Ariana DeBose brought the role of Anita to life in 2021’s “West Side Story.”

The film was brought to the big screen by Steven Spielberg.

Rita Moreno originated the role in 1961.

She was the first Hispanic woman to win an Oscar in 1962.

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For DeBose, creating this new version of Anita was an “extremely collaborative process.”

She said that Spielberg gave her his trust and said to “run wild.”

She credits Tony Kushner, the screenwriter, for giving her the words.

She credits Justin Peck for giving her the choreography.

She said it was up to her to take those tools and her years of experience and put it all together.

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