Vin Diesel pays heartfelt tribute to his ‘first crush’ Rita Moreno

Vin Diesel honored him fast x The amazing, multi-decade career of co-star Rita Moreno.

On Tuesday, May 7, Moreno, 92, appeared at WNET Group’s 2024 gala at the Edison Ballroom in New York City, where Vin Diesel honored the illustrious acting career of his on-screen grandmother and official “first crush.”

Diesel, 56, took the stage and delivered a moving speech in which he expressed his support for Moreno, who played Abuelita, the grandmother of Diesel’s long-running Dominic Toretto character. fast x,

He began, “My dream as a kid growing up in New York… my first crush… was Rita.”

He then thought back to the point when he was solely looking for an actress to play Abuelita in the latest installment. fast and furious Franchise.

“I had the incredible privilege of meeting one of my idols and from that moment on I thought that the only person in the world who could play the most important role for Dom Toretto would be Rita Moreno.”

He praised Moreno, saying that when he was younger she gave him “confidence” to pursue his aspirations and told him that anyone who “looks like me” could become a famous actor.

The actor recalled an extraordinary moment and further added, “Rita and I were working and a line was made on the spot for her to say. It was whispered in her ear and she looked up and started crying and said.’ This is the most beautiful line I have ever heard.’ What will you do now? The whole set was crying.”

Diesel said, “Not only do you come out for the family, you come out for the people who make a difference in this world and just inviting me here validates my existence. I’m serious.” “I don’t have an Oscar, I don’t have an Emmy, I don’t have a Golden Globe, I don’t have a Tony but I’ve got Rita Moreno.”

After hearing Diesel’s warm comments, Moreno began to cry and announced at the microphone, in what seemed an unexpected moment, “I’ve never had any kind of celebration in my honor. Yes, I’ve received some pretty cool awards. And the law, but I never got anything in my honor.”