Rita moreno young skydrift8/14/2023 This environment led to Moreno being undervalued, mistreated, and typecast. However, actress Mitzi Gaynor went to describe how, "when you're in a contract to a studio, they own you." Moreno and her career suffered due to rampant misogyny and racism. The actress proved repeatedly over the past few decades that she was so much more than the "Little Puerto Rican girl who nobody thought much of," namely by landing "at MGM with a contract," an unforeseeable feat for a young, Latina actress at the time. Rita Moreno (1984), (Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) ![]() In a piece of news footage, a darling Moreno is asked while on the red carpet, "West Side Story seems to be the big one– what are you going to do for an encore now?" She smiled, undeterred, and simply stated, "It's hard to follow." Despite the challenge, Moreno went go on to expertly craft one of the most illustrious and far-spanning careers in Hollywood, on Broadway, on stage, on the silver screen, and on television today. She was a Latina like me." Although Moreno's career was largely defined by her 1961 role as Puerto-Rican love interest Anita in "West Side Story" and she was typecast in its wake, her portrayal also clearly served as a beacon for Moreno's community. Cuban-American singer and actress, Gloria Estefan stated, "I was really drawn to her and she made me feel like a woman could do anything because she did. ![]() Others chimed in on how much Moreno's presence in Hollywood gave them the strength to continue their own careers, shaping themselves in her image. "If we thought there was no place for us, in this world of the arts that we wanted to get into, we could look up and see Rita." He continued on the motivation so many drew from her, saying, "she could do it." In homage, Miranda crafted "Just a Girl" alongside Norman Lear, who had worked with Moreno on " One Day at a Time." Lin-Manuel Miranda, of " Hamilton" fame, who executive produced the film, described looking up to the actress as a young Latino. Rita Moreno (1952), (Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Paraphrasing a compliment once paid to her by President Obama, one remarked, "some people might see Rita Moreno as the embodiment of the American Dream." Throughout “Just a Girl,” friends and fellow stars, like Eva Longoria, Morgan Freeman, and Justina Machado, were impressed by the impact Moreno's career had on them. However, even more important than that glittering recognition was the effect Moreno had on her contemporaries and the younger members of Hollywood. If they haven’t seen her on screen, perhaps they’ve noticed Moreno at any of her numerous award ceremonies. Oscar and Tony." While Moreno may not be as recognizable to younger audiences in her Old Hollywood roles, they’re surely familiar with some piece of her decades-long career. ![]() ![]() The trailer for the doc opened with the undeniable statement, "She comes with history. In the documentary, a cast of celebrities outlined what Moreno meant to them as actors and what she meant to audiences at home. From that point, Moreno went on to earn almost every award, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, despite facing continued discrimination as a Latina actress. Audiences were reminded of the endearing charm and beauty of EGOT-winner Rita Moreno by her 2021 documentary, "Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It." The film told the harrowing journey of Moreno from her humble beginnings in Puerto Rico to her role in remaking of her iconic film, " West Side Story." Viewers followed as the thirteen-year-old actress shined as Angelina in “Skydrift” (1945) then ascended into stardom playing Dolores Guererro in " So Young, So Bad" (1950).
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