Ariana DeBose, who plays Anita in West Side Story, reveals that she freaked out upon meeting original Anita actor Rita Moreno. Released in mid-December, Steven Spielberg's West Side Story has fared well with critics but has failed to perform at the box office, earning just over $10 million in its opening weekend on a $100 million budget. The film, which is based on the 1957 musical of the same name, tells the story of two rival gangs in New York City and the forbidden romance that forms between a young man and woman on opposing sides.
Spielberg's film marks the second adaptation of the 1957 musical, the first being 1961's West Side Story. The film, which was critically beloved and the winner of ten Oscars at the 1962 Academy Awards, stars Rita Moreno as Anita, the best friend of protagonist Maria. Moreno also appears in the 2021 film, but as a new character, Valentina, with DeBose taking over the role of Anita. In addition to DeBose and Moreno, the film also stars Rachel Zegler, Ansel Elgort, David Alvarez, Brian d'Arcy James, Corey Stoll, and Mike Faist.
In a new interview with THR, DeBose explains that the first encounter she had with Moreno was quite an emotional one. While Moreno was looking around the set for the young actor who would be taking over her Oscar-winning role, DeBose reveals that she was actually hiding underneath some bleachers having a panic attack. Check out DeBose's full comment below:
"I was having a full-fledged panic attack. I hid underneath the bleachers for like 20 minutes until I could get myself together. [...] I was like, (miming tears) ‘This is all so much!’"
Moreno famously became the first Latina actor to win an Oscar for her performance as Anita in the 1961 West Side Story. It's likely, then, that DeBose was feeling the pressure of not only appearing in a high-profile Spielberg film but also living up to the impossibly high standard set by Moreno in 1961. To then also have to act alongside Moreno would have just added another layer of pressure to the whole scenario for DeBose. Fortunately, however, it seems that Moreno had a wise piece of advice for the younger actor, telling her, "You passed the audition. You got the part. There’s a reason for that."
DeBose ultimately seems to have fared well in the role of Anita, with most performances in West Side Story drawing praise from audiences and critics. It's unfortunate, then, that so few people have actually gotten a chance to see the film to experience them. With West Side Story skewing more towards older audiences (who are currently less inclined to go to movie theaters because of COVID), it's possible that the film will have a second life when it releases on digital and more people are able to watch it from the comfort of their own homes. It's also likely that West Side Story will be recognized at this year's Oscars ceremony, perhaps helping to alleviate any lingering doubts DeBose may have about living up to Moreno's iconic performance.
Source: THR