Ana Isabelle played Rosalía in Steven Spielberg’s 2021 film West Side Story. In a November 2021 interview with People en Español, the Puerto Rican singer, actor, and dancer described how she approached the character, her conversations about cultural representation, and the script advice she said she offered as part of a Puerto Rican committee.
Isabelle wanted Rosalía’s Puerto Rican identity to register
Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Isabelle said she saw Rosalía as more present in Spielberg’s version than in the earlier film: a close friend who is alongside Anita and María. She described that expanded presence as an opportunity to bring her own cultural perspective to the role.
![West Side Story (50th Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray] by 20th Century Fox](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41nAWVEHBbL._SL160_.jpg)
![West Side Story: 50th Anniversary Edition [2 Blu-ray + 1 DVD] (Bilingual)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ip4saUS+L._SL160_.jpg)
![West Side Story: 50th Anniversary Edition [2 Blu-ray + 1 DVD] (Bilingual)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51MPbGVvscL._SL160_.jpg)
“In this version, Rosalia has more opportunities to pop, to be there. She is the best friend of Anita and María, so she’s always by their side, and I feel like I’m bringing the authenticity of being Puerto Rican,” she explains.
Isabelle also said the filmmakers gave the cast room to bring their own sense of Latino identity to the material. “In this remake, Steven and Tony Kushner gave us total freedom to be us, to bring what a Latino is, to bring the spice of a Latina without thinking we’re too much,” she said. Her account is about the creative latitude she felt; it does not establish a broader production policy beyond that interview.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →#1 Best Overall
What Isabelle said about advising on the script
Isabelle said playwright Tony Kushner created a four-person Puerto Rican committee to review the script and advise on Puerto Rican culture. She described the group’s role as offering opinions and guidance, rather than presenting it as control over the production’s decisions.
“We were helping Tony, advising him on Puerto Rican culture, [speaking to him] about our opinions around the script.”
She also recalled speaking with Rita Moreno about aspects of the original film that she and others felt were not fully respectful, and about what they hoped to improve in the new version. That is Isabelle’s description of those conversations, not an independent assessment of either film.
Her comparison centers on visibility and cultural input
In the interview, Isabelle’s comparison between the 1961 film and Spielberg’s version is personal rather than a systematic review. The points she emphasized were Rosalía’s increased presence, Puerto Rican culture’s representation, and the opportunity for members of the community to advise on the script. She framed this work as a chance to make changes she felt mattered, including “what we wanted to make better this time.”
Rank #3
![West Side Story Blu-ray [2022] [Region Free]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51cqp7AzwRL._SL160_.jpg)
- The disk has English audio and subtitles.
The musical numbers she singled out
Isabelle said she was especially excited for audiences to see the new renditions of “America” and “I Feel Pretty.” The interview names those numbers as highlights she anticipated; it does not provide a complete account of her musical contributions or establish that she performed every song.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Isabelle’s path to the role
Before appearing as Rosalía in Spielberg’s film, Isabelle had played Anita in a Puerto Rico production of West Side Story, according to her Artist & Brand Management profile. The representative profile also describes her work as a musician and actor. It offers career context, while the People en Español interview is the source for her comments about Rosalía and cultural input.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
