‘WEST SIDE’ AND
Oscar voters recognized a banner year for Latino stories and stars with nominations across many of the award show’s top categories.
Latino-focused films “West Side Story” and “Encanto” dominated with multiple coveted nominations apiece, while two movies directed by Latino filmmakers were named finalists for best picture.
And “Being the Ricardos,” which showcases Cuban superstar Desi Arnaz’s contributions to “I Love Lucy,” also received love from the Academy.
“West Side Story” — the latest adaptation of the Manhattan-set musical about feuding Puerto Rican and white gangs — is among the 2022 Oscars’ most-nominated films with seven, including for best picture.
Standout star Ariana DeBose, who is
Afro-Puerto Rican, is up for best supporting actress for her portrayal of Anita — an award won by Rita Moreno in 1962 for her performance as the character in the original “West Side Story.”
“Encanto,” about a magical Colombian household, received three nominations, including best animated feature. Native
New Yorker Lin-Manuel Miranda earned a nomination for best original song with “Dos Oruguitas” — the first track the “Hamilton” creator had ever written in Spanish from start to finish.
Guillermo del Toro’s carnival-set thriller “Nightmare Alley” was nominated for best picture. Del Toro, who previously won the honor for “The Shape of Water,” joins Alejandro González Iñárritu and Alfonso Cuarón as Mexican-born directors with multiple movies to get best picture nods.
“King Richard,” which centers on Venus and Serena Williams’ eccentric father, also earned a best picture nomination this year, marking the first for director and NYU alum Reinaldo Marcus Green, who is if Puerto Rican heritage.
Nominations for “Being the Ricardos” included a best actor nod for Javier Bardem, the Spanish actor who played Arnaz. Bardem’s wife, Penélope Cruz, who is also from Spain, was nominated for best actress for the twist-filled thriller “Parallel Mothers.”
As stars look forward to the Academy Awards ceremony on March 27, we look back at top performances by Latino actors who earned Oscar nominations — and big wins.