EXCLUSIVE: Rita Moreno Channels Abuelita in ‘Princess Power’ First Look Clip at Her Character

Oscar-winning actress Rita Moreno (West Side Story) is proving that she can still do it all with her latest project, the new animated preschool series Princess Power.

Based on the No. 1 New York Times bestselling book series Princesses Wear Pants, Netflix’s Princess Power “is a celebration of girl power and self-expression” that tells the story of a group of princesses who live in “fruit kingdoms.” They include Kira Kiwi, Beatrice “Bea” Blueberry, Rita Raspberry, and Penelope “Penny” Pineapple. Their mission: to help their fellow “fruitizens” make their world a better place.

In an exclusive clip, viewers get to meet Princess “Penny” Pineapple and her Great Aunt Busyboots (Moreno), who is the Queen of the Pineapple Fruitdom. Netflix describes Busyboots as “a strong-minded role model for Penny [who] always had very specific ideas about what it means to be a royal leader.”

In the clip, Busyboots isn’t very happy when she walks into Penny room to find it in a state of disarray. “Penny, I’m not asking for perfection,” she says after she trips over some books and toys laying on the floor of Penny’s room. “But, yes, please do clean that up…” Is it just us, or does her character remind us of Abuelita in One Day at a Time?

The upcoming Netflix show is created by Drew Barrymore (Never Been Kissed) and Savannah Guthrie (Today). From a Netflix press release: “With its core messages of inclusivity, diversity, community, teamwork, and friendship, Princess Power will appeal both to kids and their caregivers.”

This isn’t the first time Rita Moreno has lent her voice to an animated character. Most recently, she played an indigenous goddess on Netflix’s Maya and the Three.

Princess Power premieres on Netflix on January 30, 2023.