Sophie Elgort Brings Viewers Behind-the-Scenes of Her Photoshoot with Rita Moreno.
As the first Latina woman to win an Oscar and achieve EGOT status, Rita Moreno is the perfect choice for Sophie Elgort’s second guest on her series ‘Portrait Mode’ which airs on the ALL ARTS site.
Elgort picks up right where she left off in the previous episode, bringing viewers behind-the-scenes on another one of her photoshoots featuring a beautiful and creative mind. The episode follows much the same format as the previous one with Nile Rodgers, the main difference being that Moreno is the focal point this time.
It is clear that Moreno is comfortable in front of the camera. Moreno, most famously known for her work in West Side Story, first poses on a stool for Elgort. She is a former dancer, which is evident in the way she carries herself and moves. At one point in the photoshoot, Elgort removes the stool and asks Moreno to show her some movement in order to capture her standing up. Moreno breaks out in song, allowing Elgort to see her doing what she loves.
While Elgort takes photos of her subjects, she interviews them to foster dialogue and create a comfortable environment. Elgort first asks Moreno how she prepares for a role, to which Moreno reveals that she still gets extremely nervous on the opening night of any show despite her years of experience in the industry.
Moreno is still taking on roles and performing with grace and spright despite being in her nineties. Anita in West Side Story is Moreno’s favorite role she has ever played, and she talks about revisiting the story years later in Steven Spielberg’s 2021 adaptation of the film. Here she played a new character named Valentina who is the opposite of Anita in a lot of ways. Being a part of the story and getting to know the characters again was an emotional process for Moreno. She revealed that she only gave notes to Ariana Debose, who played Anita in Spielberg’s version, one time in regards to reading a line a certain way. Moreno also recently did a theater show where she performed six times a week. “I love theatre, I just don’t love doing it eight times a week,” said Moreno about performing at her age.
Moreno was born in Humacao, Puerto Rico and moved to New York City when she was a child. As a Puerto Rican woman, Moreno had to chart her own path in the predominately white theater and film industries. Today, there is more Latino representation in Hollywood, but actors are still having to deal with stereotypes and typecasts. Moreno recalls a time when she was with Jessica Chastain who was talking about the uncomfortability that often comes with shooting a love scene. When Chastain asked if Moreno could relate, Moreno said she could not because “island girls don’t have love scenes.”
As was the case at the end of the first ‘Portrait Mode’ episode with Nile Rodgers, Elgort turns the camera around and asks Moreno to direct her. Moreno asks Elgort to look into the camera “winsomely,” producing a photo that Elgort claims is one of her favorite photos of herself ever taken.
All images by Sophie Elgort.
