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Rita Moreno
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Rita Moreno: A Memoir Paperback – January 7, 2014

by Rita Moreno (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 887 ratings
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In this New York Times bestselling memoir, West Side Story star Rita Moreno shares her remarkable journey from a young girl with simple beginnings in Puerto Rico to Hollywood legend—one of the few performers, and the only Hispanic, to win an Oscar, Grammy, Tony and two Emmys.

Born Rosita Dolores Alverio in the idyll of Puerto Rico, Moreno, at age five, embarked on a harrowing sea voyage with her mother and wound up in the harsh barrios of the Bronx, where she discovered dancing, singing, and acting as ways to escape a tumultuous childhood. Making her Broadway debut  by age thirteen—and moving on to Hollywood in its Golden Age just a few years later—she worked alongside such stars as Gary Cooper, Yul Brynner, and Ann Miller.

When discovered by Louis B. Mayer of MGM, the wizard himself declared: “She looks like a Spanish Elizabeth Taylor.”  Cast by Gene Kelly as Zelda Zanders in Singin’ in the Rain and then on to her Oscar-winning performance in West Side Story, she catapulted to fame—yet found herself repeatedly typecast as the “utility ethnic,” a role she found almost impossible to elude.

Here, for the first time, Rita reflects on her struggles to break through Hollywood’s racial and sexual barriers. She explores the wounded little girl behind the glamorous façade—and what it took to find her place in the world. She talks candidly about her relationship with Elvis Presley, her encounters with Howard Hughes, and the passionate romance with Marlon Brando that nearly killed her. And she shares the illusiveness of a “perfect” marriage and the incomparable joys of motherhood.

Infused with Rita Moreno’s quick wit and deep insight, this memoir is the dazzling portrait of a stage and screen star who longed to become who she really is—and triumphed.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    320 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Celebra
  4. Publication date
    January 7, 2014
  5. Dimensions
    5.3 x 0.7 x 8.2 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0451416392
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0451416391
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“It's clear Rita Moreno was a pioneer in every aspect of her life.”—The Huffington Post

“Sure to inspire and empower, straight from our very own living legend and the original triple threat:  Rita Moreno.”—Being Latino
 

About the Author

Rita Moreno is one of the few artists to win an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony. She has also received a Golden Globe Award and a National Medal of Honor. She recently concluded a sold-out run of her one-woman show, Life Without Makeup, at the Berkeley Repertory Theater in Berkeley, California, and regularly appears in the television show, Happily Divorced.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Celebra; Reprint edition (January 7, 2014)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0451416392
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0451416391
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.3 x 0.7 x 8.2 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 887 ratings

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Rita Moreno

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
887 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

