It’s a dream come true for every theater kid; A young, unknown talent is chosen from a crowd of thousands to star in a famous director’s upcoming movie. This dream came true for Rachel Zegler. At only 23 years old, actress and singer Rachel Zegler has starred in crowd-favorite hits, winning numerous awards, while facing immense praise and controversy. As of September, Zegler is officially making her Broadway debut in the popular Gen Z version of Romeo + Juliet alongside co-star Kit Connor. But who is she, and how did she go from an unknown talent to a Broadway star?
At age 12, Rachel Zegler landed her first theater role, sparking her passion for singing and acting. During high school, she starred as a main lead in many school productions like Beauty and the Beast, Shrek the Musical, 42nd Street and The Little Mermaid. With her raw talent and captivating voice, she eagerly decided to audition for bigger stages. At age 16, she responded to an open casting call on Twitter for Steven Spielberg’s famous West Side Story. After sending in a video of herself singing “I Feel Pretty” and “Tonight”, Zegler was chosen from over 30,000 applicants to play the lead female character Maria, in the musical.
After being cast, Zegler went public with her news on Instagram, describing how grateful and excited she was for the opportunity. She expressed her thanks to Steven Spielberg saying, “Thanks to putting me in a position to befriend these incredible people, and, in turn, changing my life. Portraying María has been the greatest time of inner discovery. Becoming her has allowed me to fall in love with the world around me all over again. Thank you for taking a chance on a teenage girl from New Jersey.” While most people praised Zegler’s performance as María, she faced criticism because of the casting authenticity and her performance style. Some argued that they should have cast a Puerto Rican actor more accurately to the original instead of Zegler, a Columbian-American.
In June 2021, Zegler was announced to playSnow White in the live-action remake of Disney’s iconic animated movie. In an interview with Extra TV at the 2022 D23 Expo, she describes how Snow White’s original story would be done in a more progressive way. She criticizes the original animated movie for being so old-fashioned in the way that Snow White had to depend on a man. She felt as though the film was “extremely outdated” expressing how it didn’t properly portray women. Fans were angered by her negative talk towards the original film, and they felt she was being ungrateful for the role she was chosen to play.
Asiya Fatima had been following discussions surrounding Rachel Zegler’s comments on social media. “Rachel’s comments after her Snow White casting were really interesting to hear as the public expects actors who get such big roles, especially new actors, to be more grateful,” Fatima said. “As a result of these comments, it left a bad impression for current and future followers.” However, she concluded that taking everything that had happened into consideration, Zegler does deserve the fame she’s proved herself to earn.
“Seeing her now in the new Broadway show, and the amount of attention she is getting, it seems like she may be gaining her fame back,” Fatima said. “With new announcements of movies and other roles, she is proving she is a dedicated and talented actor.”
Recently, Zegler responded to the backlash, by clarifying on X. She did not want to be part of arguments regarding her casting, as she said she “really hopes every child knows they can be a princess no matter what.” After the debate about her character, and despite the criticism, Zegler’s career would only flourish from here on out.
Now playing at Broadway’s Circle in the Square Theatre, Zegler is proudly making her Broadway debut as Juliet in Romeo + Juliet. Catered towards the youth and Gen Z, it has gained an incredible amount of support and excitement. This new adaptation encourages Gen Z to get back into Shakespeare, Zegler said. Fans of both Rachel Zegler and Kit Connor (playing Romeo) are eager to see how they play in these iconic roles.
Zegler’s rise to fame as an unknown theater kid serves as an inspiring piece for many students worldwide. From her breakout role in West Side Story to her highly anticipated Broadway debut as Juliet, she has shown the talent and depth that continually captivates audiences. Not only inspiring her own generation, she has become a symbol of how hard work and dedication can allow anyone to achieve their dreams.
Written by Ayza Siddiqi
Graphic by Bella Li