In a recent interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Rachel Zegler spoke candidly about the criticism she faced after landing the lead role in “Snow White.”
The actress described the backlash over her Colombian heritage as “really confusing,” particularly because she had previously encountered a different kind of criticism while starring in “West Side Story.”
Rachel Zegler Says She Won’t “Assimilate” After the ‘Snow White’ Debate
Looking back on the discourse surrounding her casting, Zegler pointed to the contradictory reactions she has faced since breaking into Hollywood. “I was told I wasn’t enough of one thing for ‘West Side Story’ and too much of another for ‘Snow White.’”
Source: Pablo Cuadra/Getty Images for Disney
The actress linked that harsh reception to the complicated way mixed identities are sometimes interpreted once they enter the public conversation. “I do think there’s an argument to be made that, in the public eye at least, when you’re two things, you’re simultaneously nothing.”
Despite that scrutiny, Zegler emphasized that her cultural background has always been something she embraced long before stepping into the spotlight. “I grew up proud of being Colombian. Eating the food, wearing the dresses, drinking the coffee, doing all the things that were so intrinsic to who I was as a kid and who I am as an adult.”
The debate surrounding the Disney remake has not changed that outlook. Zegler was clear that the criticism has not prompted her to soften or reshape her identity to satisfy outside expectations. “I refuse to assimilate for anybody else’s comfort.”
Even as reactions to her casting continue to circulate online, Zegler’s career has kept moving forward. The actress recently drew renewed attention for her stage work, headlining a West End revival of “Evita” at the London Palladium, where she made her London theater debut as Eva Perón.
The Jamie Lloyd–directed production, which ran through the summer of 2025, became a talking point for its striking staging, including a balcony performance of “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” delivered directly to crowds gathered outside the theater.
