Oscars 2022: West Side Story's Ariana De Bose becomes first queer woman of colour to win an acting award

Six decades after Rita Moreno won an acting accolade for her rendition of Anita in West Side Story, Ariana De Bose bagged the best supporting actress Academy Award for Steven Spielberg’s reimagining of the musical.

This award is a milestone in the primarily cis-her white history of the Oscars as De Bose is the first Afro-Latina and openly LGBTQ actor to win in the category.

“To anybody who has ever questioned your identity, I promise you there is a place for us,” said the actor in her inspiring acceptance speech.

De Bose went on to thank Moreno, whom she called a ‘divine inspiration’ and who also stars in the 2021 film. The actor reflected on her past as an “openly queer woman of colour, an Afro-Latina, who found her strength through art,” as well.

She gained critical acclaim for her West Side Story performance after she consecutively bagged British Academy Film Award, a Critics' Choice Movie Award, a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actress.

She has previously held stage roles in Broadway musicals like Bring It On: The Musical, Motown: The Musical and Hamilton.

DeBose was nominated in the category along with Jessie Buckley (The Lost Daughter), Kirsten Dunst (The Power of the Dog), Aunjanue Ellis (King Richard), and screen icon Judi Dench (Belfast). West Side Story, which is streaming on Disney+ Hotstar, is also in the running for Best Picture this year.

The 94th Academy Awards, hosted by Amy Schumer, Wanda Sykes and Regina Hall, is currently in full swing at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

Watch De Bose’s speech here: