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Rachel Zegler

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Rachel Zegler (/ˈzɛɡlər/;[1] born May 3, 2001[2]) is an American actress and singer. She came to prominence with her film debut playing María in Steven Spielberg's musical adaptation West Side Story (2021), for which she won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical. In 2023, she played Anthea in Shazam! Fury of the Gods and Lucy Gray Baird in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.

Early life[]

Rachel Zegler was born in Hackensack, New Jersey on May 3, 2001 to Gina and Craig Zegler.[3][4][5] She was named after the fictional character Rachel Green from the TV series Friends.[6] She has an older sister named Jacklyn.[7] Her mother is of Colombian descent. Her maternal grandmother immigrated from Barranquilla, Colombia to the United States in the 1960s.[8] Her father is of Polish descent.[9][10] Due to her mixed ethnicities, Zegler faced racial discrimination as a child.[3]

Zegler was raised in Clifton, New Jersey, where she attended St. Philip the Apostle Preparatory School.[11] Afterwards, she attended the Catholic all-girls college-preparatory Immaculate Conception High School, which she graduated from in 2019.[12]

At the age of four, Zegler saw her first Broadway show, Beauty and the Beast. Since then, she has been a huge fan of the theater.[3]

Zegler's first acting role came when she was 12, when she played Shprintze in a play of Fiddler on the Roof. It was then that she decided she wanted to be an actress, so she started taking voice and acting lessons.[3]

Career[]

Zegler began her career starring in several musicals while in high school, playing Belle in Beauty and the Beast (2016), Ariel in The Little Mermaid (2017),[13] Dorothy Brock in 42nd Street (2018), and Princess Fiona in Shrek The Musical (2019).[14][15] For all four performances, she received Metro Award nominations in the Actress in a Leading Role category.[14] Her other roles have includes Serena in Legally Blonde, Cosette in Les Misérables, and Millie in Thoroughly Modern Millie.[16] Her YouTube channel has been active since July 2015[17] which garnered media coverage and positive critical reception.[18][19] As of 2022, her video of herself singing "Shallow", from A Star Is Born, had garnered over 12.2 million views on Twitter.[20][9]

File:Rachel zegler 2019.jpg

Zegler in 2019

In January 2018, director Steven Spielberg posted an open casting call via Twitter for a new film adaptation of West Side Story.[21] Zegler, then 16 years old, responded to the casting call tweets with videos of herself singing "Tonight" and "I Feel Pretty"; she had performed the role at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in 2017.[22][9] She was selected from over 30,000 applicants for the role of Maria, marking her film debut.[23] The film was released in December 2021,[24] and earned acclaim from critics and audiences.[25][26][27] For her performance, she received a Critics' Choice Movie Award nomination for Best Young Performer and won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical,[28][29] making her the first actress of Colombian descent to win in that category as well as the youngest winner in that category at 20 years old.[30]

She starred as Anthea in the superhero film Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023).[31] The film received mixed reviews.[32] She played protagonist Lucy Gray Baird in the 2023 film adaptation of the Hunger Games prequel The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.[33] The film received positive reviews.[34] David Ehlrich of IndieWire praised Zegler wrtiting, "[She] is absolutely captivating in a Wild Rose-coded performance that’s equal part Southern pluck and wide-eyed terror...it is a marvel of multiplex acting". Ehlrich also noted the nuances of her performance adding "Zegler knows how to play nuance big enough for the back of the room to read it all over her face".[35] She next appeared in Kyle Mooney's directorial debut film Y2K, produced by A24,[36] which debuted at the South by Southwest Festival in 2024.[37]

She will voice the lead character in the animated musical film Spellbound, directed by Vicky Jenson, which is scheduled to be released in 2024 and will premiere on Netflix.[38][39] She has been cast as the titular character in Snow White, a live-action adaptation the 1937 animated Disney film, scheduled to be released in March 2025.[40][41] Zegler is also set to make her Broadway debut playing Juliet in a musical adaptation of William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet directed by Sam Gold with music by Jack Antonoff later in 2024.[42]

In the media[]

In 2021, Zegler was listed at number 34 on The Ringer's The Big Picture podcast's list of the top 35 actors under 35.[43] She is included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 class of 2022 list.[44] Also in 2021, AP Entertainment named her as one of the Breakthrough Entertainers of 2021.[45] She was part of the in memoriam segment of the 64th Annual Grammy Awards in honour of Stephen Sondheim, alongside Ben Platt, Cynthia Erivo, and Leslie Odom Jr.[46]

She was initially not invited to attend the 94th Academy Awards ceremony of 2022 to support her colleagues involved in West Side Story, which received seven nominations, including Best Picture.[47] After some controversy over the perceived snub in the media,[48] the Academy invited her to be a presenter[49] for the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.[50][51]

