Oscars 2022: Ariana DeBose gives impassioned speech during history-making win

Actress Ariana DeBose who won the Oscars for the Best Actress in a Supporting Role for the remake of the musical West Side Story delivered an impassioned speech during her winDeBose is the first openly queer woman of colour to win an Academy Award She and star Rita Moreno who played Anita in the 1961 West Side Story are the first pair of actresses to win an Oscar for the same role in different moviesIm so grateful your Anita paved the way for tons of Anitas like me DeBose said in her speechWhat is this an excited DeBose screamed as she held the coveted statuetteNow you see why that Anita says I want to be in America because even in this weary world that we live in dreams do come true and thats really a heartening thing right nowIf I took the time to say thank you to every single beautiful person who has lifted me up on this stage you fine people would be sitting here until next Oscars so Im not going to do that but just allow me to say that it was the summer of a lifetime and I am that most privileged and grateful to have spent it will all of youShe thanked filmmaker Steven Spielberg The actress also thanked Rita Moreno who first played the role in the 1961 originalMy god Thank you Steven Spielberg Youre stuck with me now she addedThank you Kristie Macosko Krieger and Tony Kushner and the divine inspiration that is Rita Moreno you are staring at me right now and Im so grateful your Anita paved the way for tons of Anitas like me And I love you so muchDeBose also had a few words for her family and her partner SueIm gonna wrap this up and talk about my family My mother who is here tonight Mama I love you with my whole heart And this is as much yours as it is mine the 31yearold actress saidSome of my tribesman my family my love Sue Jonathan Diana Anthony Calamita I couldnt do what I do without each and every one of youShe also used the moment to encourage those questioning their identity to look to her story and know that there is always a place for them in the world of performing arts or any otherLastly imagine this little girl in the backseat of a white Ford Focus you see a queer openly queer woman of color an AfroLatina who found her strength in life through art she saidAnd thats what I believe were here to celebrateSo to anybody who has ever questioned your identity ever ever ever or you find yourself living in the gray spaces I promise you this There is indeed a place for us she continued wrapping up her emotional speechAccording to etonlinecom DeBose is just the second Latina to win the Best Supporting Actress following Moreno and the award also makes her the first out LGBT AfroLatino person to win an acting OscarThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever