8
Natalie Wood
as
Maria
Film
"West Side Story" (1961) is a modern-day adaptation of Shakespeare's tragedy Romeo and Juliet. In this version, a young girl and boy from rival New York City gangs fall in love.
Character's Background
Maria is the younger sister of Bernardo -- the leader of the Puerto Rican gang, The Sharks. So, she's Puerto Rican.
Actress' Background
Natalie Wood was not Puerto Rican or Latina, the actress was of Russian descent. But Maria wasn't the only whitewashed role in the film, with the notable exception of Rita Moreno who won an Oscar for her role as Anita, most of the Puerto Ricans in the film were portrayed by non-Latino actors.
Also pictured above is opera singer Isabel Leonard, of Argentine-descent, who portrayed Maria in a rendition of "One Hand, One Heart" during the Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series in 2012. See, Hollywood? It can be done.
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