Rachel Zegler on Race and Casting in Major Film Roles

Actress Rachel Zegler has expressed how her ethnicity frequently comes into play when she is cast in significant movie roles.

In her experience, she’s faced criticism for not appearing “ethnic enough” in her performances, whether in Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story” or Disney’s upcoming “Snow White.”

“When you are two things, you are also nothing,” she remarked, highlighting her struggles with identity.

Zegler acknowledges that much of the backlash she receives stems from traditional narratives, particularly the portrayal of Prince Charming as a “stalker,” which she believes contributed to the film’s shortcomings. She feels it’s her refusal to conform that stirs discomfort among viewers.

Mixed Heritage Challenges

During a conversation with Harper’s Bazaar, Zegler hinted that she was deemed not “white enough” for the role of Snow White and not “Puerto Rican enough” to portray Maria in “West Side Story.”

“I heard that ‘West Side Story’ lacked something, while ‘Snow White’ had too much of something,” she said, reflecting on the feedback she received.

Despite being just 25, Zegler referred to her early twenties as a “confusing time,” influenced by her Colombian roots. She was born in New Jersey to parents with Colombian and Polish heritage.

“I grew up proud of my Colombian identity. I enjoyed the food, clothing traditions, coffee, and everything that shaped my childhood and adult life,” she shared.

Yet, she feels that her biracial identity is often overlooked.

Resisting the Pressure to Conform

“I believe there’s a narrative out there suggesting that being two things somehow equates to being nothing,” she added, asserting her refusal to change for the sake of others’ comfort.

Zegler has criticized the focus placed on her ethnicity by both audiences and studios, but she also embraces her Colombian background as a source of pride.

In an earlier conversation with People in 2021, Zegler said she was raised in a “very Colombian-American family” and loved being “surrounded by so many Latinos” while filming “West Side Story.”

Nonetheless, she disclosed that studio executives often questioned her legal status just because of her Colombian background. “It felt odd to have a bunch of white executives asking me to verify who I am,” she remarked to the LA Times.

Celebrating Representation in Film

In 2023, she joined fellow Disney actress Halle Bailey, expressing joy in being part of an “all Black” cast for the “Snow White” film, which Bailey called a “huge moment” for representation within their community.

While Zegler usually sidesteps political discussions in interviews, she acknowledged the challenges of witnessing ongoing issues in the United States.