become one of America’s most iconic figures: Wonder Woman. In many ways, the actress who became known as Lynda Carter on the hit 1970s television series was a mirror. To young Latinas in the know—such as Constance Marie of The George López Show—she was a role model. Many others had no idea that Carter was Mexican American. But she became a universal figure for her portrayal of Wonder Woman as an everyday woman with superhuman powers. Although she has worked on other projects since her hit TV series, Carter bowed out of the spotlight for many years to raise her family. She now lives in suburban Washington, D.C., with her lawyer husband, Robert Altman, and their two teenage children, Jessica and James. Carter, 54, makes her most high-profile comeback this summer in the Disney movie Sky High, in which she plays Principal Powers, the head mistress at a high school for the children of superheroes.

MUJER: Tell me about your family history.
Carter: My mother grew up in a place called Globe, Arizona. My grandmother came to Arizona when she was a baby. They emigrated from Chihuahua, Mexico. Probably my best memories of childhood were in Globe. My grandmother would make her big stack of tortillas and we'd make menudo and it was all about eating.

Did you grow up hearing Spanish?
My father did not speak Spanish, so we didn't grow up with it on a daily basis, but around my mother's family I pretty much understood everything.

Raquel Welch has spoken about how, growing up, her Bolivian father would not speak Spanish in the home because he was afraid that she would be discriminated against. Did you ever experience that growing up?
No, but my mother I think did. If anything, I experienced a reverse discrimination in that I am not really Hispanic because my last name is Carter, and because I don't look it. That I am not really Hispanic because I don't talk about it 24/7 and my skin is not dark enough.

In your lifetime and career, have you seen a change in how Hispanics are regarded and the roles that are available?
People are surprised when they learn that I am half Latina even though all through my career from the very, very first, I spoke of it. And I speak of it proudly.

Constance Marie of The George López Show keeps a poster of you in her dressing room. She says you are her hero.
I know, I signed a poster for her. She was doing Good Morning America and they surprised her by having me call her. It was just wonderful to have had a positive effect on a person who has gone on to do such wonderful things. And she is so sweet. The one thing about Latinas, there is passion in our lives. We love passionately.

Tell me about Sky High. What did you like about this project?
Oh, it was a blast. I got to work with an old friend, Kurt Russell, and Kelly Preston was a delight to work with. I was grateful to be in a big movie like this. It was fantastic. And it's funny.

Reflect for a moment on Wonder Woman as a cultural icon. What does she represent to you? And what do you think will be the lasting message of Wonder Woman?
I think that she lives in all of us. I think there is that secret identity that we all have that as little girls we grow up with. Somehow when we reach puberty it seems to be hidden or people see us as women as opposed to people. I think it is familiarity what has made her so enduring. I never played it goofy or stupid or anything like that. She was smart and right in your face.