Personal life[]

In February 2021, Zegler and actor Josh Andrés Rivera confirmed that they were dating. The two had met on the set of West Side Story and later starred in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes together.[52]

Zegler considers Barbra Streisand one of her primary influences.[53] In 2021, Streisand sent Zegler a copy of her album, Release Me 2, and a copy of a book called Streisand From A to Z, along with a note reading, "For R., from B.," to which Zegler responded, "There's simply no way this is real!"[54][55]

Filmography[]

Film[]

Template:Pending films key

Year Title Role Notes
2021 West Side Story María
2023 Shazam! Fury of the Gods Anthea
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes Lucy Gray Baird
2024 Y2K Laura
Spellbound dagger Princess Ellian Voice role; post-production
2025 Snow White dagger Snow White Post-production

Theatre[]

Year Title Role Venue Notes
2024–2025 Romeo + Juliet Juliet Circle in the Square Theatre Broadway[56]

Discography[]

Soundtracks[]

List of soundtracks, with selected details
Title Album details
West Side Story
  • Release date: December 3, 2021
  • Label: Hollywood
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
  • Release date: November 17, 2023
  • Label: Geffen

Singles[]

List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
NZ
Hot
[57]
"Let Me Try" 2021 — Template:Non-album single
"Balcony Scene (Tonight)"
(with Ansel Elgort) 		— West Side Story
"The Hanging Tree" 2023 19 The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
"The Ballad of Lucy Gray Baird" 12

Other charted songs[]

List of other charted songs, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
NZ
Hot
[57]
"Nothing You Can Take from Me" (Boot-Stompin' Version)
(with the Covey Band) 		2023 13 The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
"Pure as the Driven Snow"
(with the Covey Band) 		22

Other appearances[]

List of other appearances
Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Days From Long Ago" 2021 Alejandro Rodriguez, Anna Ebbeson, Shakina Nayfack, Solea Pfeiffer #IWriteMusicals: Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge
(2020 edition)
"Your World/Safe" Alexia Sielo, Anna Ebbeson, Anna Jacobs, Henry Crater, Jared Goldsmith, Jason Gotay, Nick Cartell
"Rey's Theme" None The George Lucas Talk Show Original Livestream Series Soundtrack
"Mile Away" 2023 George Watsky Intention

Accolades[]

List of awards and nominations received by Rachel Zegler
Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2021
 Chicago Film Critics Association Most Promising Performer West Side Story Nominated [58]
Florida Film Critics Circle Pauline Kael Breakout Award Runner-up [59]
Indiana Film Journalists Association Breakout of the Year Nominated [60]
National Board of Review Best Actress Won [61]
North Texas Film Critics Association Best Actress Nominated [62]
Best Newcomer Won
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Best Youth Performance Nominated [63]
2022
 Alliance of Women Film Journalists Best Breakthrough Performance Nominated [64]
Critics' Choice Movie Awards Best Young Actor/Actress Nominated [65]
DiscussingFilm Critics Awards Best Debut Performance Nominated [66]
Dorian Awards Rising Star of the Year Nominated [67]
Georgia Film Critics Association Best Actress Nominated [68]
Breakthrough Award Nominated
Golden Globe Awards Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical Won [69]
Music City Film Critics Association Best Young Actress Nominated [70]
North Carolina Film Critics Association Best Breakthrough Performance Nominated [71]
Online Film and Television Association Best Breakout Performer (female) Nominated [72]
2024 People's Choice Awards Action Movie Star of the Year The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes Won [73]
Female Movie Star of the Year Nominated

References[]

