Ariana DeBose has a magic aura around her that shines through on every occasion. Gracefully interweaving her acting ability with extraordinary dance and performance skills, her star quality is undeniable.
This month, DeBose takes center stage as Anita in the iconic musical, West Side Story. Adapted for the big screen by Hollywood legend Steven Spielberg, it embraces the authenticity of the original musical with a modern twist. Speaking to rolling out prior to the film’s premiere, DeBose discussed the rebirth of one of the stage’s most popular musicals. In addition, she explains how the updated version will impact new audiences and hopes it will force viewers to look at their fellow man differently.
When you learned that you’d landed the role of Anita, how did you react?
Well, number one, Steven [Spielberg] is such a gem of a huge human. He has such integrity with how he does business. He called to ask me if I would play his Anita. He didn’t tell me that I was going to be Anita. He asked me if I would play his Anita. And that made me cry. I was actually sitting in a nail salon, believe it or not, with like foils on my hands. And I was like, what? Just silent, crying with tears. I was like, I was so honored. Yeah, it was a really special moment. Clearly, I haven’t forgotten it.
This film is so visually vivid and vibrant. How was that accomplished?
Isn’t it beautiful? It’s so epic. I think … the one descriptor that I would choose to describe this movie is epic. There’s not one element of it that isn’t grand, well thought out, or authentic, for that matter. It’s Steven and his dream team — Janusz Kaminski and Tony Kushner. … He literally brought his dream team together to create this world supported by Paul Tazwell, who did the costumes. I can tell you something, my Anita would be nothing without that man’s design. … It really was the perfect storm of creatives in the right place at the right time with a common goal of telling this particular story in a new way for a new generation.
The film is a cultural icon. How did it make you feel to be a part of the remake, which focused on cultural equity and representation?
You got the Sharks, you got the Jets, but we all loved each other. It was really interesting. The conversation that was happening amongst us while we were making it and also within the context of the piece, I think that’s one of the film’s strengths is that it does allow the audience to go deeper and discover why the Sharks are fighting [and] why the Jets are fighting so hard. What’s actually going on with these communities, and it really shows you … we have more in common than we think. This film unites people. … I think you’ll look at your fellow man a little differently, in my opinion.
West Side Story also stars Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler, Rita Moreno, David Alvarez, and Brian D’Arcy James. The film premieres globally on Dec. 10.
Photos courtesy of Walt Disney Studios
