Rita Moreno, Voice of Abuelita in 'Nina's World,' Praises Show's Fresh and Inclusive Approach
The legendary Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony winner Rita Moreno continues to reinvent herself, not only in front of the camera, but behind the scenes.
In the new original series "Nina's World," an animated spin-off of Sprout's "The Good Night Show," Moreno, 83, will lend her award-winning voice to Abuelita, Nina's beloved grandmother, who helps her navigate childhood and learn about her culture. "Abuelita is the conduit to those adventures," Moreno explained.
While she embraces her traditions, she's hip, does yoga, teaches important lessons, and even transforms into the Nile River and a trumpet where she gets a chance to show off her award-winning vocal chops.
"Have you ever tried to be a trumpet?" Moreno laughed. "[It's] not easy!"
Moreno also recently guest-starred on "Jane the Virgin," playing the "fiercely protective" mother of Rogelio De La Vega, the telenovela star, and Jane's (Golden Globe winner Gina Rodriguez's) grandmother (aside from Alba). She's also starring in an upcoming pilot where she's playing a "sassy" grandmother, which she says is true to life. She was unable to divulge further info about the pilot, however.
The multi-faceted octogenarian also just produced an album with multi-Grammy Award-winning producer Emilio Estefan and beloved singer-songwriter Gloria Estefan; that is coming out in May.
Needless to say, Moreno is one busy bee behind the scenes.
"My life at 83 is quite astonishing, and Abuelita is only one part of it -- and it's a wonderful part of it. It's a very different part of it, but it's one part of it," she said.
With a multilingual approach, "Nina's World" will incorporate English, some Spanish and American Sign Language, and "will emphasize inclusiveness, as well as the value of communicating across multiple languages and appreciating other cultures," according to Sprout.
"This is the kind of character that she is -- she is actually very, very important to this particular show," Moreno explained. "She plays a very large role. Nina one day is very sad that the museum is closed, so Abuelita says to her 'no problem, don't worry about it, let's go to our garage and we'll make our own museum.' And while doing that, Nina not only learns about creating her fun through her imagination, but also about her family heritage and history."
"In other words, what's wonderful about this is that it comes about it in a very natural way ... there's no finger waving, it just happens because Abuelita has the wearwithall and the imagination to help see this little girl through a new experience. I am so proud to be in this show."
Having starred on "The Electric Company" in the '70s, Moreno recognizes that now in 2015, the TV landscape and approach towards educating and talking to children has changed quite a bit.
"Oh my gosh! The one thing, don't talk down to the children," she told Latin Post. "That's so important. ... That doesn't exist in ['Nina's World'], nobody talks down to the children. You explain, you explore, but you don't talk down to the children. You don't treat these children like ignorant little babies. You treat them as these wonderful, active brains..."
Moreno would also like to see Sprout address bullying in future episodes and also feature a blind child to round out its inclusive approach.
"I am going to be one proud Grammy [if they do that]... I think that it's a responsibility that we all owe children. We really have to try to equip them with the tools to handle that sort of thing," she said, referring to bullying.
She also recognized the importance of having a positive representation of Latinas on TV, film, and in pop culture.
"I think the objective of Sprout is to help this little girl feel that she belongs wherever she want to belong. That she is as pretty as she wants to be, that she is welcome anywhere," she explained. In other words, that there are no restrictions. ... There is also a little boy in this who plays Nick, who can't hear, but can read lips and he signs. There is room for everybody in this world and I think that is beautifully exemplified in this show."
"I adore children," she added. "I think they are very pure creatures and because of that, that makes me feel very, very responsible for dealing with children in the utmost responsible and loving way."
Being a treasured part of the world of Arts & Entertainment for nearly 70 years, Moreno recently received one of Hollywood's highest honors, the Screen Actors Guild's Lifetime Achievement Award.
After she got her start on Broadway at the age of 13, Moreno moved onto films, with roles in classics like "Singin' in the Rain" and "The King and I."
In 1962, Moreno became the first Hispanic woman to ever win an Academy Award, landing the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance as Anita in "West Side Story," a role in which she says she could relate.
Moreno has made her mark in Hollywood history as one of only 12 people to be celebrated as an EGOT, a winner of Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards. She also had a major role in TV Land's "Happily Divorced" for three seasons, and most recently was the voice of Aunt Mimi in the animated film "Rio 2."
Moreno said that Marlon Brando, who was romantically linked to her during her youth, told her that she was "the most optimistic person" he had ever met. In the nicest way, Brando compared her to a trash collector, but in her case, he said: "'Only you pick up hope, and you put it in your little brown paper bag.'"
"I love that illusion," she said. "That's me! That's absolutely me! I am one of the happiest people I have ever met in this late part of my life. I am still here, I'm working and I still have my senses. What's not to love?"
"Nina's World" will premiere on Sprout in September 2015.