Rita Moreno: Hollywood Icon and Pioneer

Sofia Marquez/ El Comercio de Colorado

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Rita Moreno is one of those names in Hollywood that carry a lot of prestige and history. For the latina actress and icon, her nearly 70-year creer illustrates that of a hardworking woman who had to overcome the hardships of not only a woman in the film industry, but a latina woman fighting against sexism and racist stereotypes.

In her long career, Moreno has seen the ups and downs of the entertainment industry, from its heyday of the studio system to the cultural shifts the industry has seen in recent years. Always an advocate for fair rights for women and people of color in the industry, that is, because she has lived through all the adversity imaginable in the industry.

Moreno began her career in the 50s, debuting in the film So Young So Bad under the name “Rosita Moreno.” Soon after, Gene Kelly cast her in the iconic film Singin’ in the Rain, one of the few roles she received in this time period that were not of a stereotypical hispanic woman.

Roles for Minority Women

ETHNIC ROLES| In the King and I.

Despite this, the roles following this film she was typecast as any ethnic minority that was needed in films: from native american to egyptian to hyper-sexual hispanic women. Caked in dark makeup and forced to put on an ambiguous accent, Moreno was often playing an amalgam of brown-skinned women that the industry at the time did not know what to do with.

In the industry, being a woman, especially of color, is a struggle in and of itself. In the 50s and 60s, it was outright harmful. Moreno had to field with racism, sexual assault from the men in charge of her career, and the burden of fame all during a time when everyday life was difficult enough for a minority. Despite this, she prevailed.

Playing “Anita”

This all led to her moment in 1961, following her unforgettable role as Anita in the original West Side Story. This performance won her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, and solidified her name as a Hollywood legend. Despite this, it was still the 1960s and society was not as inclusive as it is today.

Moreno often recounts in interviews the fact that the makeup artists darkened her skin tone on set for the film, and the disappointment that brought her. A proud Puerto Rican, she knew her people came in many colors, and the fact that the makeup studio would darken her as such made her feel insulted, disrespected.

ANITA| Rita Moreno ganó un Óscar con ese papel.

After winning the Academy Award, she took a self-appointed break from films for nearly a decade, waiting for the role she deserved to come through, one that was not rooted in stereotypes. She has fought since for the better part of a century to ensure that women of color in the industry are inspired and uplifted by her achievements, and do not have to experience the same things she did when she was starting.

1954| With Marlon Branco in the movie “Désirée”.

An inspiration

She is one of 16 people in the world to have received all major awards in the entertainment industry, what they call an EGOT: an Emmy Award, Academy Award, Grammy Award and a Tony Award. She was also recently an executive producer in Steven Spielberg’s reimagining of West Side Story, in which she portrayed the shop owner where protagonist Tony works in.

Although in the past decade the film industry has made lasting and poignant changes, there is still much to be done, and Moreno agrees. She says that the industry still struggles with the same issues. Due to this, she will forever advocate to uplift women and actors of color.

Conversing with a Star

Moreno will be speaking of all this and more about her illustrious career at her event at the Newman Center in Denver on May 12th. Tickets are on sale now at newmancenterpresents.com. Do not miss the opportunity to see a true legend of film speak live.