Rita Moreno Reveals Her Three Most Treasured Roles
Rita Moreno looks back on her legendary turn as Anita in West Side Story and shares the two other performances she holds dearest: her part in the acclaimed series Oz and her stage work in The Miracle Worker.
In 1961, Rita Moreno delivered a performance that would become a touchstone in cinematic history, portraying Anita in West Side Story. The role not only earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress but also established her as a household name. Yet, Moreno’s journey began long before that, with her early days on stage in the 1940s and a string of film appearances throughout the following decade. From Garden of Evil to Singin’ in the Rain, she demonstrated a remarkable range, seamlessly blending musical talent with dramatic skill.
Though her career has spanned decades and included appearances in everything from Carnal Knowledge to Fast X, as well as a part in Steven Spielberg’s recent reimagining of West Side Story, Anita remains the role most closely associated with her. Moreno has often spoken of her gratitude for the opportunity, describing it as one of the highlights of her professional life. Reflecting on her career, she told Long Island Press that Anita was the part that truly introduced her to the world.
“That became an iconic role for me. It’s a role that made me known worldwide, more than anything,”
she explained. Her portrayal inspired future generations, with Rachel Zegler, star of the Spielberg adaptation, once admitting,
“It wasn’t something that I thought was a possibility for someone like me until I saw Rita Moreno dancing on a rooftop in a beautiful purple dress.”
Breaking New Ground in Television
When asked about other roles that stood out, Moreno pointed to her unexpected casting in the 1990s television drama Oz, set in a men’s prison. In the series, she played a nun who was also a trained psychologist—a part that was, in her words,
“so far and away from anything I’d played before.”
The experience proved to be one of the most fulfilling of her career.
“I was absolutely in shock when it was offered to me. My God, the casting in that show was extraordinary. And every year they’d bring in some new actor to play a new prisoner and it would be somebody incredible. Not a star, but an incredible actor. It was fantastic.”
The role allowed her to explore new territory, both emotionally and professionally, and she embraced the challenge wholeheartedly.
A Return to the Stage
Despite her success on screen, Moreno has always maintained a deep affection for the theatre, the medium where her career first took flight. Among her stage credits, she singles out her portrayal of Anne Sullivan in The Miracle Worker as a particular favourite.
“I did a lot of theatre outside of Broadway. I think one of the things I really loved doing was playing Anne Sullivan in The Miracle Worker. I played an Irish girl in that and it was just wonderful and one of the best experiences I ever had.”
The play, which tells the story of Helen Keller’s tutor, demanded both emotional depth and resilience. Moreno’s performance brought the character to life, and she regards the experience as one of the most rewarding of her life.