Disney’s forthcoming live-action adaptation of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will place an individual of Latin-descent in the shoes of the iconic Disney princess, which is an honor Rachel Zegler cherishes.
However, Ziegler recalls the social media response to the casting and the backlash she endured for stepping into the role despite the personal excitement.
The West Side Story star rose to fame with the Steven Spielberg-directed musical and subsequently landed the role of the princess in the upcoming Disney and Marc Webb film.
Zegler’s casting as Snow White felt like a step in the proper direction for the studio, looking to diversify the representation of its Disney princess. Still, many felt the casting wasn’t suitable for the role.
“When it was announced, it was a huge thing that was trending on Twitter for days, because all of the people were angry,” stated Zegler during Variety’sVariety’s Actors on Actors conversation with Spider-Man: No Way Home star Andrew Garfield.
The 20-year-old emerged for the leading role in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in June 2021, which elated director Marc Webb.
Zegler’s vocal talents were just the tip of the iceberg for Webb, who pointed out additional characteristics of the star that would help bring reawakened joy back to the classic Disney story.
“Never in a million years did I imagine that this would be a possibility for me. You don’t normally see Snow Whites that are of Latin descent. Even though Snow White is really a big deal in Spanish-speaking countries,” expressed Zegler.
The original Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs cartoon film from Disney was released in 1938 and became an incredible success.
The adaptations that have followed throughout the years have attempted to retell the story uniquely but continued to cast leads of a particular identity. Zegler’s justifiable excitement is warranted, especially after being selected for a role that hasn’t seen much diversity in her representation.
“Blanca Nieves is a huge icon whether you’re talking about the Disney cartoon or just different iterations and the Grimm fairy tale and all the stories that come with it. But you don’t particularly see people who look like me or are me playing roles like that,” conveyed Zegler.
The moment’s weight isn’t foreign to the West Side Story star, understanding the responsibility she carries for others who share her identity. While disheartening, Zegler isn’t allowing the backlash to take up space in her mind but instead wants to move forward with love.
“At the end of the day, I have a job to do that I’m really excited to do. I get to be a Latina princess.”
Snow White sits in the early stages of development but is no stranger to criticism from various angles.
Nevertheless, Disney’s attempt to diversify its princesses should be celebrated, not ridiculed for insensitivity.
Zegler stepped into the role because her charisma and talents mesh with what Disney envisions for the iconic character, equally opening a window for others to see themselves in parts usually distant from their identities.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is currently in development.
Who is Rachel Zegler
Rachel Zegler is a 20-year-old Colombian-American actor and singer-songwriter from New Jersey who will star in Spielberg’sSpielberg’s upcoming remake of West Side Story and Disney’sDisney’s live-action take on Snow White.
She will make her film debut in the Bernstein musical as Maria, opposite Baby Driver actor Ansel Elgort as Tony.
One of 30,000 applicants, Zegler applied for the role after seeing a casting call on Twitter asking for Latino and Latina actors.
Although she is a newcomer to the film industry, Zegler is no stranger to the role of Maria – having first played the character in a Performing Arts School presentation of West Side Story at the Bergen Performing Arts Centre.
Throughout her teens, Zegler has starred in local, regional, and school productions of Thoroughly Modern Millie, 42nd Street, and RENT and doing occasional work as a wedding singer.
She has also taken on the role of Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Serena in Legally Blonde, Cosette in Les Misérables, and Ariel in The Little Mermaid.
In 2016, the young actor was nominated for a Metropolitan High School Theater Award for her role in Beauty And The Beast, according to NJ.com.
In 2021, she appeared in Steven Spielberg’sSpielberg’s West Side Story as Maria. Production is expected to start on the Snow White live-action remake in 2022.
