Rachel Zegler, a rising Hollywood actress known for her role in West Side Story, is set to star as the lead in Disney’s live-action remake of Snow White. However, the film has faced multiple controversies leading up to its release.

Jonah Platt, the son of Snow White producer Marc Platt, publicly criticized Zegler for making what he called "immature" political comments. He claimed that her remarks negatively impacted the film’s success at the box office.

In addition to this, reports have surfaced about tensions between Zegler and her co-star Gal Gadot. The film’s promotional activities were also reportedly scaled down, which may have contributed to its lower-than-expected performance in theaters.

Rachel Zegler: Rising Hollywood Star and Singer

Early Life and Background

Rachel Anne Zegler was born on May 3, 2001, in Hackensack, New Jersey, to Gina and Craig Zegler. She was named after the character Rachel Green from the TV show Friends and has an older sister named Jacqueline. Her mother has Colombian roots, with her maternal grandmother having immigrated from Barranquilla, Colombia, to the United States in the 1960s. Her father is of Polish descent.

Rachel grew up in Clifton, New Jersey, where she faced racial discrimination on social media due to her mixed ethnicity. She developed a passion for theater at a young age after watching Beauty and the Beast on Broadway when she was just four years old. By the age of 12, she had her first stage role as Shprintze in Fiddler on the Roof, which inspired her to pursue acting. She then started taking voice and acting lessons to refine her skills.

Education and Early Performances

Rachel attended Immaculate Conception High School, where she actively participated in musical theater. Some of her notable school performances include:

Belle in Beauty and the Beast (2016)

Ariel in The Little Mermaid (2017)

Dorothy Brock in 42nd Street (2018)

Princess Fiona in Shrek The Musical (2019)

For each of these roles, she received nominations for the Metro Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. She also performed in productions of Legally Blonde, Les Misérables, and Thoroughly Modern Millie.

Aside from acting, Rachel showcased her musical talent on YouTube, where she posted song covers. One of her covers, Shallow from A Star Is Born, went viral on Twitter in 2018, earning over 12.2 million views.

Hollywood Breakthrough: West Side Story

At the age of 16, Rachel auditioned for the role of María in Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of West Side Story. She responded to an open casting call by submitting videos of herself singing Tonight and I Feel Pretty. Out of more than 30,000 applicants, she was chosen for the role, marking her film debut.

The movie was released in December 2021 and received critical acclaim. Rachel’s performance was widely praised, and she won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, becoming the youngest actress to win in that category and the first actress of Colombian descent to achieve this honor.

Other Notable Film and Stage Roles

Following her success in West Side Story, Rachel took on several significant roles in Hollywood:

Anthea in Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023) – Though the film received mixed reviews, Rachel’s performance was noted.

Lucy Gray Baird in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023) – The film was well-received, with critics praising her emotional and powerful portrayal.

Snow White in Disney’s live-action remake (2025) – She will star as the iconic princess in the adaptation of the 1937 animated classic.

She was initially cast in Paddington in Peru but had to leave due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, with Carla Tous replacing her. She also had a cameo in the A24 film Y2K, which premiered at the 2024 South by Southwest festival.

Rachel made her Broadway debut in 2024, playing Juliet in a musical adaptation of Romeo & Juliet, directed by Sam Gold with music by Jack Antonoff. She is also set to star as Eva Perón in a 2025 West End revival of Evita at the London Palladium.

In addition, she will voice the lead character in Netflix’s upcoming animated musical Spellbound (2025).

Personal Life

Rachel has been in a relationship with actor Josh Andrés Rivera since 2021. They met on the set of West Side Story and later worked together again in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.

She is a big fan of Barbra Streisand, whom she considers a major influence. In 2021, Streisand sent Rachel a personal gift—a copy of her album Release Me 2 and a book titled Streisand From A to Z, with a handwritten note that read, "For R., from B." Rachel was thrilled and shared her excitement online.

Challenges and Public Reactions

Despite her rising fame, Rachel has faced public scrutiny. She was notably criticized for her vocal performance at a promotional event in Spain for Snow White. Additionally, Jonah Platt, the son of Snow White’s producer, criticized her for making political comments that he claimed affected the film’s box office performance.

Profile Summary

Full Name: Rachel Anne Zegler

Date of Birth: May 3, 2001

Zodiac Sign: Taurus

Height: 157 cm

Nationality: American

Instagram: @rachelzegler

Twitter: @rachelzegler

Rachel Zegler continues to make waves in Hollywood, balancing her acting and singing career while taking on diverse and challenging roles in film, theater, and television.