Ariana DeBose Makes Oscar History—6 Things to Know About the Afro-Latina Actor
The 2022 Oscars will be remembered for everything except who went home with a golden statue at the end of the night. There was the slap seen around the world, the amateurish production choices, and the general disrespect shown to the less glamorous parts of the industry by not showing several awards during the live telecast.
The ceremony was an unmitigated disaster for anyone who cares about movies as an art form. But the actual award winners deserve recognition for their victories. Ariana DeBose’s rendition of Anita in the remake of West Side Story stood out to everyone who saw it. Here are a few facts about DeBose’s journey and upcoming projects.
1. Ariana DeBose’s interest in performing began at an early age
DeBose grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina, and quickly found inspiration in the world of dance, according to Dance Spirit. She started taking tap, jazz, and ballet classes when she was just three years old. Following the lead of her hard-working mother, who is a public school teacher, DeBose developed a dedication to her craft.
She trained in multiple styles at CC & Co. Dance Complex while also competing regularly at New York City Dance Alliance and West Coast Dance Explosion. In high school, she became more interested in musical theater, in part because of the pricey fees for dance competitions. DeBose’s first role was as Carmen in a high school production of Fame. The dancing came much more naturally to her than the singing.
“I was terrible! My singing sounded like a foghorn,” DeBose told Dance Spirit. “But I realized I loved the challenge of trying to sing and dance at the same time.”
2. DeBose’s TV debut came on ‘So You Think You Can Dance’
When DeBose was 18, she performed on the sixth season of So You Think You Can Dance, busting a move to “Black & Gold” by Sam Sparro while dressed like an Aladdin character in the Tron universe. She made it to the top 20 before being eliminated in the first round.
Even if the experience didn’t last long, the professional dancing environment convinced DeBose that she was ready for her next step. She dropped out of Western Carolina University’s musical theater program after three months and moved to New York to pursue her dreams full-time.
3. DeBose was a part of ‘Hamilton’, but her Broadway breakthrough came in a different performance
DeBose made her Broadway debut in 2011 as Nautica in Bring It On: The Musical, but it took a few more years of work before she was considered a star performer.
From 2015-16, DeBose was an ensemble member of Hamilton as The Bullet. She left the show to recharge and put herself forward for more leading roles. Her return to the stage came in 2017 as Jane in A Bronx Tale and Disco Donna in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, which earned DeBose a Tony nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.
DeBose’s gifts for singing, dancing, and acting eventually caught the eye of one of the most celebrated filmmakers of all time. But even he had difficulty convincing her that his project was worth her time.
4. She initially turned down the chance to be in ‘West Side Story’
Director Steven Spielberg had to ask DeBose four times before she agreed to audition for the role of Anita in the new West Side Story. She’d loved the story since she was a child, but her schedule was full enough with Summer that another massive project was a tough ask.
Even after she agreed to audition, her first read did not go as expected. “He asked me if I would read, and I just said, ‘Nope. No, sir,'” DeBose replied.”He looked at me like I had five heads. … He said ‘You’re not gonna read?’ And Cindy Tolan, our casting director, came in and was like, ‘We spoke about Ariana, she’s starring in a show, she just needs a little more time to be truly prepared.’ And he said, ‘So you’re not going to read?’ And I said, ‘No,’ again. And he’s like ‘But will you come back?’ And I said ‘I’d be honored.'”
It was a bold move considering her inexperience in the film industry, but it’s safe to say her gamble paid off for everyone.
5. Ariana DeBose is the one of the few queer women to win an Oscar
DeBose’s Oscar win for Best Supporting Actress was historic on multiple accounts. She became the first Afro-Latina and openly queer actor of color to win an Academy Award. DeBose was certainly ready to meet the moment with reverence for both Rita Moreno and the community she proudly claims.
“To anyone who ever questions your identity, ever ever, or find yourself living in the gray spaces, I promise you this: There is indeed a place for us,” said DeBose, quoting the West Side Story track “Somewhere.”
6. One of her next roles will bring her into the MCU for the first time
DeBose has a few films already lined up for the next couple of years. She will appear in the space thriller I.S.S. as Dr. Kira Foster alongside Chris Messina. She will also be in the glossy Apple TV+ spy movie Argylle, which has quite the ensemble cast: Henry Cavill, Sam Rockwell, Bryce Dallas Howard, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O’Hara, John Cena, and Samuel L. Jackson.
DeBose is currently filming a live-action adaptation of Marvel’s Kraven the Hunter. The plot of the movie is being kept under wraps, but she will reportedly play Calypso Ezili, a voodoo priestess who uses magic potions and is a sporadic romantic partner of Kraven.
