Anita got her kicks at the Oscars once again.
Rita Moreno, who won best supporting actor in 1962 for her performance as Anita in “West Side Story,” is celebrating after Ariana DeBose won the same honor Sunday for her portrayal of the character in the latest film adaptation of the musical.
“@ArianaDeBose I hate to say I told you so but I told you so! Your acceptance speech was so on the money, girl not to speak of touching! Onward and forward,” Moreno, 90, tweeted Monday night.
“Congratulations on the Oscar and all the many other acknowledgements you received this year. You have earned them!”
DeBose, 31, made history as the first openly queer woman of color and the first Afro-Latina to win an Oscar when she was named best supporting actress during Sunday’s ceremony at Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
In her acceptance speech, she referred to Moreno, who was in the audience, as a “divine inspiration.”
“Imagine this little girl in the backseat of a white Ford Focus. Look into her eyes,” DeBose said in her speech. “You see (an) openly queer woman of color, an Afro-Latina who found her strength in life through art.
“That’s what I believe we are here to celebrate. So to anybody who’s ever questioned your identity ever, ever, ever, or find yourself living in the gray spaces, I promise you this: There is indeed a place for us.”
DeBose and Moreno starred together in the 2021 version of “West Side Story,” which was directed by Steven Spielberg. Moreno portrayed a shopkeeper named Valentina in the film.
Other honors won by DeBose for her “West Side Story” performance this year include trophies at the Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards.
