Starting off the Oscars, Ariana DeBose wins Best Actress in a Supporting Role for 'West Side Story'
In the classic 1961 film version of “West Side Story,” Anita was played by Rita Moreno, who also won in the Best Supporting Actress category, one of 10 awards that made it the winningest musical film in Academy Awards history. Ms. Moreno appears in the 2021 version as well, in a small role.
In an interview with ABC, Ms. DeBose said she almost refused to audition for the part because of the long shadow Ms. Moreno cast over the role, but in the end decided to try for the role, in part because she, like Ms. Moreno, has Puerto Rican heritage. Ms. DeBose identifies as mixed-race, with a white mother and an Afro-Caribbean father, and grew up in North Carolina.
Ms. DeBose, an accomplished singer and a dynamic, charismatic dancer was “ the dynamo who powers the whole show,” according to
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