Questions and Answers about
“West Side Story”
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Who was the first Latina to win an Oscar?
Answer: Rita Moreno won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 1962 for her role as Anita in “West Side Story,” making her the first Latina ever to win an Oscar. 60 years later, in 2022, Ariana DeBose became the second Latina and first Afro-Latina actor to win the award – for the same role in…
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in FilmsWho is the first filmmaker nominated for best director Oscars in six different decades?
Answer: Steven Spielberg, whose “West Side Story” landed seven nominations for the 2022 Academy Awards, is the first filmmaker nominated for best director in six different decades. He also holds the record for most Best Picture nominations – with 11 Oscar-nominated films over the years.
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How many Latin actresses were in the main cast of the 1961 classic movie “West Side Story”?
Answer: The only Latin actress in the main cast of the original 1961 “West Side Story,” a story of love and rivalry involving a gang of white teens and a gang of Puerto Rican immigrants, was Rita Moreno. She won an Academy Award for her portrayal of Anita. More answers inside!