“I come from an era where there were no role models, none,” Moreno recalled to Stephen Colbert in June 2021 on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. “It took me forever to find someone that I could model myself on, and it turned out to be Anita.” Now, in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story remake (which she also executive produced, and which hits HBO Max and Disney+ starting Wednesday, March 2, 2022), it’s Moreno herself who’s a role model to many. Like the firecracker Anita, the star has paved a path for herself with her signature spirit, spunk and determination. After moving from Puerto Rico to the Bronx with her mom at the age of 5, the young Moreno became the breadwinner of her family by age 16 thanks to her early acting roles. She then embarked on a storied, six-decade career, remaining resilient in the face of rampant racism and sexism during the so-called Golden Age of Hollywood. Overcoming the overwhelming odds stacked against her, she went on to join the ranks of Hollywood heavyweights, earning an EGOT. But make no mistake: In Moreno’s mind, it’s “not about the awards.” “I want women to know that all the awards in the world will never make up for the things I have experienced in my life,” she said on60 Minutes in November 2021. “The be-all and end-all is respect and self-respect which took me a long time to earn.” Moreno—90 years young as of December 11, 2021!—has certainly come a long way since she first entered the industry, and thanks in no small part to her trailblazing work, perhaps so has Hollywood. As her career comes full circle with the West Side Story remake, take a look back at our gallery of a young Rita Moreno in all her expressive glory and find out more about her oh-so-impressive career. Next, How to Watch the Original West Side Story From 1961—And Steven Spielberg’s New West Side Story Remake
