When “West Facet Story” premiered in December, critics praised DeBose’s work. Leisure Weekly known as her Anita “a pure dopamine rush on the dance ground and a small revelation off of it, dimensional and fiercely tender beneath her brash exterior.” The New York Occasions assessment mentioned: “It helps that Alvarez, Faist and — supremely — DeBose are such magnetic performers. When DeBose is onscreen, nothing else issues however what Anita is feeling.” And in Selection: “It’s exhausting to overpraise Ariana DeBose, whose Anita is the wounded soul of the movie. She has the very best strains, dances and sings with a lot ardour that the display screen can hardly include her.” The Information & Observer interviewed DeBose in December when “West Facet Story” premiered. (She was additionally The Information & Observer’s Tar Heel of the Month in March 2021.) “Anita is among the biggest roles ever written within the musical theater canon,” DeBose informed The N&O in December. “It’s a triple-threat position and it’s precisely what I’m constructed to do. That’s precisely what my coaching and ability set has gifted me, so it’s a task I had all the time hoped I’d get an opportunity to play. … I actually by no means thought that I’d find yourself in a Spielberg movie, however it was undoubtedly a bucket record position.” DeBose can be identified for her work on Broadway as The Bullet in “Hamilton” and for “Summer season: The Donna Summer season Musical,” for which she was nominated for a Tony Award. Over the previous yr, she has starred in Ryan Murphy’s Netflix film “The Promenade” and within the Apple TV+ musical comedy collection, “Schmigadoon.” In her December interview, DeBose was requested whether or not her mom, Gina DeBose, a trainer at Wakefield Center College in Raleigh, would possibly accompany her to the Oscar ceremony if she’s nominated. “I’m assuming she would take off work to return to the Oscars with me, if that could be a factor that occurs,” DeBose mentioned. “Who is aware of. Are you able to think about Gina DeBose on a crimson carpet? I can. I believe will probably be enjoyable.”
Right here’s a scorecard of DeBose’s 2022 awards season, to this point. ▪ Los Angeles Movie Critics Award? WINNER: The winners have been introduced on Dec. 18, and DeBose picked up Greatest Supporting Actress honors for “West Facet Story.” ▪ Golden Globe Award? WINNER: DeBose was nominated for and gained Greatest Supporting Actress honors from the Hollywood International Press Affiliation on Jan. 9. The winners have been introduced within the Beverly Hilton ballroom with no nominees or winners current. It was not televised and even streamed. DeBose tweeted her appreciation, whereas additionally acknowledging current HFPA scandals: “There may be nonetheless work to be performed, however while you’ve labored so exhausting on a challenge — infused with blood, sweat, tears and love — having the work seen and acknowledged is all the time going to be particular. Thanks.”
▪ Critics Alternative Awards? NOMINATED/POSTPONED: These awards have been initially scheduled to be handed out on Jan. 9, the identical night because the Golden Globes (DeBose was additionally nominated for Greatest Supporting Actress right here), however the ceremony has been postponed, due to COVID. We’ll replace once we know extra. ▪ Display Actors Guild Awards? NOMINATED: DeBose was introduced as a nominee within the Excellent Efficiency by a Feminine Actor in a Supporting Function class on Jan. 12. Display Actors Guild will announce winners throughout a broadcast on TNT and TBS on Feb. 27. ▪ NAACP Picture Awards? NOMINATED: Nominees have been introduced on Jan. 18 and DeBose was nominated within the class of Excellent Breakthrough Efficiency in a Movement Image. The winners might be broadcast Feb. 26 on BET. The NAACP Picture awards have a good time the achievements and performances of individuals of shade throughout classes together with movie, tv and streaming, music and literature. ▪ BAFTA Awards? NOMINATED: The British Academy of Movie and Tv Arts nominated DeBose within the Greatest Supporting Actress class and for the Rising Star award. The ceremony is scheduled for March 13.