Rachel Zegler slams ‘white executives’ who asked her to ‘prove’ her Latin heritage for ‘West Side Story’ role
Rachel Zegler claimed that “white executives” asked her to prove her Latin heritage during the casting process for “West Side Story.”
The actress, whose latest role sees her star in the “Snow White” live-action remake, opened up about being repeatedly questioned over her identity ahead of landing the part in Steven Spielberg’s 2021 film.
“There’s confusion because I don’t have a single ounce of Latin in my name,” Zegler told Allure on Tuesday.
“When I was in the running for Maria in West Side Story, they kept calling to ask if I was legit. I remember thinking, ‘Do you want me to bring my abuelita in? I will. I’ll bring her into the studio if you want to meet her.’”
The 23-year-old said she was surprised to see “a bunch of white executives have you prove your identity to them” before she ultimately secured the role — which launched her to stardom — in 2019.
The actress won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy in 2021 for her starring role.
Zegler, who hails from Hackensack, NJ, has Colombian and Polish roots. Her grandmother immigrated from Barranquilla, Colombia to the US in the 1960s, while her father, Craig, is of Polish descent.
“It’s an interesting experience being part of that diaspora in the current climate we live in,” she added. “But I love being Colombian.”
The actress admitted that her singing skills ultimately led her to land the titular role in “Snow White” in 2021.
“The reality is, I was given a chance because I could sing,” she said after being asked her thoughts about the reaction to a Latina scoring the role.
“My only prayer for the future of diversity and inclusion is that we invest in and nurture talent no matter what they look like.”
Zegler added that “it’s so important for the next generation” to see “Snow White” and other films like it that portray a battle of good versus evil.
“To realize there’s nothing wrong with choosing to do what’s right and that it doesn’t have to be with anger or a clenched fist,” she said in the interview.
“Anger can be a powerful emotion, but it doesn’t bring the brightest future. Snow White chooses kindness and still makes change. Power takes many forms. I hope we’ll see a new dawn of kindness and acceptance in the next couple of years. And people don’t see the need to use hate to cause further division.”
Zegler has been plagued with backlash following her criticism of the original “Snow White” film.
At Disney’s D23 Expo in 2022, Zegler told “Extra,” “The original cartoon came out in 1937 and very evidently so. There’s a big focus on her love story with the guy who literally stalks her. Weird, weird.”
She also said to Variety at the time that Snow White was “not going to be saved by the prince” in the remake.
The film also faced mass boycotts after Zegler went on a social media rant against those who voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 election.
