She spent much of her childhood on a Puerto Rican farm until she was five years old. Her mother saved enough money for them to move to New York, but Moreno's little brother Francisco had to be left behind.

Why did Rita Moreno move to America?

Born into poverty on a Puerto Rican farm, Moreno and her seamstress mother immigrated to New York City when Moreno was five years old. After studying dance and performing on Broadway, Moreno was cast as any ethnic minority the Hollywood studios needed filled: Polynesian, Native American, Egyptian and more.

How old was Rita Moreno when she moved to New York?

Born Rosita Dolores Alverio Marcano in a hospital in Humacao, Puerto Rico to Rosa Maria Marcano and Paco José Alverio. Until the age of 5, Moreno lived in Juncos, Puerto Rico on the edge of the El Yunque rainforest. Moreno's mother, Rosa Maria, took 5-year-old Moreno to New York City via the S.S.

Was Rita Moreno the only Puerto Rican in the original West Side Story?

When Rita Moreno starred as Anita in West Side Story, the 1961 movie in which half of the characters are Puerto Rican, she was the only Latino performer among the cast.

Why did Rita Moreno move to New York?

She spent much of her childhood on a Puerto Rican farm until she was five years old. Her mother saved enough money for them to move to New York, but Moreno's little brother Francisco had to be left behind.

Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It | Official Trailer | American Masters | PBS

At what age did Rita Moreno come to the US?

Rita Moreno came to the United States from Puerto Rico in 1936, when she was not quite 5 years old, knowing not a word of English.

Why was Rita Moreno so dark in West Side Story?

When Rita Moreno was filming the 1961 movie “West Side Story,” her skin color — as well as that of the numerous white actors playing Puerto Rican characters — was darkened with makeup. Moreno, who is Puerto Rican, questioned the makeup artist on set about the practice.

Why did Rita Moreno change her name?

But in what would be her first clear experience of how little power she had in that era, the teenager known as Rosa Dolores Alverio was forced to change her name. "They didn't know what to do with me because of my name," she says. "I didn't like the name Rita but they chose it because I liked the actress Rita Hayworth.

Why didn t Rita Moreno play Maria in West Side Story?

Natalie Wood ended up starring in the film as Maria. Though Moreno praised Wood's acting, especially during the film's tragic finale, she took issue with an iconic Puerto Rican role going to a white actress. "I don't think she was anything like the Maria that I envisioned in my head.

Where is Rita Moreno living now?

“Well, here I am in my full glory,” she says from her home in Berkeley, California. And glorious she sure is. Moreno is a couple of weeks short of her 90th birthday, but look at her and you would knock off 20 years.

Did Rita Moreno have a child?

The West Side Story star shares daughter Fernanda Luisa Gordon with her late husband Leonard Gordon. Moreno and Leonard, a former doctor who later managed Moreno's career, got married in 1965 and welcomed Fernanda a year later. Leonard died in June 2010 at 90 years old.

What are 5 facts about Rita Moreno?

Did Rita Moreno live in New York?

Born in Puerto Rico in the early 30's, she came to the United States when she was five. She and her mother arrived in NYC during the depression to a very segregated city that tried to teach Rita that she had no value. Rita acknowledged that these challenges scarred her permanently, despite her very successful career.

What is a famous quote from Rita Moreno?

Bigger than life is not difficult for me. I am bigger than life.

What did Joan Crawford do to Rita Moreno?

But offstage, her night was only getting started: After accepting the award from Hudson, she ran into Joan Crawford backstage, who was there to present the best actor award and, as Moreno put it, “drunk as a skunk on vodka.” “She hugged me so hard she covered my face entirely,” Moreno said.

Did Rita Moreno do her own singing?

Although Moreno only did some of her own singing decades ago, she now gets to perform one of West Side Story's most iconic songs, “Somewhere”. Indeed, with these talented and groundbreaking stars, it is no wonder that West Side Story has become one of the most critically acclaimed films of the decade.

Did Rita Moreno wear blackface in West Side Story?

White actors like Natalie Wood and George Chakiris were put in literal brown face while portraying Puerto Ricans living in New York City in the film. Even Moreno, an actual Puerto Rican, had her skin tone darkened for the role.

Did Rita Moreno sing herself in West Side Story?

Interestingly, while Rita Moreno's one song in West Side Story (2021) was performed live, the actress was dubbed for “A Boy Like That” in the original film.

Did they use blackface in West Side Story?

In the original "West Side Story" movie, Rita Moreno and other actors were forced to wear brownface.

How many times has Rita Moreno been married?

Rita Moreno does not currently have a husband. Her late husband, her only husband, was Leonard Gordon. Gordon was a cardiologist and internist before retiring from medicine to become his wife's manager.

Why is Rita Moreno so important?

Rita Moreno's extensive career in music, film and dance ranges from her Academy-Award winning performance as Anita in the 1962 motion picture "West Side Story" to her two Emmy Award-winning performances on "The Muppet Show." She is the only female performer to win all four of the entertainment industry's most ...