Ariana DeBose: 14 facts about the West Side Story actress you need to know
Get to know award-winning actress and singer Ariana DeBose.
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1. Who is Ariana DeBose?
Ariana DeBose made headlines thanks to her Oscar-winning role in West Side Story and her now-iconic viral BAFTA rap, but she’s been wowing audiences on Broadway for years. Get to know the talented actress and singer here. [Presley Ann/Getty Images]
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2. How old is Ariana DeBose?
Ariana DeBose is 32 years old. Her birthday is January 25 and she was born in 1991. As for the zodiac calendar, her star sign is Aquarius. [@arianadebose via Instagram]
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3. How tall is Ariana DeBose?
Ariana DeBose is 5 feet 5 inches tall. This makes her height 1.65 metres. [@arianadebose via Instagram]
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4. Where is Ariana DeBose from?
Ariana DeBose is American. She was born in North Carolina and grew up there. Her dad is Afro-Puerto Rican and her mum is white. Speaking to Gay Times in 2018 about her ethnicity, Ariana said: "I present as black and I do have African-American lineage, but I'm also part-Italian." [@arianadebose via Instagram]
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5. Who plays Alyssa in The Prom?
Ariana DeBose is the actress who plays Alyssa Greene in The Prom on Netflix. Alyssa is Mrs. Greene’s daughter and Emma Nolan’s girlfriend. Mrs Greene is the head of the PTA and she bans Alyssa and Emma from attending prom together. This is Alyssa’s first role in a Netflix project. [Netflix]
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6. Who plays Anita in West Side Story?
Ariana DeBose stars as Anita in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story. Anita is Bernado’s girlfriend and Maria’s close friend. She is one of the Sharks. Rita Moreno played the role in the original film. Ariana received widespread acclaim for her performance with many critics calling her the star of the film. She also won the 2022 Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for her performance. [@arianadebose via Instagram]
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7. Did Ariana DeBose win an Oscar for West Side Story?
Ariana DeBose won the 2022 Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Anita in West Side Story. In her speech, she said: "You see an openly queer woman of colour, an Afro-Latina, who found her strength and life through art. And that is, I think, what we’re here to celebrate. So if anyone has ever questioned your identity, I promise you this – there is indeed a place for us." [Amblin Entertainment / 20th Century Studios / Album]
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8. Ariana DeBose is the first queer woman of colour to be nominated for an Oscar for acting
Ariana DeBose is the first openly queer woman of colour to be nominated for an Oscar for acting. She is also the first Afro-Latina to be nominated for an Academy Award for acting. Speaking to The View about the achievement, Ariana said: "It's really special. It's monumental. It's not just a huge moment for me. It's a huge moment for all of the communities that I represent and belong to." [@arianadebose via Instagram]
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9. Ariana DeBose was a So You Think You Can Dance finalist in 2009
Ariana DeBose’s first claim to fame was as a So You Think You Can Dance contestant in 2009. Aged 18, she made the Top 20 before exiting the competition. [Fox]
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10. Ariana DeBose played The Bullet in the original cast of Hamilton
Yes. Ariana DeBose acted in the ensemble of Hamilton in 2015. She appeared in both the off-Broadway and the Broadway production as The Bullet and you can spot her in the 2020 filmed version of the production on Disney+. [@arianadebose via Instagram]
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11. What Broadway musicals has Ariana DeBose been in?
As well as Hamilton, Ariana DeBose has acted in Bring It On, Motown: The Musical, Pippin and A Bronx Tale. However, she is most famous for playing Disco Donna in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical on Broadway. She earned a Tony nomination for her performance in the musical. [@arianadebose via Instagram]
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12. What movies and TV shows has Ariana DeBose been in?
Before The Prom, Ariana DeBose appeared in Seaside as Daphne and Blue Bloods as Sophia. She has since appeared in Steven Spielberg's West Side Story as Anita and Schmigadoon! as Emma. [Netflix]
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13. Ariana DeBose is openly queer
Ariana DeBose has opened up about identifying as queer in multiple interviews. Speaking to Them about her sexuality in 2018, Ariana said: "People say “you’re dressing like a male, or dressing femme, or dressing like a butch lesbian…” No, boo — I’m dressing like me. I don’t subscribe to societal norms, and I’m more than a label someone else gives me.” [@arianadebose via Instagram]
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14. Ariana DeBose is dating Sue Makkoo
According to People Magazine, Ariana DeBose is dating 52-year-old Sue Makkoo. The pair met while working on Broadway's Summer: The Donna Summer Musical together in 2018. Ariana played Disco Donna while Sue worked as a costume associate. [@arianadebose via Instagram]
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15. Is Ariana DeBose on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Snapchat?
You can follow Ariana DeBose via @arianadebose on Instagram and Twitter. She doesn’t have public TikTok and Snapchat accounts at the moment. [@arianadebose via Instagram]
