Rachel Zegler says it’s a ‘comfort’ to have her boyfriend Josh Andrés Rivera on set as her Hunger Games co-star: ‘I love him so much’

Rachel Zegler spoke about her boyfriend Josh Andrés Rivera taking on the role of her co-star in “Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.”

The stunning 22-year-old star finds it positive that her real-life boyfriend, 28, is working alongside her on set, as the pair – who also appeared together on West Side Story – are busy promoting their collaboration for the latest installment of the Films to promote science fiction franchises.

“Having a familiar face on every set, as any young actor can attest, is the greatest comfort,” the actress told People on Tuesday.

Zeglar stars in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes as District 12’s tribute to Lucy Gray Baird, while Rivera landed the role of a Hunger Games mentor named Sejanus Plinth. Last year they confirmed their romance on Valentine’s Day.

“And also as [Rivera’s] Girlfriend, his friend and his colleague, it’s amazing to watch his career evolve and witness his rise to stardom. “I love him so much,” she added.

Big plus: Rachel Zegler talked about her boyfriend Josh Andrés Rivera playing dual roles as her co-star in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes; seen in November (pictured last week)

“I feel really lucky,” Josh agreed. “It was a really great comfort for me to have her with me so far from home.”

“We were in another country.” We were allowed to explore this country together. It was absolutely beautiful. I feel very lucky.’

Set in a bleak dystopian future, director Francis Lawrence’s socially conscious sci-fi fantasy takes place approximately 64 years before the events of the first film in the popular franchise – the 2012 blockbuster The Hunger Games.

With an all-star cast including Tom Blyth, Peter Dinklage, Hunter Schafer, Jason Schwartzman and Viola Davis, Rachel and Josh are in good company in The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.

Shazam! Star Rachel plays Lucy Gray Baird, who plays a key role in the 10th Hunger Games.

Fans have also speculated about her connection to Hunger Games protagonist Katniss Everdeen, played by Jennifer Lawrence from 2012 to 2015.

Josh plays Sejanus Plinth, the mentor of District 2’s male tribute.

“I’ve never been prouder of someone in my life, I can tell you that,” Zegler, 21, wrote on her Instagram Story over the summer when she shared the news that her boyfriend had been cast in the prequel.

True Romance: “I think any young actor can attest to the fact that having a familiar face on every set is the greatest comfort,” Rachel said Tuesday

Enthused: “And also as [Rivera’s] Girlfriend, his friend and his colleague, it’s amazing to watch his career evolve and witness his rise to stardom. “I love him so much,” she added

Credits: Rachel and Josh starred together in West Side Story.

The aspiring actors appeared to make their romance Instagram official on Valentine’s Day last year when Zegler shared a black-and-white selfie photo of the couple on Instagram.

“Committing Valen crimes,” Zegler captioned, who then posted a video of Rivera feeding her during a romantic dinner: “Happy love day from me and I.”

Zegler wished her husband a happy birthday in May by gushing about him in the caption of a video of them staring into each other’s eyes.

“You are everything I love about this world wrapped up in one incredible man.” Happy birthday, Joshua. “In this life, I like to just do laundry and taxes with you.”

The four-film franchise, starring Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson as Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, was a box office hit, grossing more than $3 billion to date.

The highly anticipated prequel is scheduled to hit theaters on November 17, 2023.