Rachel Zegler was just a regular high school student when she was cast in an open audition to play Maria on “West Side Story” and suddenly became a star – quickly earning her a reputation as Hollywood’s newest darling.
However, the tide turned for her after she was cast in the remake of Snow White and began criticizing the original animated film in interviews.
The 22-year-old actress has revealed in a series of interviews that she “hated” Disney’s original 1937 classic and its “stalker” Prince – whose “weird” storyline won’t appear in the new film – which caused a stir on social media.
She also said the film would take a new direction: “She will not be saved by the prince and she will not dream of true love.”
Rachel Zegler was just a regular high school student when she rose to stardom. Pictured here with Gal Gadot in 2022
Zegler has faced criticism from both sides for both perpetuating the “woke” culture and being a “fake” feminist.
She was also criticized by haters for playing Snow White as a Latina. Both she and Disney addressed this backlash and defended the decision.
She also criticized her film Shazam! Fury Of The Gods by claiming she only took the role because she “needed a job”.
As she eagerly awaits the release of her upcoming films The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and Snow White, her disparaging comments on the original film could have a negative impact on the box office.
PR expert Nick Ede agrees, telling that Rachel may “not be the best person to promote the film” – despite playing the main character because she “has actively chosen to direct the narrative.” spoil”.
That’s how Zegler went from Hollywood darling to reputation for stirring up controversy.
Rachel Zegler was a New Jersey high school student before she landed the lead role in West Side Story
Rachel (pictured in West Side Story), 20, was selected from 30,000 applicants after responding to a social media casting call for Latino and Latina actors in January 2018
Before she rose to fame, Rachel, whose mother Gina is Colombian and father is Polish construction worker, worked part-time as a wedding singer and was an honor student.
The American actress from New Jersey, who was cast as Tony alongside Ansel Elgort, landed the coveted part after she submitted a video to producers of her singing one of the 1957 musical’s most iconic songs, ‘I Feel Pretty’ , sang in Spanish.
Rachel, 20, was selected from 30,000 applicants after responding to a social media casting call for Latino and Latina actors in January 2018.
In January 2019, she learned she had landed the role of Maria in the 2021 remake — but first she played the role of Fiona in her Immaculate Conception High School’s production of Shrek: The Musical in March.
She played Maria in Steven Spielberg’s acclaimed West Side Story remake
Rachel was a graduate student and lives in Clifton, New Jersey with her father, Craig, mother, Gina, and 20-year-old sister, Jacqueline
The day after her last performance, the then 17-year-old was already at work on her first West Side Story rehearsal.
Even after two months of rehearsals, she was a nervous wreck the night before her first day of shooting.
“I sent a text message [a friend]: “I think I’m going to throw up. I’ll get back to you later.” I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t do anything. “I was just… oh my god, terrified,” she said.
When asked about the role, which she describes as “a fairy tale come true,” she reveals, “I obviously worked on the film — I always had a picture of the original film in my locker in high school.
Lucky break: “30,000 people called the role and I had nine auditions – no job is worth it, but this one was!”
“Thirty thousand people applied for the role and I had nine auditions – no job is worth it, but this one was!”
And even the late composer Stephen Sondheim said she sang “like a nightingale” — and yet Rachel admitted she still had trouble believing all the hype, and her overnight fame left her with “a lot of imposter syndrome.” “ have to fight.
In August 2021, Rachel told Town & Country about her battle with imposter syndrome, which is the belief that one’s success in life is undeserved or comes through luck and not through one’s own effort or ability.
“I haven’t done any other film projects, but I pinch myself all the time — it’s definitely not my life,” she said. “That brings with it a lot of gratitude, a lot of fear, and a lot of impostor syndrome.”
Fans were outraged when Zegler wasn’t invited to the Oscars
After initially not being invited to the Oscars, she was asked to give a lecture
Fans were shocked and disappointed when the West Side Story star announced that despite being nominated seven times, she was not invited to the Oscars.
She revealed the shocking fact on Instagram when a fan commented on her possible Oscar night attire.
“I can’t wait to see what you’re going to wear to Oscars night,” they said, to which she replied, “I’m not invited, so my boyfriend’s sweatpants and flannel shirt.”
“I’ll be rooting for West Side Story from my couch and proud of the work we did so tirelessly three years ago,” she added.
The New Jersey native announced that she would be at the Oscars after all
Glamour: Rachel Zegler wowed at the Oscars after she shockingly revealed she hadn’t been invited to the show
A few days later, she posted on Instagram that she had tried to leave but “it didn’t seem to be happening” and that she was cheering on West Side Story from her couch.
“I’m hoping for a last minute miracle and a personal celebration of our film, but hey, that’s how it goes sometimes I guess,” Zegler continued on Instagram.
“Thanks for all the shock and outrage – I’m disappointed too.” But that’s okay. “So proud of our film.”
Eventually, the Disney team found a loophole and was able to get her to host the Oscars.
She wrote, “Well guys I can’t believe I’m saying this but… see you Sunday!” @Westsidemovie family to celebrate at the Oscars (sic).”
Actress criticized film Shazam! Fury Of The Gods – claims she only did it because she ‘needed a job’
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter at the premiere of Shazam!, the star honestly opened up about how she came to the DC Universe because she “needed a job.”
“Snow White” isn’t the first time Zegler has criticized a film she’s starring in.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter at the premiere of Shazam!, the star honestly opened up about how she ended up in the DC Universe.
She said she needs “a job,” before adding, “I’m so serious.”
