Rachel Zegler is recalling how landing her “West Side Story” lead role included “proving” her Latin heritage.
Zegler, who is now starring as the titular princess in “Snow White,” told Allure that her breakout turn as María in Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story” had some “confusion” in the casting process. Spielberg wanted the role of María to be played by a Latina actress.
“There’s confusion because I don’t have a single ounce of Latin in my name,” Zegler said. “Having a bunch of white executives have you prove your identity to them…It’s an interesting experience being part of that diaspora in the current climate we live in. But I love being Colombian.”
She added, “When I was in the running for María 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.”
Zegler’s casting in “Snow White” was later criticized due to her being of Latina descent. David Hand, the son of the director of the original 1937 animated film whose late father had the same name, told The Telegraph UK that Walt Disney would be “turning in his grave” over the new “woke” direction of the live feature.
Zegler now told Allure that she hopes the “Snow White” role will help the next generation with racially blind casting.
“The reality is, I was given a chance because I could sing,” Zegler said. “My only prayer for the future of diversity and inclusion is that we invest in and nurture talent no matter what they look like. That’s why it’s so important for the next generation to see movies like ‘Snow White,’ 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. 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.”
