Rita Hayworth, Columbia's New Star

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 282, 23 August 1940, Page 6

Rita Hayworth, Columbia's New Star

a brilliant heritage of talent, both in dancing and acting, Rita Hayworth, the screen star, found the choice of a career difficult. After enjoying success as a Spanish dancer, she decided to become an actress. Miss Hayworth was born in New York City, the first daughter of Eduardo Cansino. a native of Seville, who had won a place for himself on the American stage. His family had been dancers for three generations in America and Europe. It was taken for granted that she would follow in the family’s footsteps and at the age of six started lessons with her father. She danced professionally with him from the age of 14. She was then known as Rita Cansino.

Miss Hayworth attracted the attention of a talent scout when she danced with her father for 25 consecutive months at the famous Agua Caliente Hotel and was invited to take a screen test. There and then, she gave up the stage for the screen. Her first part was that of a dancer in “Dante’s Inferno,” in 1935. When she entered films she changed her name to Rita Hayworth and as such she is fast gaining recognition in Hollywood. In 1938 she obtained a contract with Columbia Pictures and was featured in many pictures. It was her acting, even more than her dancing, that won studio and audience approval and resulted iu Columbia this year announcing that she was ready for starring. She was starred recently in “Music In My Heart” with Tony Martin and Editli Fellows, Then she was lent to M.G.M. for an important featured role in Joan Crawford's “Susan and God.” Then she returned to Columbia for her first starring role with Brian Aherne in “It Happened in Paris.” Miss Hayworth is said to be an inveterate movie fan and goes to as many as three shows a week. She is also one of the best ping-pong players in the film city.