Eva Longoria Asks Film Grads To Use Rita Moreno As Guiding Light

Eva Longoria has some advice for the new graduates of the American Film Institute: Use Rita Moreno as a guiding light to use myriad points of view.

Longoria presented the legendary stage and screen actress with an honorary doctorate of fine arts Wednesday in Los Angeles.

The 84-year-old Moreno recalled her discouraging early days in Hollywood where she was called on by studios to play any and every ethnicity. She called them “dusky maiden roles.”

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And yet, Moreno said, that those directors and studios “could not succeed in drowning this Puerto Rican.” She of course would rise above that early stereotyping, winning Emmys, a Grammy, Tony and Oscar.

Quentin Tarantino also received an honorary degree.