Rachel Zegler talked about the struggle to feel safe in her Latina identity when she was launched in her escape role as Maria in the remake of Steven Spielberg in 2021 of the 1961 musical film “West Side Story. “”
In a recent interview with SeduceThe 23 -year -old actor shared that she was constantly questioned about his inheritance by studio leaders throughout the process of securing his role in the nominated film at the Oscars. Zegler was born in the New Jersey of an American Colombian mother and a Polish American father; her maternal grandmother Immigrant in the United States of Barranquilla in the 1960s.
“There is confusion because I don't have a single Latin ounce on my behalf,” said Zegler. “When I was in the running for María in” West Side Story “, they continued to call to ask if I was legitimate. I remember thinking: “Do you want me to bring my Abuelita?” I will do it.
Zegler noted that it was strange to have “a bunch of white leaders that you prove your identity to them”.
But the experience has never shook the “snow White“The pride of a star in his inheritance.” It is an interesting experience part of this diaspora in the current climate in which we live, “she said.” But I like to be Colombian. “”
Speaking on the “current climate”, Zegler took the time to defend the initiatives of the light of recent actions in Hollywood and in other industries that have Diversity efforts have reduced.
“The reality is that I had a chance because I could sing,” said Zegler. “My only prayer for the future of diversity and inclusion is that we invest and infants talents, no matter what they look like.”
From the moment it was interpreted in 2021 under the name “Snow White” in the next Disney Live-Action remake of the 1937 animated classic, Zegler Was bombed with hate messages Online on the way she was unfit to play Snow White because of her Latina being.
A few hours after the announcement of Disney's casting, Zegler apparently addressed those who opposed the idea of a latina snow white, writing in a post X since deleted: “Yes I am Snow White No, I do not whiten my skin for the role.”
The nominated at the Golden Globe also received support not only from her fans but from another Disney princess, Halle BaileyWho was also examined for having worn her hair in the locs while playing Ariel in the 2023 version of “The Little Mermaid”.
“We love you so much … really the perfect princess,” she wrote to Zegler in 2023 X.
R&B Legend Brandy, who played Cinderella in 1997, echoes Bailey's feeling in a message published in Variety last year.
“I grew up in a house where that was Cinderella, ”said Zegler Variety In 2024, the representation of Brandy of the cleaning lady who became a-princess.
“The mind of a child is the most astonishing thing, where it's like” OK, it's Cinderella “,” said Zegler. “But the blond hair and blue hair cinderella of the 1950s cartoon is also Cinderella. In addition, Hilary Duff is Cinderella in” A Cinderella Story “.”
The cast of Zegler as a manager in a major film occurs at a time when the prominence of actors and color creators in the successful theatrical versions slides.
Colored players represented 25.2% of the main roles in the best theatrical films of 2024, against 29.2% in 2023, according to the most recent Hollywood UCLA diversity report. The number of films made by people of color also dropped in 2024 compared to 2023. Color directors represented 20.2% of 2024 films, compared to 22.9% for the previous year. People of color represent approximately 44% of the American population.
The City of the Times company chief editor Ryan Faughnder and reporting scholarship holder Malia Mendez contributed to this report.