J.C.
5.0 out of 5 stars Rita tells all
Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2013
Verified Purchase
Rita Moreno writes a very candid, well written and insightful book. From her humble beginnings in Puerto Rico, she and her mother arrive in the big city of New York when she is five years old. Rosita, not yet named Rita, was a singing and dancing wonder and she had a dream of stardom. Her mother shared her dream and worked many jobs to finance singing and dancing lessons. She took dance lessons from actress Rita Hayworth's uncle where she learned the different dance steps that would catapult her to her world on the stage and screen.
She was compared to Elizabeth Taylor in beauty. At first she was cast in mediocre parts of Indian maidens. But she managed to get the part of the beautiful slave girl in the screen version of the musical The King and I. Other parts would come until she was chosen to play the Puerto Rican Anita in the screen musical West Side Story for which she won an Oscar. She was the recipient of several awards for her screen work, T.V. (Sesame Street) and on the stage.
She had a long compulsion and obsession with the actor Marlon Brando, a controversial figure in movies and his own life. Rita explains in detail of her aborting Marlon's baby at his insistence. She also had a brief friendship with Elvis Presley.
Rita finds love after Brando with Lenny, a Jewish doctor and has a daughter Fernanda. The book is very interesting about her life, her loves and then losing the husband Lenny that she loves after a short illness.
Now in her 80's and still beautiful, she has written a play about her life called Life Without Makeup. She's a good story teller. I'd recommend this book to all who know of her and her fans. Bravo!
3 people found this helpful
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5.0 out of 5 stars Rita Moreno, a star to remember, great read.
Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2016
Verified Purchase
This was an excellent biography of the life of Rita Moreno. From her days in Puerto Rico as a young happy child to a shocking arrival to Spanish Harlem in New York City where she and her mother lived in very difficult circumstances. A very determined young woman she went to each and every audition. At this time, her Mother gave her too much freedom and at times it was dangerous. She arrived in Hollywood with emotional problems including quite a few stepfathers and the death of one brother in addition to Francisco the brother her mother left in Puerto Rico. She loved this brother and never knew what happened to him. She encountered Marlon Brando, a man with many emotional problems himself. She refers to him as beyond handsome and words couldn't describe how beautiful. At that time, according to her, he was an Adonis. He had a muscled physique at the time although later on he became very obese. Addicted to women, he seduced them and left them although I don't think he did this deliberately. She almost succeeded in killing herself she was so addicted to Brando, his intelligence, charisma and talents in bed. She says she had two great loves in the life, Marlon Brando and the doctors she married. Although she was married to him for over 35 years. The marriage wasn't that happy because the doctor had a way of controlling her. Never the less, because of his levity and faithfulness she made the concessions which allowed her to stay in the marriage. After Brando, she was looking for peace and some semblance of serenity. Although, she had two great loves in the life, I think Brando was the love of her life. It was sad that he was so emotionally disturbed himself because when he died, there was only a picture of Rita Moreno in his house. The Hispanic version of Elizabeth Taylor never forgot him and he never forgot her. It was a riveting book for me and I read it in three nights. The book arrived in a timely manor, was in good condition and packaged very well. I would reccommend the seller and the book. It you like celebrity biographies for fun, this is a book to purchase. In fact, after I read it, I gave it to my girlfriend, she read it quickly to and gave it to another girlfriend to read.
18 people found this helpful
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warren
4.0 out of 5 stars rita is strong, talented
Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2023
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i liked this book about a fine actress who never gives up.
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SistaBNYC
5.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting and enjoyable book
Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2013
Verified Purchase
I grew up in the 70s but remember loving West Side Story the very first time I saw it. Ms. Moreno is a big part of why I still can't turn the channel whenever I'm lucky enough to catch it on tv. Her life story is fascinating and her love affair with Marlon Brando was not only surprising, but made me want wish I had been able to have a roll with him myself LOL! She also brings the Hollywood racism issue to light but not in a way that sounds like she's bitter - just wiser. I loved this book and had difficulty putting it down. I saw her in a movie several years ago ("I Like It Like That") where she played the mother of a bike messenger and it was so good to see her again. I hope this book reminds the powers that be out there in lala land that Ms. Moreno is still a vibrant, talented, beautiful actress who should be seen on the big screen again.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Debora Wagner
5.0 out of 5 stars Schönes Buch
Reviewed in Germany on March 16, 2021
Verified Purchase
Es hat alles bestens geklappt. Artikel kam pünktlich und wie beschrieben an.
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Isabella Macleod
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 26, 2016
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All perfect
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Kenneth Norris
5.0 out of 5 stars This was a real surprise! This book by Rita Moreno was excellent!
Reviewed in Canada on March 16, 2014
Verified Purchase
Growing up in the fifties, etc. Rita Moreno was in a lot of the films I watched...When I heard about her book, I thought...why not.
Was I ever overwhelmed with what she wrote. She is such a wonderful down to earth person who has worked so hard over the years, and now into her eighties...She really told us more then we should've known. Her life with her only husband, and what she went through at the end, when he had health problems. Rita is a real wonderful human being...very dedicated to people all around her.
Her wonderful movie roles, and lately TV work are so good... She is a real prize! This is a good book...Enjoy.
One person found this helpful
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shaddie
3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
Reviewed in Australia on June 8, 2015
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just a very a average rags to riches book on the lives of a movie star
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Arnold Rushfeldt
5.0 out of 5 stars Informative
Reviewed in Canada on June 19, 2014
Verified Purchase
Did not know to much about Rita-found this very informative. Very easy read and thoroughly enjoyable. Loved all the photos.
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