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Ariana DeBose
This year, Puerto Rican stage actress Ariana DeBose found herself on the movie set of Steven Spielberg’s remake of West Side Story. In the film, DeBose stars as Anita, a Puerto Rican immigrant who gets caught up in a heated rivalry between two street gangs in 1950s Manhattan. The original film role won Rita Moreno an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, making her the first Latina ever to win the prestigious award. “Ariana is a standout actress who absolutely stole the show in Spielberg’s West Side Story,” said Lyra Hale, Trending News Editor. “She managed to make me laugh, go ‘Hell yeah, you tell him!” and break out in tears. Managing all three speaks of an immeasurable talent born out of honing her craft and a dedication to representing our communities in an honest, open, and vulnerable way.”
Although not officially on the schedule for 2022 yet, DeBose has finished shooting the sci-fi thriller I.S.S. alongside actor Chris Messina. She is also currently in production with the spy thriller Argylle starring Henry Cavill, Sam Rockwell, and Bryce Dallas Howard.