Longoria asks film grads to use Rita Moreno as guiding light

LOS ANGELES – Eva Longoria has some advice for the new graduates of the American Film Institute: Use Rita Moreno as a guiding light to use myriad points of view.

Longoria presented the legendary stage and screen actress with an honorary doctorate of fine arts Wednesday in Los Angeles.

The 84-year-old Moreno recalled her discouraging early days in Hollywood where she was called on by studios to play any and every ethnicity. She called them “dusky maiden roles.”

And yet, Moreno said, that those directors and studios “could not succeed in drowning this Puerto Rican.” She of course would rise above that early stereotyping, winning Emmys, a Grammy, Tony and Oscar.

Quentin Tarantino also received an honorary degree.