On Sunday night, Raleigh native Ariana DeBose made history when she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Anita in “West Side Story.” Ariana is the first openly queer women of color to recieve an accolade for acting at the Academy Awards.
The actress, who grew up in the City of Oaks, trained at CC & Co. Dance Complex + debuted on television during the sixth season of “So You Think You Can Dance,” making it into the top-20.
After her first TV performance, the local star appeared in the soap opera “One Life to Live,” the North Carolina Theatre’s production of “Hairspray” as Little Inez, and Broadway’s “Hamilton” as the Bullet. You can find a list of all of her performances here.
As an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, Ariana starred in “The Prom,” which is a portrayal of queer acceptance and collaborated with Jo Ellen Pellman, best known for her work in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” to establish the Unruly Hearts Initiative. This non-profit organization helps connect young people with resources + organizations to provide support for housing insecurity, mental health access, mentorship, and education.
Before her Oscar win, Ariana also won awards for her role in “West Side Story” at the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild Awards, and the British Academy Film Awards.
We’re looking forward to watching Ariana in her next role playing Calypso in “Kraven the Hunter,” premiering in theaters Jan. 13, 2023.