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Rita Moreno reflects on her remarkable career

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    Fox News salutes Hispanic heritage

  • Duration 6:39
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As us you know the last four weeks we've teamed up with -- -- apprentice program to bring you a fresh look in the lives of some extraordinary people.

Inside the Hispanic Latino community.

Police -- If you're again this morning with our -- very special feature I guarantee at least if people are gonna know who are talking about and it absolutely I could not been more excited to forgive my voice little bit of a cold here but yeah it was an absolute -- pleasure.

To spend time with the feisty -- irrepressible.

Bundle of joy that is -- hammer and now as an actor she's simply done at all I sat down with her recently had her home in Berkeley California.

To talk about her remarkable career how she broke through and why she's still performing today.

The best way to get over him and is defined and now the man why don't need to issue -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Do we really have that luxury of having the time.

You literally been on stage and found her 75 years what keeps trying -- back.

I was born does this you know I really I really during my DNA I don't think there's any other way to explain something like that.

From the time I was a little girl in Puerto Rico used to dance from -- -- It's just hand me yeah early action.

-- eight.

Love.

The attention.

And any performer who tells you otherwise.

Is lying -- -- -- You can just -- come over here with happy -- who's.

Gore and Ross Sutton -- Lotus a video she spent the first five years in her native Puerto Rico.

But when her parents divorced -- mother brought her to New York for a chance at a better life.

But they learned early on it wouldn't be -- -- he started to go to school which was kindergarten I didn't know -- word of English.

But I'll tell you one thing it's one way to learn English really fast as I got -- some very mean means I didn't know what those -- -- but I -- saw.

What they meant it was very tough.

And it really it really.

Colored my life for many to many years.

I really grew up thinking that I didn't have much fountain.

-- -- no better now.

-- -- I don't know what -- saying -- act act but that.

Onstage a little rusty down flourished almost immediately first was there dancing and then her voice but when she -- the -- -- MGM there was a problem.

The man who was in casting in charge of casting an MGM very powerful guy called windows office and said we have to change -- name.

It's two Italian.

Businessmen -- and green.

And that's an Italian and they RI NO.

And so we went to a bunch of names some of them really hilarious you know I think it was -- Montenegro.

I was really -- I just sit.

-- I know the next time hope.

And -- -- a normal everyday is Rita Hayworth and I'm so old she's my icon okay.

-- ever -- -- was born.

But her new name only tickers so far with Hollywood casting agents you're dealing with these stereotypical roles over and over and over again how far over the -- -- you have to -- Oh why it was bad I mean it was speculate that I remember when my most famous clients not to anybody else of the world but to me was.

Why you know I love kind -- -- no more.

And when the white man told me I think to myself off a cliff.

I mean I did you know.

Well you -- Think you can food couldn't you.

I can laugh about it now but I have container and it was demeaning.

And it made me feel really bad about myself -- -- what is what's eventually send -- into psychotherapy.

She spent five years -- -- repairing herself something she talks about -- her new book that Rita Moreno a memoir which comes out in the spring.

And I -- so much when I eroded them.

Because it opened up.

It opened up so many things that I had literally thought that I have put away.

And I mean I would be typing away really.

And shopping.

And then having to let my -- so I could see the keys.

Sheer perseverance and tons of talent propelled -- roles that got her noticed but nothing put her on the map like West Side Story.

Which made her a star on the world stage that moment right before they -- campaign do you remember I remember clearly I remember that I thought.

Anyone else in the -- his -- and -- Oscar.

Except me so far.

And I was putting on my -- -- wonderful cook -- the fifth fifth fifth.

And my name was called -- and I said don't run it's not dignified don't run at this stage and I didn't.

More awards would follow including a Tony for the -- a Grammy for singing on an album for the electric company and an Emmy for special appearances on the Muppet Show and the Rockford Files.

But it was the power of her personality did eventually changed Hollywood -- and now here you are paying your plane at cheering crowd.

Nine great bet founder and -- Crowd.

Watching me dollar -- -- -- and I thank them.

Get out.

Like others look back your story what do you want them to take away from -- that I believe that if you get knocked.

Really really -- captain I'm an actress who who can do in my opinion anyway anything that I want to do I.

At the top of my game as far as I'm concerned I'm in the prime of my life and I'm eighty.

I have the 81 in December.

And I am -- happy -- Puerto Rican government.

With all the wonderful thing she's done.

On stage and in the movie she says her most important role is that a caregiver.

She's a national spokesperson for the American Heart Association.

And specifically talks to groups with type two diabetes on how to reduce their risks for cardiovascular disease to see more story celebrating Hispanic heritage month.

Go to Fox News Latino.

Dot com and one thing I have to say was I just really appreciated her honesty.

Any excuse really so inspirational and all for the stories you've done have been fantastic thank you so my thanks from a timing -- and thank you so much much.

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