Some of the greats don’t just fade away and disappear when they figure their career is done. Rita Moreno has been around for longer than a lot of people in show business have been alive at this point, and she’s been one of the favorite actresses of so many that it’s hard to keep count any longer. Even if you don’t happen to recognize her name right off the bat there’s a good chance that it sparks something in your memory. She’s shown up in enough productions and in public throughout the years that her name is something that touches upon a lot of people’s memories since the moments she’s picked to show up have been something that might only be remembered in a subliminal manner, but is still there. If you’re a fan of West Side Story though then it’s fair to say that you know exactly who she is.
Here are a few things that you might not have known about Rita.
10. She got pretty emotional when she was given her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Let’s be honest and say that being given a star on the Walk of Fame is a pretty big thing, but her reaction was emotional to the point of being kind of eye-rolling, but in a good and kind-hearted way. She’s done a lot in her career and obviously earned the recognition, so she’s allowed a bit of melodrama.
9. If you need reminding she was Anita in West Side Story.
A lot of people still love this story and it’s been revisited more than once on stage throughout the years since quite honestly it is a great story and something that mirrors the state of the nation in many ways no matter how dated it is.
8. She’s won all four major entertainment awards.
In a period of 16 years she won every major award that there was to win, which is extremely impressive and yet not as lauded as it needs to be since there are those in this day and age that are considered to be just as great if not greater and haven’t won nearly as many awards.
7. Rita was the first Hispanic woman to win an Oscar.
In the hall of Firsts this is another that is something that puts her head and shoulders above a lot of people and given that she’s the kind of person that will gladly toot her own horn it’s a bit surprising that it hasn’t been something she’s pushed throughout the years. But then maybe she likes to be announced instead, that would make sense.
6. She was with Elvis Presley at one point.
The funny thing is that according her Elvis was more like a little brother to her than anything. It kind of makes a person wonder if Elvis wasn’t quite as smooth or as cool as people thought he was back in the day. Of course it could be that Rita has such a strong personality that she shone brighter than many around her.
5. Apparently JFK flirted with her at one time.
According to her JFK had his wife on his arm when he flirted with her, which made her believe he was kind of brazen. A lot of people would gladly say that JFK was a bit of a womanizer, but all in all there’s more than one side to such stories. She has her own and that’s all well and good.
4. She became pregnant by Marlon Brando at one time.
The two of them were together for 8 years apparently but their relationship suffered a great deal from infidelity. When she became pregnant Brando apparently provided what she needed for an abortion.
3. Rita was acting on Broadway by the time she was 13.
This was where she was noticed and picked up as a talent. But it’s kind of obvious just looking at her bio and the various facts that she was set on becoming a star at some point in her life. Her attitude seems to have been one that suggests that she hit the ground running and wasn’t going to accept anything less than the best from herself and others.
2. At one time she attempted to commit suicide.
This came on the heels of her separation from Marlon Brando and her abortion as she was quite depressed and despondent. Abortion after all is not a simple thing for any person to go through and is bound to mess with a person’s body as well as their emotions.
1. She believed she was being stalked by a critic at one time.
Whether or not this is true is a matter between Rita and whoever she told. There’s no way to discount it since it is possible that she was stalked considering that such things do happen in show business. Hopefully things were settled without any real trouble.
She’s a legend without a doubt, and in all honesty it sounds as though she expected this from herself.
Follow Us