  1. ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.finally addressing it. Rachel Zegler. February 26, 2021. Archived from the original on April 17, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021 – via YouTube.
  2. ↑ Template:Blist
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Walters, Meg (2021-06-28). The Stunning Transformation Of Rachel Zegler (en-US).
  4. ↑ Kramer, Peter D.. Steven Spielberg's 'West Side Story' Maria on stage in Lodi this weekend (en-US). “I was born in Hackensack Hospital.”
  5. ↑ Kuperinsky, Amy (December 10, 2021). Rachel Zegler almost didn't audition for 'West Side Story.' the new Maria on the role that changed her life. NJ.com.
  6. ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.@rachelzegler (November 5, 2019). "#9 – rachel green from friends, the fictional character after whom i was named!" (Tweet). Archived from the original on May 17, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2022 – via Twitter.
  7. ↑ Kramer, Peter D. (April 11, 2019). Steven Spielberg's 'West Side Story' Maria on stage in Lodi this weekend.
  8. ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."'We Need To Be in the Room.' West Side Story's Rachel Zegler and Ariana DeBose on Latino Representation in Film". Time. Archived from the original on October 27, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Who is Rachel Zegler? Meet the teenager playing María Vasquez in the 'West Side Story' remake (June 17, 2019).
  10. ↑ McNary, Dave (January 14, 2019). 'West Side Story' Remake Casts Newcomer as Maria. “As a Colombian-American, I am humbled by the opportunity to play a role that means so much to the Hispanic community”
  11. ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Katz, Maggie (May 20, 2016). "Clifton students nominated for acting award". northjersey.com. Archived from the original on May 29, 2022. Retrieved March 19, 2023. City residents Amanda Leger and Rachel Zegler both attend Immaculate Conception High School in Lodi and are alumni of St. Philip the Apostle Preparatory School on Valley Road.
  12. ↑ Immaculate Conception High School.
  13. ↑ Kramer, Peter D. (May 17, 2017). Metro Awards 2017 nominees list.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Kramer, Peter D. (May 15, 2019). Rachel Zegler to skip Metros, citing 'West Side Story' schedule, calls event 'too public'.
  15. ↑ Kramer, Peter D. (May 14, 2019). Metro Awards: Harrison, Sleepy Hollow, Panas and Northern Valley lead 2019 nominees.
  16. ↑ Santiago, Ellyn (January 15, 2019). Rachel Zegler: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know.
  17. ↑ Rachel Zegler.
  18. ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Schwartz, Dana (January 15, 2019). "8 examples of Rachel Zegler, 'West Side Story's new María, singing and sounding incredible". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on June 4, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  19. ↑ Russo, Gianluca (January 15, 2019). You've Probably Seen New "West Side Story" Star Rachel Zegler Before — Thanks to a Lady Gaga Cover.
  20. ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Zegler, Rachel [@rachelzegler] (December 14, 2018). "someone: you use autotune😤😤😤😤 me: t.co/9sPBkDj2kf" (Tweet). Archived from the original on May 17, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2021 – via Twitter.
  21. ↑ Kit, Borys (January 26, 2018). Steven Spielberg Looks for Spanish-Speaking Actors for His 'West Side Story' Remake.
  22. ↑ Kuperinsky, Amy (December 2, 2021). West Side Story review: There's a place for Spielberg's updated musical.
  23. ↑ McNary, Dave (January 14, 2019). 'West Side Story' Remake Casts Newcomer as Maria.
  24. ↑ 'Black Widow,' 'West Side Story,' 'Eternals' Postpone Release Dates (en-US) (September 23, 2020).
  25. ↑ Evangelista, Chris (December 2, 2021). West Side Story Review: Steven Spielberg's Big, Vibrant Take On The Classic Musical Is One Of His Best Films (en-US).
  26. ↑ Best of 2021: Film Critic Top Ten Lists (en).
  27. ↑ West Side Story review – Spielberg's triumphantly hyperreal remake (en) (December 2, 2021).
  28. ↑ Verhoeven, Beatrice (December 13, 2021). 'West Side Story,' 'Belfast' Lead 2022 Critics Choice Film Nominations (en-US).
  29. ↑ Golden Globes 2022: What The Winners Said – Rachel Zegler (January 11, 2022).
  30. ↑ Snow White Actress Rachel Zegler Wins the Golden Globe. Disney Fanatic (January 10, 2022).
  31. ↑ Jackson, Angelique (February 25, 2021). Rachel Zegler Joins Cast of 'Shazam: Fury of the Gods'.
  32. ↑ Shazam! Fury of the Gods. Retrieved on April 16, 2024.
  33. ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Romano, Nick. "West Side Story breakout Rachel Zegler to star in Hunger Games prequel". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 31, 2022. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  34. ↑ The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Retrieved on April 16, 2024.
  35. ↑ 'The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes' Review: The Rare Hollywood Prequel That Towers Over the Rest of Its Franchise (November 9, 2023). Retrieved on April 16, 2024.
