Rita Moreno has spent more than eight decades breaking barriers in Hollywood, but the legendary Puerto Rican actress made it clear that her work is far from over. At 95, the EGOT winner still has plenty to say, and she isn’t about to start censoring herself now.
© GettyWhile accepting the Vida y Legado (Life & Legacy) Award at Carlos Eric Lopez’s sixth annual Día de Muertos Gala in Los Angeles on Tuesday, October 27, Moreno delivered a heartfelt and hilarious speech to the next generation of Latino leaders, urging them to dream big and never let anyone tell them what they can or cannot accomplish.
© Getty“Dream big. And don’t let anybody tell you what you fucking can do or can’t do,” Moreno declared.
The actress, who became the first Latina woman to win an Academy Award and went on to achieve EGOT status, didn’t shy away from her age or mortality. “I am 95 years old and still standing,” she quipped, joking that the audience would have to save a picture to put on an ofrenda for another day.
© Gilbert FloresMoreno’s appearance at the gala celebrated a career that has helped shape entertainment history, but her message extended well beyond her own achievements.
The actress made it clear that a legacy is not simply measured by the awards on a shelf, but by the lives touched and the opportunities created for those who follow. “We don’t get to choose how many years we’re given, but we do get to choose what we do with them,” she told the audience.
© Getty“And the greatest thing we can leave behind isn’t fame or fortune. It’s the love we have shared, the lives we have touched, and the doors we’ve opened for those who come after us.”
© CameriqueThat sentiment was at the heart of why the honor meant so much to her. “That’s why receiving this Life and Legacy Award means everything to me,” she said. “And I’m especially happy that tonight isn’t just about remembering yesterday; it’s about believing in tomorrow.”
© GettyMoreno later addressed the young Latino leaders at the gala, encouraging them to pursue their ambitions without letting others define their limits. “Never, ever forget where you came from,” she said,
“After all, if a 95-year-old lady – and a Puerto Rican lady, I might add – can still get up here making speeches, imagine what you can do.”
Before finishing her speech, she made one last joke. “I just want to add to it, have a beautiful, beautiful evening,” she told the audience. “And if anybody needs me, I’ll be around for a while, standing up in person. Alive.”
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