Film

Ariana DeBose Initially Turned Down ‘West Side Story’ This Many Times

Lead Photo: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 08: Ariana DeBose attends The Hollywood Reporter 2021 Power 100 Women in Entertainment, presented by Lifetime at Fairmont Century Plaza on December 08, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The Hollywood Reporter)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 08: Ariana DeBose attends The Hollywood Reporter 2021 Power 100 Women in Entertainment, presented by Lifetime at Fairmont Century Plaza on December 08, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for The Hollywood Reporter)

Actress and Broadway star Ariana DeBose turned down the chance to audition for Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story a whopping four times before finally giving in to the film’s casting director, Cindy Tolan.

“I asked her to come in and she said no,” Tolan told Variety. “She refused four times and I had to talk her into coming in.”

According to Tolan, apparently, DeBose didn’t see herself playing the iconic character of Anita, which won actress Rita Moreno an Academy Award for the original 1961 film. Now, DeBose, herself, is getting Oscar buzz. Earlier this month, she won the Golden Globe for her supporting role. She was also nominated for a Screen Actors Guild award.

With the accolades she is earning this awards season, DeBose is taking other opportunities that are coming her way. A week ago, she hosted Saturday Night Live for the first time. Although some people trolled her for a gaffe she made during her opening monologue, the Broadway star seemed to have the time of her life.

DeBose recently posted behind-the-scenes photos and videos of herself during pre-production on SNL and on the night of her hosting gig.

The first is a video of herself at 1 a.m. laying on a couch and practicing a version of “Do-Re-Mi” she would sing in one of the sketches. Another video captures Ariana DeBose seconds before taking the stage for her opening monologue.

Photos she posted include one where she’s lying on the floor inside a dressing room going over her script; watching from the audience as musical guest Bleachers performs on stage; getting her makeup done, and doing the splits during a photoshoot while wearing a pink Oscar de la Renta dress.