Dona Drake was born Eunice Westmoreland in Florida in 1914 to parents who were listed as Black in census records. Because of her light skin and features, she often identified publicly as Mexican or Hispanic and used names like Una Novella or Rita Novella early in her career.  Hollywood studios at that time generally did not cast Black women in leading or “non-ethnic” roles, so by presenting herself as non-Black she was able to work in more varied “exotic” parts (Latin American, Middle Eastern,