Biography
Rachel Zegler is an American actress and singer who gained prominence for her role as María in Steven Spielberg’s 2021 adaptation of “West Side Story,” earning her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. Rachel Zegler began her career by posting song covers on YouTube, which garnered viral attention. She has since expanded her filmography, portraying Anthea in “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” (2023) and Lucy Gray Baird in “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” (2023). Zegler is also set to star as the titular character in Disney’s live-action adaptation of “Snow White,” scheduled for release in 2025. Beyond film, she made her Broadway debut as Juliet in a 2024 revival of “Romeo + Juliet” and is slated to play Eva Perón in a 2025 West End revival of “Evita” at the London Palladium. Despite her rising career, Rachel Zegler has faced public scrutiny, notably responding to criticism regarding her vocal performance during a promotional event in Spain for “Snow White.”
Profile
- Name: Rachel Zegler
- Birth name: Rachel Anne Zegler
- Birthday: May 3, 2001
- Zodiac Sign: Taurus
- Height: 157 cm
- Instagram: @rachelzegler
- Twitter: @rachelzegler
Career
Rachel Zegler began her performing journey at Immaculate Conception High School, where she starred in several musical productions, including Belle in Beauty and the Beast (2016), Ariel in The Little Mermaid (2017), Dorothy Brock in 42nd Street (2018), and Princess Fiona in Shrek The Musical (2019). For all four roles, she received Metro Award nominations for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Additionally, she played Serena in “Legally Blonde,” Cosette in “Les Misérables,” and Millie in “Thoroughly Modern Millie.” Her passion for music extended beyond theater—her YouTube channel (active from 2015 to 2023) gained significant attention, with a 2018 cover of “Shallow” from “A Star Is Born” amassing over 12.2 million views on Twitter.
In 2018, at just 16 years old, Rachel Zegler auditioned for Steven Spielberg’s film adaptation of “West Side Story,” responding to an open casting call with videos of herself singing “Tonight” and “I Feel Pretty.” She was selected from over 30,000 applicants to play Maria, making her film debut. Released in December 2021, the film received critical and audience acclaim, and Rachel Zegler won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, making her the first actress of Colombian descent and the youngest winner in the category at 20 years old.
Following her breakout role, she starred as Anthea in “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” (2023), though the film received mixed reviews. Later that year, she portrayed Lucy Gray Baird in “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” (2023). The film was well-received, and IndieWire praised her as “absolutely captivating” with a nuanced and emotionally compelling performance.
In 2023, Rachel Zegler was originally cast in “Paddington in Peru” but had to exit due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, with actress Carla Tous replacing her. She made a cameo appearance in Kyle Mooney’s A24 film “Y2K,” which premiered at South by Southwest in 2024. That same year, she made her Broadway debut as Juliet in a musical adaptation of “Romeo & Juliet,” directed by Sam Gold with music by Jack Antonoff.
In 2025, she will voice the lead character in the animated musical film “Spellbound” (Netflix) and star as Snow White in Disney’s live-action remake of the 1937 animated classic. She is also set to make her West End debut as Eva Perón in a revival of “Evita,” directed by Jamie Lloyd, running from June to September at the London Palladium.
Personal Life
Early Life
Rachel Zegler was born in Hackensack, New Jersey, to Gina and Craig Zegler. She was named after Rachel Green, the iconic character from “Friends,” and has an older sister named Jacqueline. Her mother is of Colombian descent, with her maternal grandmother having immigrated from Barranquilla, Colombia, to the U.S. in the 1960s, while her father is of Polish descent.
Rachel Zegler was raised in Clifton, New Jersey, where she has spoken about experiencing racial discrimination in the comments on her YouTube videos due to her mixed ethnicity. Her love for theater began at the age of four after watching Beauty and the Beast on Broadway. She landed her first acting role at 12, playing Shprintze in a production of “Fiddler on the Roof.” That experience solidified her passion for acting, leading her to pursue voice and acting lessons to develop her skills further.
Political Activism
Since 2021, Rachel Zegler has been vocal in her support for Palestine amid the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. In October 2023, she joined Artists4Ceasefire and signed a letter urging Joe Biden to push for a ceasefire to end Israel’s bombardment of Gaza. She continued to advocate for the cause, encouraging her followers in January 2024 to pressure government leaders to support a ceasefire. In August 2024, she reiterated her stance on social media, tweeting, “And always remember, free Palestine.”
