Rita Moreno honored at Annual Academy Museum Gala

Iconic Boricua actress Rita Moreno has been a trailblazer for Latina representation in media since her award-winning performance as Anita in the 1961 musical West Side Story. The 92-year-old was honored at the 4th Annual Academy Museum Gala on October 19th, where she received the Icon Award for her impact and legacy in the entertainment industry. The fundraiser event, which raised over $11 million for the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, was co-chaired by Salma Hayek Pinault, Tyler Perry, Eva Longoria, and Nicole Kidman and also honored Irish actor Paul Mescal and American filmmaker Quentin Tarantino.

Moreno was presented the Icon award by American filmmaker Steven Spielberg, who directed and worked with Moreno in the West Side Story 2021 remake. In an Instagram post ahead of the event, the Academy Museum announced that Moreno would be “taking center stage once again” and receiving the Icon Award:

“All hail the legendary Rita Moreno! From ‘West Side Story’ to ‘One Day at a Time,’ she’s been breaking boundaries and lighting up the screen for decades,” the caption reads. “Celebrate this trailblazer whose work has made a global impact and continues to inspire generations.”

Born on December 11, 1931 in Humacao, Puerto Rico, Moreno is one of the most well-known Latina actresses in the U.S., and her groundbreaking career spans over 70 years. Following her big break as Anita, Moreno made history when she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, becoming the first Latina to win an Oscar.

She has since then starred in the 2017 hit Netflix sitcom One Day at a Time which last four seasons and reintroduced her to younger audiences as the feisty abuela Lydia. She went on to earn the four major entertainment awards, an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony, becoming the first Latina EGOT recipient in history She still recalls her role as Anita as a breakthrough for Latinx representation on screen:

“What was important about Anita to me — and still is — is that Anita, believe it or not, was the only part I ever remember where I represented Hispanics in a dignified and positive way,” she told NPR. “It represented a lot of breakthroughs for young actors of Hispanic origin.”

Afro-Latina actress Ariana DeBose played Anita in the 2021 remake with Moreno co-starring in a new role developed for the film. DeBose was at the gala to honor Moreno and celebrated the icon sharing on Instagram:

“Last night was about joy! The best 48 hours in LA to celebrate mi reina, @theritamoreno receiving the @academymuseum’s ICON award. So fitting for the force that she is and continues to be for all of us. I just beam for her and am happy I got to spend the evening with so many colleagues and cinema familia! Nothing makes me happier than witnessing others shine & the folks in that room shown so bright last night.”