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Rita Moreno, 86, Re-Wore Her 1962 Oscars Dress — And It Looked Just as Amazing as Ever
The actress broke out the same gown she made history in during the 1962 award show.
Rita Moreno is a true Hollywood icon. For over 70 years, the Puerto Rican actress has charmed us with her talents in films such as The King and I and The Ritz. And at the 2018 Oscars, Moreno reminded us all of just what a queen she is.
For last night’s star-studded event, Moreno wore the exact same dress she made history in at the 1962 Academy Awards, when she was the first Latina actress to ever win an Oscar in a major category. That year, Moreno won Best Supporting Actress for her role as Anita in West Side Story. After this groundbreaking moment, Moreno went on to be the first Latina and third actor/actress in history to obtain the coveted EGOT (an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award).
Moreno slightly modified the black and gold dress adding a strapless neckline for her 2018 appearance, and she looked as amazing as ever in it.
During an interview with E!’s Ryan Seacrest, Moreno shared that the dress is made from a special fabric: "It’s made out of obi, which is the sash that Japanese women use on their kimonos. They’re usually folded over and over. This is one piece of fabric."
Moreno also touched on her famous 15-second speech at the 1962 Oscars, where she first donned the dress. When Seacrest asked why her speech was so short, she revealed that she had no idea that she was going to win. "I was sure it was going to be Judy Garland for Judgment at Nuremberg, which was a big deal. She was doing a dramatic role. But I flew in from Manila just in case, which is where this gown was made," she said.
While recycling dresses has become fairly common amongst celebs (just look at Jennifer Lawrence), there was a special significance to this red carpet repeat. In addition to reliving her big night, Moreno’s decision to wear this gown reminds everyone of the great strides and contributions the Latino community has made to Hollywood, which is especially important to note during an event where Latino actors and actresses have frequently been underrepresented.
Bravo, Rita, bravo!
