Rachel Zegler opened up about the ‘West Side Story’ casting process in a recent interview with Allure.
Rachel Zegler has opened up about the struggle to feel secure in her Latina identity when being cast in her breakout role as Maria in Steven Spielberg’s 2021 remake of the 1961 musical film “West Side Story.”
In a recent interview with Allure, the 23-year-old actor shared that she was constantly questioned about her heritage by studio executives throughout the process of securing her part in the Oscar-nominated film. Zegler was born in New Jersey to a Colombian American mother and Polish American father; her maternal grandmother immigrated to the U.S. from Barranquilla in the 1960s.
“There’s confusion because I don’t have a single ounce of Latin in my name,” Zegler said. “When I was in the running for María in ‘West Side Story,’ they kept calling to ask if I was legit. I remember thinking, ‘Do you want me to bring my abuelita in?’ I will. I’ll bring her into the studio if you want to meet her.”
Zegler noted that it was strange to have “a bunch of white executives have you prove your identity to them.”
But the experience never shook the “Snow White” star’s pride in her heritage.