In November 2024, Zegler spoke out against Donald Trump and his supporters, stating that the U.S. suffers from a deep-rooted sickness and accusing Trump of threatening democracy. She also posted, “May Trump supporters, Trump voters, and Trump himself never know peace.” However, after receiving backlash, she later apologized for “contributing to the negative discourse.”
Dating History
Rachel Zegler has been in a relationship with actor Josh Andrés Rivera since 2021. The couple met while filming “West Side Story,” where Rachel Zegler played Maria and Josh Rivera portrayed Chino. Their relationship was first hinted at through social media posts, with Zegler calling Rivera her “best friend” and sharing affectionate messages. They made their red carpet debut as a couple at the 2022 Oscars, confirming their romance publicly.
Since then, Rachel Zegler and Josh Rivera have frequently expressed their support for each other’s careers. In interviews, Rachel Zegler has praised Josh Rivera for being a constant source of love and encouragement, calling him a “remarkable human.” The couple has also worked together again in “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes,” further strengthening their bond.
Despite maintaining a relatively private relationship, Rachel Zegler occasionally shares glimpses of their romance on social media, celebrating milestones and expressing gratitude for their partnership.
Before dating Josh Rivera, there were no publicly known relationships or confirmed past boyfriends. Despite being a rising star, Rachel Zegler keeps her personal life relatively private, choosing to focus on her career and advocacy work.
Net Worth
As of 2025, Rachel Zegler’s net worth is estimated to be around $3 million, primarily accumulated through her burgeoning acting career.
“Snow White” Controversies
Rachel Zegler’s involvement in Disney’s live-action Snow White has been marked by a series of controversies, ranging from casting backlash to political statements and alleged tensions with co-stars. These issues have fueled public debate and raised concerns about the film’s reception even before its release.
Casting and Racial Backlash
When Disney announced Zegler, an actress of Colombian and Polish descent, as the lead in Snow White, the decision sparked widespread debate. Traditionalists argued that Snow White, originally depicted with “skin as white as snow,” should be played by an actress who closely resembles the original animated character.
Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro and other critics accused Disney of prioritizing diversity over faithfulness to the source material, with some going as far as to call it “woke casting.” Despite the backlash, Zegler defended her casting, emphasizing that her portrayal would reflect a fresh, modern take on the character.
Critique of the Original Film
Beyond the casting controversy, Zegler stirred further debate when she expressed concerns about the themes of the 1937 animated film. She criticized the original Snow White for its outdated portrayal of romance, particularly the love story between Snow White and the Prince, which she called “weird” and “outdated.” She also highlighted how the new adaptation would focus on Snow White’s independence rather than her romantic journey.
These comments, while praised by some for modernizing the character, alienated long-time fans of the classic movie, who felt she was disrespecting Disney’s legacy.
On-Set Tensions with Gal Gadot
Rumors of tensions between Zegler and her Snow White co-star Gal Gadot, who plays the Evil Queen, have also surfaced. Reports suggest that political differences, particularly regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, may have contributed to strained relations between the two actresses.
Speculation intensified when Zegler notably omitted Gadot in her social media tributes to the Snow White cast, leading fans to question whether their working relationship had soured. However, neither actress has publicly addressed the rumors.
Redefining the Seven Dwarfs
Another controversial decision surrounding Snow White was Disney’s choice to reimagine the seven dwarfs as “magical creatures” instead of hiring actors with dwarfism. This change, made to avoid reinforcing stereotypes, faced criticism from both disability advocates and industry professionals, including actor Peter Dinklage, who accused Disney of trying to be politically correct without considering the broader implications for actors with dwarfism. While Disney defended its decision, many fans and advocacy groups questioned whether the move was truly progressive or simply an overcorrection.
Filmography
Film
- West Side Story (2021)
- Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023)
- The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023)
- Y2K (2024)
- Spellbound (2024)
- Snow White (2025)
Theatre
- Romeo + Juliet (2024–2025)
- Trisha Paytas’ Big Broadway Dream! (2025)
- Evita (2025)
Facts
- She was a wedding singer and sang at Catholic masses, and funerals in her hometown.
- She played Fiona in her high school’s production of Shrek the Musical.
- She regularly posted singing covers on YouTube.
- She’s a huge Swiftie.
- She wasn’t afraid to call out Hollywood’s hypocrisy.
- She’s an open advocate for mental health.
- She has a tattoo inspired by “The Hunger Games.”
- She loves writing & storytelling.
