At 92, Rita Moreno Knows She Won't Be Around Forever, Says Daughter Fernanda Is 'Brave About It' (Exclusive)

While speaking to PEOPLE, Moreno said that "92 is not easy in many ways, and it's something that's difficult to understand"

At 92 years old, Rita Moreno has lived a full life, thanks in large part to her award-winning stage and screen career, as well as her time spent as a mother of her only child, daughter Fernanda Luisa Gordon, whom she shares with her late husband, Leonard Gordon.

While speaking to PEOPLE, Moreno and Gordon, 57, reflected on their close bond as mother and daughter, while the Oscar winner expressed why parenthood has been so fulfilling for her.

"It’s the best thing in the world," Moreno says. "And when my grandsons [Justin, 25, and Cameron, 23, whom Gordon shares with David Fisher, her husband of 27 years] were born, I could have died with happiness. I’m just so lucky that we’ve gotten to know each other so well."

She adds, "We’re very honest, and our talks can be very serious, very intimate. There are times I really need her wisdom, more often than you would think now that I’m 92."

Related: Rita Moreno's Life in Photos, in Celebration of Her 92nd Birthday

Even awards — and Moreno has many, including an EGOT — are "not something I think about as often as you might think," she says, while noting that she "absolutely" loves motherhood.

But at her age, the West Side Story star is more aware of her limitations — and the extra support she needs from her daughter. "I'm constantly calling upon her to do things," she says, explaining, "I have a problem with remembering names, names of things and names of people. It's so much a part of being 92 right now."

Moreno adds later, "There are times when I need her wisdom, and they are more often than you might think, particularly at this age. Ninety-two is not easy in many ways, and it's something that's difficult to understand."

Related: Rita Moreno, 92, Serves Drama with Ruffled Gown and Major Hair Change Inspired by Chita Rivera at 2024 Oscars

The performer also realizes that she will not live forever — and it's something that both she and her daughter have thought about, even if it's not a topic that they sit down and discuss every day. "I think that as you, the parent, gets older, I believe that the child has to be thinking about, 'Well, at some point this will end,' " Moreno says.

"It's not something that Fernanda and I sit and discuss, but I just know that she has to think about that," she continues. I think we're both pretty brave about it. Well, we're really honest — very, very honest with each other."

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Not only that, but Moreno says she and Gordon "both like to get a lot out of life." Because of that, "we go and do things that we enjoy," she says. "We shop together. We travel together."

Reflecting on their relationship — and how close they continue to be, ​​Gordon adds, "We constantly have people picking up on our closeness and commenting, 'I wish I felt that way about my mom!' "

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