

She also appeared in The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window. In fact, her Oscar speech was one of the shortest ever, and she shared with the Live With Kelly & Ryan audience her do-over: “I would have said something like, ‘On behalf of every unemployed actor and actress, I want to accept this miracle on behalf of those people who are still waiting for the opportunity to show their talent on the glorious platform that I have been given tonight, thank you to the Academy.’”Īt that point, Moreno had already begun to carve out a career in theatre, making her debut in Skydrift in 1945. Moreno famously won an Oscar for her performance as Anita in West Side Story in 1962. I can't wait to meet the young lady who’s playing Anita,” Moreno said. Rita Moreno almost never won the Oscar for the role of Anita in West Side Story.

“Instead of Doc who owns the candy store, I am going to play Valentina who owns the candy store,” she shared. The EGOT winner will also appear in the film in a re-worked role. Her portrayal of the character ended up winning the. While she’s not reprising her role in the 2021 adaptation, she’s still a part of the new West Side Story cast as a character named Valentina.Rita Moreno, star of the original West Side Story movie, joined Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest to talk about the upcoming West Side Story remake from Steven Spielberg, which she is executive producing. As a young Puerto Rican who loved musicals, I would watch West Side Story all the time, and Rita Moreno was the perfect person to play Anita. Valentina Image: Courtesy of Everett Collection.Īs we know from above, Rita Moreno famously played Anita, Bernardo’s girlfriend and Maria’s close friend, in the 1961 West Side Story cast. Judging You Valentina GIF - Judging You Valentina Rita Moreno GIFs.

For 2021’s West Side Story cast, the film cast look-alike star Mike Faist, who originated the role of Connor in the famous Broadway musical, Dear Evan Hansen. With Tenor, maker of GIF Keyboard, add popular West Side Story Anita animated GIFs to. Lawrence Jacoby opposite his West Side Story co-star, Richard Beymer, on the television series Twin Peaks in the ’90s. Oscar-nominated actor Russ Tamblyn starred in the role of Riff, leader of the Jets gang, in the original West Side Story cast. Riff Image: Courtesy of Everett Collection.

DeBose had big shoes to fill in the role of Anita, which was originally played by icon Rita Moreno in the 1961 West Side Story cast. She also starred in the lead role of Donna Summer in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, which landed her a nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical at the Tony Awards. But as she told the hosts of The View on today’s episode, she almost turned down. DeBose-who plays Anita in 2021’s West Side Story cast-has appeared in Broadway musicals like Bring It On: The Musical, Motown: The Musical, and Hamilton. EGOT-winning actress Rita Moreno won an Oscar for her iconic role as Anita in 1961’s West Side Story. Though she’s a newcomer to the big screen, Ariana DeBose already has some impressive musical credits under her belt. Anita Image: Courtesy of Everett Collection.
Anita west side story rita moreno movie#
In 2021’s West Side Story cast, the role of Bernardo was filled by actor David Alvarez, who is one of the youngest Tony Award winners for Best Actor in a Leading Role thanks to his appearance in the Broadway production of Billy Elliot, the Musical. Rita Moreno is a living legend best known for her performances in such movie musicals as 1952’s Singin’ in the Rain, 1956’s The King and I and especially 1961’s West Side Story, for which. 4.5K Dislike Share The Late Show with Stephen Colbert 8. The Hollywood star went on to win both an Oscar and a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the 1961 original film. Bernardo Image: Courtesy of Everett Collection.īernardo, the leader of the Sharks gang in West Side Story, was originally played by famous dancer George Chakiris.