  36. ↑ 'SNL' Alum Kyle Mooney to Direct A24's 'Y2K' Starring Rachel Zegler and Alicia Silverstone (March 23, 2023). Retrieved on March 23, 2023.
  37. ↑ 'Y2K' Review: Kyle Mooney's Apocalyptic Comedy Is a Gleefully Gonzo Dose of Nostalgic Revisionism (March 10, 2024). Retrieved on April 16, 2024.
  38. ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Kroll, Justin. "Rachel Zegler To Voice Lead Of Apple Original Films And Skydance Animation's 'Spellbound'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 8, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  39. ↑ Giardina, Carolyn (June 12, 2023). Tituss Burgess Joins Voice Cast of Apple and Skydance Animation's 'Spellbound'; New Image Revealed (Exclusive) (en-US).
  40. ↑ Kroll, Justin (June 22, 2021). 'Snow White': 'West Side Story's Rachel Zegler To Play Title Role In Disney's Live-Action Adaptation Of Animated Classic.
  41. ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.McClintock, Pamela (October 27, 2023). "Disney Delays Snow White and Elio a Year, Removes Jonathan Majors' Magazine Dreams From Calendar". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 27, 2023. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  42. ↑ Rachel Zegler, Kit Connor to Star on Broadway in 'Romeo and Juliet' (April 16, 2024). Retrieved on April 16, 2024.
  43. ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.The Big Picture [@TheBigPic] (September 27, 2021). "#ICYMI, here is our list of the top 35 actors under 35. Check out the full podcast here: t.co/cs5z4m8cP8 t.co/iUuKyz6YZ5" (Tweet). Archived from the original on May 17, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2021 – via Twitter.
  44. ↑ Meyer, Dan. Rachel Zegler, Barlow and Bear, Macy Schmidt, Olivia Rodrigo, More Among Forbes' 30 Under 30 Class of 2022.
  45. ↑ The AP names its Breakthrough Entertainers of 2021 (December 14, 2021).
  46. ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Jakiel, Olivia; Etienne, Vanessa. "Rachel Zegler, Ben Platt, Cynthia Erivo, Leslie Odom Jr. Perform Special 'In Memoriam' Grammys Segment". People. Archived from the original on April 4, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  47. ↑ 'West Side Story' star says she wasn't invited to the Oscars: 'I'm disappointed' (March 21, 2022).
  48. ↑ No Oscars invite for Rachel Zegler? Original 'West Side Story' star won't have it (March 21, 2022).
  49. ↑ Oscars: Rachel Zegler Has Been Invited to be a Presenter (Exclusive) (March 22, 2022).
  50. ↑ Jackson, Dory (March 27, 2022). Rachel Zegler Jokes About 2022 Oscars Invite While Presenting: 'Dreams Really Can Come True'.
  51. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (March 28, 2022). Rachel Zegler Quips About Initial Invitation Snub In Presenting at the Oscars.
  52. ↑ Rachel Zegler Wishes Boyfriend Josh Andrés Rivera a Happy Birthday: 'So Lucky To Be Loved By Him' (en).
  53. ↑ Tiller, Bonni (2023-08-07). 31 Facts About Rachel Zegler (en-US).
  54. ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Watch TODAY Clip: ‘West Side Story’ star Rachel Zegler gets surprise gift from Barbra Streisand - USANetwork.com. Retrieved July 7, 2024 – via www.usanetwork.com.
  55. ↑ Rachel Zegler Has the Sweetest Reaction to Gift From Barbra Streisand (2021-08-18).
  56. ↑ Kit Connor and Rachel Zegler to Make Broadway Debuts in Romeo + Juliet Revival | Playbill.
  57. ↑ 57.0 57.1 NZ Hot Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ (November 27, 2023).
  58. ↑ Steven Spielberg's West Side Story Leads Chicago Film Critics Association 2021 Awards Nominations (December 13, 2021). Retrieved on August 11, 2023.
  59. ↑ Hazlett, Allison (December 22, 2021). 2021 FFCC Winners.
  60. ↑ Nominations Announced for the 2021 Indiana Film Journalists Association Awards (December 14, 2021).
  61. ↑ National Board of Review Announces 2021 Awards Winners (December 2, 2021).
  62. ↑ Anderson, Erik (December 22, 2021). North Texas Critics awards: 'The Green Knight' is Best Picture, 'The French Dispatch' wins three.
  63. ↑ 2021 WAFCA Award Winners (December 6, 2021).
  64. ↑ 2021 EDA Awards Nominees.
  65. ↑ Film Nominations Announced for the 27th Annual Critics Choice Awards hosted by Taye Tiggs and Nicole Byer (December 13, 2021).
  66. ↑ Rolph, Ben (January 4, 2022). DiscussingFilm Critic Awards 2022: The Winners.
  67. ↑ Beresford, Trilby (February 22, 2022). Dorian Film Awards: 'The Power of the Dog' Leads Nominations From LGBTQ Entertainment Critics.
  68. ↑ 2021 Awards.
  69. ↑ Golden Globes 2022: See the full list of winners (January 10, 2022).
  70. ↑ Neglia, Matt (January 25, 2022). The 2021 Music City Film Critics Association (MCFCA) Winners.
  71. ↑ The Power of the Dog Earns Six North Carolina Film Critics Awards (January 5, 2022). Retrieved on August 11, 2023.
  72. ↑ 26th Annual Film Awards (2021).
  73. ↑ Pedersen, Erik (January 11, 2024). People's Choice Awards Reveals Film, TV & Music Nominees; Simu Liu To Host.

External links[]

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v - e - dAwards for Rachel Zegler

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