Academy Award winner Rita Moreno chatted about her new film “80 For Brady.”
Tim Tebow once said, “Success comes in a lot of ways, but it doesn’t come with money and it doesn’t come with fame. It comes from having a meaning in your life, doing what you love, and being passionate about what you do. That’s having a life of success. When you have the ability to do what you love, love what you do, and have the ability to impact people. That’s having a life of success. That’s what having a life of meaning is.”
A person who embodies this inspirational quote by Tim Tebow is EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award) winner Rita Moreno.
’80 For Brady’
“80 For Brady” was inspired by the true story of four best friends living life to the fullest when they take a wild trip to the 2017 Super Bowl to see their hero Tom Brady in action. “Wasn’t that fun? It’s a darling movie, and the world needs it right now so badly,” she said.
“We need to laugh and see what it is to be a loving friend and what that looks like,” she added.
In addition to Moreno, it stars Oscar nominee Lily Tomlin, as well as Oscar winners Jane Fonda and Sally Field, along with seven-time Super Bowl Champion and producer Tom Brady. It will be available in theatres on February 3, 2023, via Paramount Pictures. “It was an absolute joy working with them,” she said. “I love them immensely, we have become friends. They are awesome women.”
“When I was offered this part and was told who was in it, I couldn’t believe it,” she said.
Moreno plays the vivacious character Maura. “I loved playing her. She is very like me, and I decided that she is me. She likes men but she is in mourning and grieving over the loss of her husband but that doesn’t keep her from admiring men and how handsome they are,” she admitted.
Working with NFL stars
The movie features cameos from such NFL stars as Rob “Gronk” Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, and of course, Tom Brady himself. “I love them all,” she exclaimed. “Gronk is great, and Danny Amendola is one of the cutest men on earth. I got to work with Julian Edelman and his wonderful beard,” she said with a sweet laugh.
‘Gonna Be You’ song
“80 For Brady” features the song “Gonna Be You,” which is performed by Dolly Parton, Belinda Carlisle, Cyndi Lauper, Gloria Estefan and Debbie Harry. “Can you stand it?” she said with a sweet laugh. “I had no idea that was going to happen with all of those singers.”
It was written by Honorary Oscar, Grammy and Emmy Award-winning songwriter Diane Warren, and it was subsequently produced by Damon Elliott. “Diane Warren always has her finger in there, she really is a queen,” she said.
“Gonna Be You” is available on digital service providers by clicking here.
New project in the works
Moreno shared that she is now going to film “Family Leave,” a new movie for Netflix where she will be working alongside Jennifer Garner. “I start shooting that movie tomorrow,” she said.
“My schedule has been insane. I am not complaining but I am a little tired,” she said with a sweet laugh.
‘Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration’
Moreno also served as the narrator of the musical television special of “Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration,” which is available for streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.
“Wasn’t that gorgeous,” she said. “That was really special because it was very inclusive, and almost all of the chorus dancers were of a certain age. They were not 18, 20, or 21. They were of a certain age and that moved me so much.”
“One of the dancers I was constantly watching was a young man, who was probably about 20 years old, who was overweight. He danced like a fiend and he was partnered with a girl, and I just had to go over and introduce myself to him. I told him I was ‘Rita Moreno’ and his eyes got big, and that he was a wonderful dancer. He was so appreciative that I took the time to say that to him,” she elaborated.
“I was in wonder, not only of his ability, but the fact that they chose someone who was not your average dancer. They chose a chubby young man, who was absolutely marvelous. This showed the attitude of everybody in that production, it was fabulous,” she added.
2021 ‘West Side Story’ musical film
In the 2021 award-winning adaptation of “West Side Story,” directed by Steven Spielberg, Moreno portrayed Valentina, which was a new role created by Kushner especially for Moreno, since the character did not appear in the 1957 Broadway show or the 1961 movie adaptation. “That was very nice. It was all thanks to Steven Spielberg,” she said. “It has been quite a life over the past few years, it has been crazy but I love it.”
Valentina is the owner of the corner store where Tony works. Her performance as Valentina was hailed as “sensational” by this journalist. “Wasn’t that a beautifully written part,” she said. “Tony Kushner who wrote that, felt that she was the heart of the movie, and I think she is. It was a beautiful and touching part. When I found out that I was going to sing ‘Somewhere,’ I just started to cry because it is one of my favorite songs ever.”
Ariana DeBose also won the 2022 Academy Award for “Best Supporting Actress” for playing Anita, which is the same role that Moreno won her Oscar for in the 1961 original version of the film. “How about that! Ariana and I remain terrific friends. We constantly text each other about things,” Moreno said.
On the title of the current chapter of her life, Moreno revealed, “Resilient.” “I have a little necklace that someone made for me with those letters on it,” she said.
Her favorite motto to live by is: “If you want it all, you must love it all.” “That’s a good one,” she said.
To learn more about Rita Moreno, check out her IMDb page, and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
