Dona Drake
Age: N/A | From: Miami, Florida, USA
Person Details
Birthday:
Aliases: Eunice Westmoreland , Una Novella , Rita Novella , Rita Rio
Gender: Female
Place of birth: Miami, Florida, USA
Homepage:
Movie Involvements: 17
TV Involvements: 0
Most Famous Work
Biography
Dona Drake (born Eunice Westmoreland on November 15, 1914) was an African-American singer, dancer, and film actress active in the 1930s and 1940s. Despite her heritage, she often identified as Mexican or of Latin descent to navigate Hollywood’s racial landscape. Over her career, she was frequently cast in ethnic roles, portraying Hispanic, Middle Eastern, and European characters. She performed under various stage names, including Una Novella, Rita Novella, and Rita Rio. In the early 1940s, she led an all-girl orchestra and gained recognition for her musical and dance performances. She appeared in films such as Kansas City Confidential (1952), Louisiana Purchase (1941), and Road to Morocco (1942). Despite her talents, she remained a supporting actress rather than a leading star. Dona Drake passed away on June 20, 1989, due to pneumonia and respiratory failure. Her ashes were scattered at sea near Point Fermin in California.
Most Famous Work
Kansas City Confidential
(1952) Teresa
Beyond the Forest
(1949) Jenny
Fortunes of Captain Blood
(1950) Pepita
The Doolins of Oklahoma
(1949) Cattle Annie
Aloma of the South Seas
(1941) Nea
Down Laredo Way
(1953) Narita
Princess of the Nile
(1954) Mirva
Dangerous Millions
(1946) Elena ValdezActing
| Year | Character | Movie/Tv |
|---|---|---|
| 1954 | Mirva | |
| N/A | ||
| 1953 | N/A | |
| Narita | ||
| Dolores | ||
| Zelda | ||
| 1952 | Teresa | |
| N/A | ||
| 1951 | Maria Torres | |
| 1950 | Pepita | |
| 1949 | Jenny | |
| Connie Martin | ||
| Cattle Annie | ||
| 1948 | Kate Goff | |
| Laurette Sincee | ||
| 1946 | Elena Valdez | |
| Dolores Ortega | ||
| 1945 | Dona Drake | |
| 1944 | Mary Adams | |
| 1943 | Muriel | |
| N/A | ||
| N/A | ||
| 1942 | Mihirmah | |
| Dona Drake | ||
| 1941 | Beatrice | |
| Nea | ||
| Herself | ||
| Rita Rio | ||
| Self / Singer (as Rita Rio) | ||
| 1939 | Rita Rio | |
| 1936 | Mademoiselle Fifi | |
| Rita Rio | ||
| Year | Character | Movie/Tv |
