How Zoe Saldaña in ‘Center Stage’ Inspired ‘West Side Story’ Star Ariana DeBose

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critical praise, dozens of awards and finally, an Oscar nod for Best Supporting Actress. After a decade of acclaimed work on the New York City stage (and before that, competing on “So You Think You Can Dance”), the Tony-nominated triple threat is entering a new phase of her career, in Hollywood. “Making ‘West Side Story’ was so different from working on Broadway, so it’s been nice to have the opportunity to chat about that and just celebrate all the good work (that has) come out this year,” DeBose said, adding with a laugh, “Honestly, it’s been great for my social calendar.”Here’s what else she had to say about her “West Side Story” experience and what’s next for her.On what her 18-year-old self, who was a top-20 finalist on “So You Think You Can Dance,” would make of her Oscar nomination“I think she’d be thrilled and she’d also be like, ‘What happened?

You were gonna be a backup dancer!’ [Laughs] But I think she’d be excited that she learned to sing, cause at the time, she was not a great singer.

And I think, honestly, if she knew she was gonna end up where she’s sitting right now, she’d breathe a little easier.”On learning from Rita Moreno, who plays a new character in “West Side Story,” ValentinaIf you are sharing space with Rita Moreno and your eyes are wide open and your ears are fully in tune, it’s impossible to not learn from this individual.

She’s 90 years old, she’s lived such a life. And while she speaks to some of her experiences as purely a Puerto Rican woman, sometimes she’s just like, ‘No, I’m a woman.