LOS ANGELES -- Ariana DeBose lived up to Oscar predictions and followed the path of her 鈥淲est Side Story鈥� predecessor Rita Moreno.

DeBose won the best supporting actress trophy Sunday for her breakout performance as the fierce Anita, 60 years after Moreno claimed the award in 1962 for the original film version of the Broadway musical.

鈥淵ikes, OK!鈥� DeBose said, holding the statuette up in triumph. 鈥淣ow you see why Anita says, 鈥業 want to be in America.鈥� Because even in this weary world that we live in, dreams do come true. And that鈥檚 really a heartening thing right now.鈥�

DeBose gave a shoutout to Moreno, who attended the ceremony.

鈥淚 am so grateful your Anita paved the way for tons of Anitas like me," she said. Moreno was an Oscar pioneer, the first Latina to win an acting award.

DeBose is a groundbreaker in her own right, the first Afro-Latina and openly LGBTQ actor to win in the category. In her acceptance speech, DeBose said she found her 鈥渟trength in life through art.鈥�

鈥淭o anybody who has ever questioned your identity,鈥� she said, 鈥淚 promise you there is a place for us.鈥�

Largely unknown in film circles before landing the coveted role, the 31-year-old North Carolina native became the clear Oscar favourite after an awards season full of victories. She was previously primarily known as a stage actress, with Broadway roles in 鈥淏ring It On: The Musical,鈥� 鈥淢otown: The Musical鈥� and 鈥淗amilton.鈥�

鈥淭his is magic,鈥� she said, waving her Oscar backstage, 鈥渂ut it鈥檚 magic that did not come without effort.鈥�

She offered more praise for Moreno, saying she "opened many doors, not just for me but for many Latinas. When you鈥檙e the first of anything, it鈥檚 lonely. She鈥檚 not alone anymore.鈥�

DeBose鈥檚 Oscar makes the third time that two actors have earned trophies for playing the same role, following Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker, and Marlon Brando and Robert DeNiro as Vito Corleone.

Earlier this month, DeBose said she considered it important and 鈥渢hrilling鈥� to see Latino screen achievement celebrated after it was largely snubbed in 2021.

Progress means 鈥済etting people in front of the camera and behind the camera and into the writers鈥� rooms and in positions of power, so we can continue to tell our stories in an authentic鈥� and expansive way, she told The Associated Press.

Moreno gave her helpful and concise advice before the ceremony.

鈥淪he just said, 鈥楨njoy it, honey!鈥欌�� DeBose told AP.

Other nominees in the category were Jessie Buckley for 鈥淭he Lost Daughter鈥�; Judi Dench, 鈥淏elfast鈥�; Kirsten Dunst, 鈥淭he Power of the Dog鈥� and Aunjanue Ellis, 鈥淜ing Richard.鈥�

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AP Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton contributed to this report.