Ariana DeBose is an American actress of the stage and screen who has received recognition and accolades for her varying performances; such as her portrayal of Donna Summer in the 2018 Broadway musical Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, for which she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical; and as Anita in Steven Spielberg's 2021 film adaptation of West Side Story, winning the Academy Award (Oscar), BAFTA Award, Critics' Choice Award, Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actress. She has also received recognition for her performances in multiple stage plays and musicals; including Hairspray (2011), Bring It On: The Musical (20112012), Pippin (2014), Hamilton (2015) and A Bronx Tale (2016); films such as Hamilton and The Prom (both 2020); and television series such as the documentary Hamilton's America (2016) and the musical comedy series Schmigadoon! (20212023).
Her other achievements include finishing in the top 20 of the sixth season of So You Think You Can Dance in 2009 and earning a nomination for the BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2022 following her breakthrough role of Anita in 2021's West Side Story, a Spielberg rendition of the 1961 film and 1957 stage musical of the same name. Additionally, her 2022 Oscar win for West Side Story made her the first Afro-Latina and openly queer woman of color to receive an Oscar in an acting category.
Major associations Academy Awards Year Category Work Result 2022 Best Supporting Actress West Side Story
Actor Awards Year Category Work Result 2022 Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role West Side Story
BAFTA Awards Year Category Work Result British Academy Film Awards 2022EE Rising Star Award Best Film Actress in a Supporting Role West Side Story
Critics' Choice Movie Awards Year Category Work Result 2022 Best Acting Ensemble West Side Story Best Supporting Actress
Emmy Awards Year Category Work Result Primetime Emmy Awards 2023 Outstanding Variety Special (Live) 75th Tony Awards 2024 76th Tony Awards
Golden Globe Awards Year Category Work Result 2022 Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture West Side Story
Tony Awards Year Category Work Result 2018 Best Featured Actress in a Musical Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
Theatre awards Chita Rivera Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 2016 Outstanding Ensemble in a Broadway Show Hamilton 2018 Outstanding Female Dancer in a Broadway Show Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
Drama League Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 2018 Distinguished Performance Award Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
Critics awards Alliance of Women Film Journalists Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 2022 Best Woman's Breakthrough Performance West Side Story
Austin Film Critics Association Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 2022 Best Supporting Actress West Side Story Breakthrough Artist Award
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 2021 Best Supporting Actress West Side Story Most Promising Performer
Detroit Film Critics Society Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 2021 Best Supporting Actress West Side Story
Florida Film Critics Circle Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 2021 Best Supporting Actress West Side Story
Georgia Film Critics Association Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 2022 Best Supporting Actress West Side Story
Hollywood Critics Association Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 2022 Best Supporting Actress West Side Story
Houston Film Critics Society Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 2022 Best Supporting Actress West Side Story
London Film Critics' Circle Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 2022 Supporting Actress of the Year West Side Story
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 2021 Best Supporting Actress West Side Story
National Society of Film Critics Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 2022 Best Supporting Actress West Side Story
New York Film Critics Online Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 2021Breakthrough Performer
Online Film Critics Society Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 2022 Best Supporting Actress West Side Story
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 2022 Best Supporting Actress West Side Story
San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 2022 Best Supporting Actress West Side Story
Santa Barbara International Film Festival Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 2022 Virtuoso Award West Side Story
Seattle Film Critics Society Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 2022 Best Actress in a Supporting Role West Side Story
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 2021 Best Supporting Actress West Side Story
Additional awards Black Reel Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 2022 Outstanding Supporting Actress West Side Story Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Female
Capri Hollywood International Film Festival Year Category Nominated work Result 2021 Best Supporting Actress West Side Story
Dorian Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 2022 Best Supporting Film Performance West Side Story "We're Wilde About You!" Rising Star 2023 Best TV Musical Performance "Angela Bassett Did the Thing" at the 76th British Academy Film Awards
Golden Raspberry Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 2025 Worst Supporting Actress Argylle rowspan="2" Kraven the Hunter 2026 Worst Actress Love Hurts
International Cinephile Society Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 2022 Best Supporting Actress West Side Story
NAACP Image Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 2022 Outstanding Breakthrough Performer in a Motion Picture West Side Story 2024 Outstanding Character Voice Performance – Motion Picture Wish
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