Any character who had dark skin, I got all those parts. I could play a Polynesian, East Indian princess, whatever. - Rita Moreno

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I grew up as a child who felt she was very inferior to everyone else. - Rita Moreno

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I call myself the hardware shelf. There's a lot of awards and honors there. And I have earned that. I didn't ask for it, I didn't beg for it, I didn't pay for it. I earned that. People see the accomplishments - but it's good to remind people that so much strife and labor and tears and heartbreak came before that, that it really is earned. - Rita Moreno

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Smell the roses. Smell the coffee. Whatever it is that makes you happy. - Rita Moreno

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Arrogance - I have very little tolerance for that. - Rita Moreno

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All my life, I faced sexism and racism and then, when I hit 40, ageism. - Rita Moreno

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I loved being in the film called 'Carnal Knowledge' - the one with Jack Nicholson, which was very dark but a really brilliant movie. I loved being in 'The Ritz.' 'The Ritz' I think is just hilarious. I just saw it again recently and by God, it's still funny! - Rita Moreno

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Mellowing has never done much for me. You need to keep moving. - Rita Moreno

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Talk, talk, talk: the utter and heartbreaking stupidity of words.

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I will have one of the cleanest obits of any actress. I never did cheesecake like Ann Sheridan or Betty Grable. I just used my hair.

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