“The reality is we’re in the middle of a pandemic and I wasn’t working and couldn’t get a job for a living because West Side Story hadn’t come out yet,” she confessed. “It was really hard to book work for me.”
Unfortunately, the film exploded at the box office.
However, Zegler did an about-face and defended the film on social media
Critics also gave it 49 percent praise on Rotten Tomatoes.
However, Zegler did an about-face and defended the film on social media.
“Some people out there are just… needlessly mean.” And it’s unnecessary. And I know, I know, “If you can’t handle the heat…” and all that nonsense, and you’re right,” she posted.
“But our film is actually very good, it’s just cool to hate the fun these days.” That’s okay. It’s all right.’
Zegler faced hate for being cast as a Latina actress to play Snow White
Transformation: The 22-year-old actress will play the Disney princess in the upcoming live-action remake
When Zegler was announced as Snow White in the upcoming Disney live-action remake, she was met with backlash from the start.
“Trolls” criticized the actress for being Latina when Disney’s animated portrayal of Snow White was German.
The actress reacted with full force to the hatred.
“Yes I’m Snow White, no I don’t bleach my skin for the role (sic),” she wrote in a now-deleted tweet.
Snow White adaptation director Marc Webb also defended the casting decision, saying Rachel’s “strength, intelligence and optimism” made her the right choice for the iconic role.
“Rachel’s exceptional vocal ability is just the beginning of her gift,” he said in a statement to AFP.
“Her strength, intelligence and optimism will be an integral part of rediscovering the joy of this classic Disney tale.”
The New Jersey native slammed the original Snow White, saying it was “strange” that the prince “stalked” the legendary Disney princess
In an interview with Variety, Zegler (left) also said she would not portray the beloved character as she appeared in the 1937 cartoon
Zegler may have defended herself as the right choice for Snow White, but when press began for the film, she eventually admitted that she wasn’t a huge fan of the role or the original film as a whole.
During a brief red carpet interview with entertainment news channel Extra TV, the young star was asked how her version of Snow White would be different.
“The original cartoon came out in 1937, and it’s obviously like that.” The focus is on her love story with the man who literally haunts her. “Weird, strange,” she said.
“So we didn’t do that this time.”
Dynamic duo: Zegler stars alongside Gal Gadot, who will take on the role of the evil queen
The Extra TV reporter attempted to answer whether that meant the prince had been completely removed from Disney’s live-action remake.
“We have a different approach to what I’m sure a lot of people will think is a love story just because we cast a man in the film,” Zegler replied.
“It’s something that I think everyone has their own ideas about how it’s actually going to end, but it’s actually not about the love story at all, which is really, really wonderful.”
In a separate interview with Variety, Zegler also said she would not play the beloved character the same way she was portrayed in the 1937 cartoon.
In a separate interview with Entertainment Weekly, again sitting next to Gadot, Zegler said the original was “extremely dated when it comes to women in positions of power.”
Speaking to co-star Gal Gadot, who took on the role of the Evil Queen, Zegler said her Snow White is “not being saved by the prince” and isn’t someone who “dreams of true love.”
“She dreams of becoming the leader she knows she can be and the leader her late father told her she could be if she were fearless, fair, brave and loyal “, added her.
In a separate interview with Entertainment Weekly, again sitting next to Gadot, Zegler said the original was “extremely dated when it comes to women in power,” and told the reporter she’d only seen it once.
She faced backlash for being “too bright” AND a “fake feminist.”
Not impressed: Snow White star Rachel Zegler has sparked new controversy after multiple videos surfaced online showing her destroying the original animated version of the film
Zegler faced backlash from both sides for beating up the Disney princess.
Conservatives have slammed her for trying to make the new Snow White film a “bright” statement.
Meanwhile, others felt Zegler was doing the exact opposite in trying to be a feminist.
In a video posted on TikTok, user Angie, who goes by @cosywithangie, criticized Zegler for not recognizing that women have the right to pursue what they want.
Angie captioned the post, “Just because a woman values something else doesn’t make her any less valuable.” Some women want a career, not get married.
“Some women want marriage or a family and not a job.” Some women want BOTH. All need to be heard, seen and appreciated.
“Write stories about ALL women and make them ALL valuable and worthy, rather than trying to mold them into a particular image of what you think is worthy.” Thank you. “#snowwhite #snowwhiteliveaction #snowwhitecontroversy #disney,” she added.
Backlash: TikTok user Angie slammed Rachel for not recognizing women have the right to pursue what they want
Angie’s video then showed Zegler’s comments from her Variety interview.
The TikTok user then said, “I could literally write a PhD thesis on the pseudo-feminism that criticizes Disney princesses.” Criticizing Disney princesses is not feminist.
“Not every woman is a leader, not every woman wants to be a leader, not every woman wants or craves power, and that’s okay.”
She continued, “It’s not anti-feminist wanting to fall in love, wanting to get married, wanting to stay home, wanting to be a housewife.” “None of those things makes you less valuable as a person or as a woman.”
TikTok user @nuttybutter96 shared snippets of Zegler’s interview with Extra TV and asked why Zegler was “so smug.”
The user captioned her post, “If you hate the original so much, why would you want to do the remake?” Please make it make sense…”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a condescending, smug Disney princess in my life,” they admitted in the clip.
“It’s just every single interview I’ve seen her do for this film, so smug and condescending.” Is she supposed to edify us as women? Because it sounds freaking awful and I don’t want to get involved in that part of femininity.