Ariana DeBose on Bringing Authenticity to 'The Prom' and 'West Side Story' (Exclusive) Author: Stacy Lambe Updated: 6:55 AM MST December 11, 2020 Ariana DeBose is a name you need to know -- starting now. As one of the stars of both West Side Story, the 29-year-old queer actress of Puerto Rican descent is bringing authenticity to a new era of inclusive movie musicals centering marginalized voices. “I have always wanted to make art that I thought was a conversation starter,” DeBose tells ET. “And so, to be a part of two films that allows for that conversation to happen, to go further into pre-existing conversations, it’s really exciting.”