Tony-nominated actress Ariana DeBose made a stop on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to talk about her role in Steven Spielberg’s reimagining of West Side Story. In the film, DeBose plays Anita, the girlfriend of the leader of a Puerto Rican street gang known as the Sharks.
Kimmel started the interview kidding with DeBose that since the film’s release was postponed for a year because of COVID-19, maybe some people started to not believe that she was actually in the movie.
“Many people definitely thought I was lying, yeah,” DeBose quipped. “Of course, it was hard for us. It’s a film made with such joy and love, and quite frankly that’s what we all need right about now.”
An original member of the Broadway hit Hamilton, DeBose met Spielberg in passing backstage at one of the shows. Later, she said Spielberg brought up that short encounter and told her that in those few seconds, he knew he was going to make a movie with her.
“I was like, ‘Wait, that is wild,’” DeBose said.
What is also wild for DeBose is the buzz she’s receiving about possibly landing an Oscar nomination for the role. “It is overwhelming,” she said. “There are some days I don’t think about it and some days I’m just like, ‘Holy cow, how did I get here?’”
DeBose’s character Anita, of course, is well known as being the role that earned Hollywood legend Rita Moreno an Oscar in 1962. Moreno returns for the Spielberg remake playing a different character. DeBose said working with her in the new film was “unbelievable” but also said that she was always “a little nervous” around her.
“These are really large shoes to fill,” DeBose said. “It’s a role that means a lot to Latinos. It’s how we get to be seen. Being Afro-Latina, I’m really proud of being able to do this.”
DeBose recently landed a Golden Globe nomination for her supporting role on West Side Story.
Watch DeBose’s entire chat with Kimmel on Jimmy Kimmel Live! below.
