Ariana DeBose: ‘West Side Story Has Been An Incredibly Healing Project’
thewrap.comThis story about Ariana DeBose first appeared in the Down to the Wire Issue of TheWrap’s awards magazine.From the moment critics first got a taste of Steven Spielberg’s reimagining of “West Side Story,” they lavished praise on Ariana DeBose for her inspired interpretation of Anita, with many reviewers, including TheWrap’s, singling it out as the best part of the film.
As the awards season unfolded, DeBose received recognition from SAG, BAFTA and dozens of critics groups—and on February 8, to the surprise of absolutely no one, she became an Oscar nominee for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, making history as the first openly queer woman of color to be nominated for acting.All of which DeBose is still processing.
When asked how she’s wrapping her head around the experience, she could only reply with a tentative “Uh…” before breaking into a giddy laugh. “You should put that in the article: ‘She giggled.’”“I don’t think you do wrap your head around it,” she continued. “I know I certainly haven’t.
I was aware of the chatter around the performance even before the film had come out. I actually think you should dare to dream, but when you get this close to something that you have dreamed of, you don’t want to jinx yourself.” At the same time, she noted, “I am someone that believes in infinite possibility.
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