Rachel Zegler redefines Snow White in Disney’s live-action remake, highlighting resilience and modernizing the iconic character.
Rachel Zegler’s casting faced backlash due to her Latina heritage in Snow White’s lead role.
The live-action Snow White changes the character’s name origin to symbolize resilience after surviving a snowstorm.
Despite criticism, Zegler focuses on representing diverse audiences and challenging outdated Hollywood norms.
At a young age of 23, actress Rachel Zegler has achieved remarkable prominence in Hollywood. She debuted as Maria in director Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story in 2021 and quickly established her acting prowess. Since then, she has been a part of several high-profile projects. Not just movies, but she recently also made her Broadway debut as Juliet in Romeo + Juliet.
Rachel Zegler in the Snow White trailer | Credits: Walt Disney Studios/ YouTube
While all of these are great achievements, the biggest of the lot would definitely be her playing Snow White in the upcoming live-action adaptation. Now, a recent update about the same has been turning heads on the anticipated movie and would also change a key origin detail for the iconic Disney Princess.
Rachel Zegler Confirms Key Origin Changes for Disney’s Live-Action Snow White
Rachel Zegler in the Snow White trailer | Credits: Walt Disney Studios/ YouTube
Rachel Zegler landed the biggest role of her career as Snow White in Disney’s highly anticipated live-action movie. However, her casting wasn’t without its own set of challenges, as fans were confused about why a Latina actress was brought in to play a fair-skinned princess. Despite this backlash, the young actress remains focused on the importance of her role.
For her, Snow White transcends any single interpretation. In an interview with Variety, she delved deeper into the role and the necessary changes that her interpretation of the Disney princess would bring to the big screen.
She also added how the upcoming movie would depart from the original line “Skin as white as snow” and would bring forth another explanation for her name. She added:
It fell back to another version of ‘Snow White’ that was told in history, where she survived a snowstorm that occurred when she was a baby. And so the king and queen decided to name her Snow White to remind her of her resilience. One of the core points in our film for any young woman or young person is remembering how strong you actually are.
Despite the online negativity, Zegler’s fellow performers have been quick to rally behind her. Brandy, who made history as the first Black Cinderella in the 1997 Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, extended her support, reminding Zegler that her role isn’t about appeasing critics. But inspiring young girls who have yet to see themselves reflected in a Disney princess.
As Zegler gears up for her lead role as Snow White, she remains grounded by focusing on the significance of representation. Despite the harsh criticism, she’s determined to bring her unique interpretation to these iconic roles, inspiring audiences and challenging outdated Hollywood norms.
Rachel Zegler’s Broadway Journey Begins With Romeo + Juliet
Rachel Zegler in Romeo + Juliet | Credits: YouTube
In another exciting development, Zegler has also made her Broadway debut alongside Kit Connor in Romeo + Juliet. Their performance is grabbing attention for how lively and interactive the audience is. Unlike typical theater audiences, this crowd has been very responsive, cheering loudly and even shouting comments during the show.
On The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, she explained that director Sam Gold described the play as similar to “a Troye Sivan music video,” where the characters must openly express their feelings. The audience’s energy has made performing feel more connected and fun for the actors.
Zegler mentioned a moment when someone in the front row shouted back at her during a dramatic scene, which made the experience even more exciting.
Kit Connor also shared his thoughts on the audience interaction. He recalled a time during a heated moment in the play when he heard someone shout, “Romeo, walk away.” He found it funny and surprising, saying it showed how engaged the audience was. Connor also added that this level of audience participation makes the performance feel more alive and real.
