Rita Moreno

And became roommates, as a matter of fact. I was crazy about her. And she found me. She loved, dearly loved me because she knew that I had gumption. I didn't see myself that way at all. She saw it in you before you saw it in yourself. Oh, she saw it way before I ever saw it in me. I love that, what you say about bravery. I really do. It's really determined by how frightened you are.

And became roommates, as a matter of fact. I was crazy about her. And she found me. She loved, dearly loved me because she knew that I had gumption. I didn't see myself that way at all. She saw it in you before you saw it in yourself. Oh, she saw it way before I ever saw it in me. I love that, what you say about bravery. I really do. It's really determined by how frightened you are.

Don't tell me that people who do risky things aren't worried that somehow it may come back and slap it in the face. I think people know that it takes a certain amount. They may not call it that. I call it courage. Right. It is courage.

Don't tell me that people who do risky things aren't worried that somehow it may come back and slap it in the face. I think people know that it takes a certain amount. They may not call it that. I call it courage. Right. It is courage.

Well, it was the first... Hispanic role that I had been offered who loved herself. She had a sense of dignity. I've never played a Hispanic character. Excuse me. Who had those qualities. This was the very first time that I played a Hispanic character who wasn't talking like this all the time. You know? Who stood proud. Who owned it proudly all of it. She owned it. And she was proud of herself.

Well, it was the first... Hispanic role that I had been offered who loved herself. She had a sense of dignity. I've never played a Hispanic character. Excuse me. Who had those qualities. This was the very first time that I played a Hispanic character who wasn't talking like this all the time. You know? Who stood proud. Who owned it proudly all of it. She owned it. And she was proud of herself.

And she wasn't going to take any shit from anybody. And I... I was astounded that I was offered the part. I was astounded because I thought, I'm so not that. Let me tell you an interesting story. Please. Speaking of Anita. Yes. When I finally got the part because I tested and tested and tested.

And she wasn't going to take any shit from anybody. And I... I was astounded that I was offered the part. I was astounded because I thought, I'm so not that. Let me tell you an interesting story. Please. Speaking of Anita. Yes. When I finally got the part because I tested and tested and tested.

She was never, never offered. No. Wow.

She was never, never offered. No. Wow.

I got the part after testing a lot. They tested everybody in Hollywood with brown hair and brown eyes. So I got the part finally, and I was... Beyond thrilled. It was a great part. Yes. Just a great part. Great part, and the music is so gorgeous. Oh, please. Yes, yes. The first thing I did when I heard that I got the part

I got the part after testing a lot. They tested everybody in Hollywood with brown hair and brown eyes. So I got the part finally, and I was... Beyond thrilled. It was a great part. Yes. Just a great part. Great part, and the music is so gorgeous. Oh, please. Yes, yes. The first thing I did when I heard that I got the part

I ran to the music store and bought the music, the whole manuscript, so that I could be ahead of the game and I would know America and a boy like that, that kind of thing, so that I would know the songs backwards. There would be no problem with that. So I brought it home, and the first thing I did was turn the page to America. And here is what I read and sang. to that manuscript.

I ran to the music store and bought the music, the whole manuscript, so that I could be ahead of the game and I would know America and a boy like that, that kind of thing, so that I would know the songs backwards. There would be no problem with that. So I brought it home, and the first thing I did was turn the page to America. And here is what I read and sang. to that manuscript.

Puerto Rico, you ugly island, island of tropic diseases. You know, even just saying it now in that context gives me the chills and makes my stomach royal. Because when I saw that, I didn't realize that that was the verse in the Broadway play.

Puerto Rico, you ugly island, island of tropic diseases. You know, even just saying it now in that context gives me the chills and makes my stomach royal. Because when I saw that, I didn't realize that that was the verse in the Broadway play.

And I remember thinking, I can't do this.

And I remember thinking, I can't do this.

I can't do this. And then this went on for days and days and days. And I kept thinking, I'm going to have to just call my agent and say I can't do this. And then I would say, but I want the part. I want this so badly I can taste it. And then I would say to myself, no, you can't do it. You will never, ever live that down. I was probably right. And...

I can't do this. And then this went on for days and days and days. And I kept thinking, I'm going to have to just call my agent and say I can't do this. And then I would say, but I want the part. I want this so badly I can taste it. And then I would say to myself, no, you can't do it. You will never, ever live that down. I was probably right. And...