In 1961, Rita Morenoburst into Hollywood with a bang when she starred as Anita in West Side Story. In addition to her touching Oscar-winning performance, she also made viewers sing and dance with her musical numbers, including the now-iconic “America.” And, as it turns out, an unexpected pop star was especially inspired by her performance too.
According to Moreno, Michael Jackson was a big fan of hers in the movie. “I’m always shocked when Michael — I love to tell the story,” she told People. “He told me one day that I was a huge favorite of his, [in this] tiny little voice. And he said, ‘I’ve always loved your dancing.'”
Jackson then revealed that he “copied some of the steps” from “America” into his legendary 1982 music video for one of his biggest hits “Thriller. “Sure enough, when I saw ‘Thriller,’ I saw some of the steps from ‘America,'” Moreno said.
“He just loved the choreography,” she continued. “He was influenced by Jerome Robbins,” the actress said of the late dancer and choreographer behind West Side Story. “Oh, very much. Very much.”
Last month, Moreno spilled some secrets about her connection with another late entertainment industry icon: Marlon Brando.
“We had a thing going,” Moreno said of The Godfather star. “Oh, yeah, [sex] was the crux of our relationship. It was really, essentially, very sexual, and he was amazing. So was I!”
And while their relationship was quite physical, the West Side Story star went on to remember that Brando was one of her confidants who encouraged her to go to therapy. “Here’s this crazy man telling this crazy woman that she needs therapy,” Moreno joked to the outlet. “I adored him — I was madly in love with him.”
“It took me a long time, and therapy, to get to like myself,” she admitted. “When you get traumatized that early in your life, it takes a long time to get rid of the notion that you’re bad.”
Looks like Moreno has a lifetime of interesting, funny and even steamy experiences with Hollywood legends. We love to see it!
Before you go, click here to see photos of Michael Jackson’s kids over the years.
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