LERON WELLINGTON
Staff Writer
This past Friday, I was eating my lunch between classes when I received an email from a member of Rita Moreno’s management, Sean Katz. He messaged saying that the interview I requested could be a possibility. And that possibility would only be available that day, in one hour. I was, of course, nervous because I had not prepared, but when I called Ms. Moreno, it was your normal conversation with a cool person.
As you will probably see at her presentation, she was very open and never shied away from her thoughts or true feelings. So I started my questions from the beginning. Moreno grew up performing and working as a kid, having jobs since the early age of nine. Instead of learning her craft through performing in school, she took experience as her teacher.
“I learned the most from experience. Nobody ever helped me. I have learned from making mistakes, which are inevitable. I didn’t have any model because there was no one like me at that time,” said Moreno.
Even though she has had an amazing career for more than 70 years without a conventional education, she still values education for everyone, even if they are performers. When asked if school was really needed to make it, she said, “Absolutely! Education is for no other reason. You need to acquire a skill that is something that will [help you] take care of yourself. Education is so important! It is what is going to see you through life.”
Being a Hispanic woman in the 1950s, Moreno faced adversity, of course. The obstacles she overcame, like people only perceiving her based on her skin color, are relatable to many students in the competitive world of today.
“I think you have to develop a tough skin without becoming tough and hard. You have to be able to fall and get up and dust yourself off [while] still hav[ing] your sensibility. But it can be done,” she said.
She worked hard and took risks, but she also made opportunities for herself. Writing a self-titled memoir and recording numerous albums, her advice to students for finding opportunities was, “You have to keep you ears and eyes open. Try to find yourself at the right time and place.”
Moreno has had to make decisions that were the best for her career and herself. When I asked her if she had any regrets she said, “[Regrets are] a huge waste of time. It’s over. It’s done. Why waste time regretting? It can just hold you back.”
One of the most interesting things about Moreno is that, even though she is so accomplished, she never forgets where she comes from. I asked her how community has helped her.
“It is very important. One of the reasons I have such a steadfast and loyal community is because I have never forgotten where I come from or who I am. When I won the Oscar, what made it really great was that I am a Puerto Rican,” Moreno said.
Her story will always be relevant, and she is open to sharing it. Moreno is still working and her latest project is a Netflix series called “One Day at a Time” featuring a Latin ensemble cast. If you would like to hear more of Moreno’s story, you should come to her presentation on Sept. 21 at 3 p.m. in King Concert Hall.