Rita Moreno Encourages Women to Work Together in Empowering Power of Women Event Speech

Rita Moreno is being honored at Variety’s Power of Women Presented by Lifetime event.

The 89-year-old West Side Story actress gave an empowering speech about encouraging women to work together during the event on Thursday night (September 30) at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, Calif.

“My hope is that as more women, like the ones honored here tonight, gain positions of power and influence, they continue to keep the fires burning for those who aspire,” Rita said on stage. “We live in a time that requires us to be vigilant. As women, many issues require our attention in these dark days — when our leaders politicize the wearing of masks and polarize our citizens over vaccines; when in the mind of many, climate change is science fiction and healthcare is still not codified as a basic human right in a divided America.”

“None of us can take on the world by ourselves, but if there is one thing I am sure of in my 90 years, it is the power of a sisterhood of women working for change,” Rita added. “Life grows within us and we are its caretakers – we are heavily invested! I believe all women have the potential to bloom where they are planted.”

Other stars in attendance included Rita‘s One Day at a Time co-star Justina Machado, Jenna Dewan, actress/author Cazzie David, RHOBH star and actress Garcelle Beauvais, Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin, Brooklyn Nine-Nine actress Chelsea Peretti, celeb chef Sandra Lee, Shadowhunters actress Emeraude Toubia, Law & Order actress Elisabeth Rohm, Alias actress Merrin Duney, and Sister, Sister actress Tia Mowry.

FYI: Jenna Dewan is wearing a dress by Brock Collection. Garcelle Beauvais is wearing a coat by Dries Van Noten.Marlee Matlin is wearing a Lafayette 148 New York dress.

Click through the gallery for 40+ pictures of the stars stepping out for the event…