No matter how dark the moment, love and hope are always possible.
As far as dancing was concerned, I always wanted to do it. To actually be performing was thrilling for me.
It sounds corny to say, but we're like a family. That experience for all of us really created a bond... The 'West Side Story' experience, it really is a family. There's a closeness that has continued.
The first thing that was intimidating was when I started rehearsing to play Riff in the London company. That first day of rehearsal, I thought, 'Oh my God, I'm never going to learn this. I'm too slow.'
I don't regret 'West Side Story' one bit. It was an incredible movie full of young people with amazing rapport.
To be honest, I think I have a nice voice. A good voice... and I loved recording.
Steven Spielberg is a talented, wonderful filmmaker.
Her imagination is rich and vibrant. I have a great love and respect for Rita.
You don't stop when a musical number comes up and do the number and then take up the scene where you left off. It all moves forward. Your work as an actor was part of your work as a dancer as well. It was dialogue through movement.
If you buy a lottery ticket, you really don't expect to win. However, if you do win, it's a different story. The same is true about getting an Oscar. Of course I knew I was nominated, but I never expected my name to be called. When it was, I'm still at a loss to describe the feelings that I experienced.
I made movies with some very nice people, experienced actors.
I don't believe I was jinxed or hexed by winning an Academy Award in my first picture, 'West Side Story.'
After I finished working on the movie, I went back into the show again playing Riff, so it was an incredible time because I loved playing Riff in the theater and, of course, I loved playing Bernardo in the film. We had such a really beautiful time. We knew we were working on something of quality.
Whether it's Cyd Charisse and Fred Astaire or 'West Side Story,' see it on the big screen. That's the way we should appreciate it.