Though she's enjoying an impressive amount of success right now, Rachel Zegler admits there's been a fair amount of backlash to her casting in projects like Shazam: Fury of the Gods and Snow White. When she was just 17, Zegler received the breakout role of a lifetime when Steven Spielberg cast her as Maria in his West Side Story remake. Zegler caught the iconic director's eye after submitting videos of herself singing, and with her hiring, she quickly became a talent to watch. West Side Story was originally scheduled to debut in late 2020, but the coronavirus pandemic pushed it to December 2021.
Even though many had yet to see her feature film debut, Zegler continued racking up buzzworthy roles. In early 2021, she was cast in the DCEU's Shazam: Fury of the Gods, an eagerly anticipated sequel set to premiere in June 2023. Her character is still being kept under wraps, though she's confirmed to play the sister to Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu's godly villains. Then, near the end of 2021, Zegler became a Disney princess when she was tapped to lead the studio's live-action Snow White remake. This means Zegler's first three film roles will be a Spielberg offering, a superhero movie, and a Disney film. Talk about impressive.
And yet, there have been times when Zegler didn't feel very impressive. Speaking in a new cover story for THR, Zegler opened up about the strange feeling that came from being cast in major projects without her first movie being released. With no one able to see West Side Story for an extra year, some people online began to question her acting chops. That put Zegler in an uncomfortable position, as she explained:
“There was a huge imposter syndrome shadow that loomed over me. I was reading these horrible things people were saying, like, ‘What kind of dirt does she have on whoever holds the puppet strings in Hollywood? Because that has to be the only reason she’s booked gigs while waiting for this movie to come out.’ As much as it’s bullshit to read, it takes a toll.”
Since West Side Story's debut, few people have questioned Zegler's talent. She earned rave reviews alongside the entire movie and has already picked up several awards; most recently, Zegler won the Golden Globe for best performance by an actress in a musical/comedy, beating out industry vets like Marion Cotillard, Jennifer Lawrence, and Emma Stone. An Oscar nomination seems likely, though it won't be official for another two weeks.
Still, while the naysayers might be quieter now, it's unfortunate to hear that some of Zegler's early success was tainted by online backlash. Zegler earned the Shazam and Snow White roles through her own talent and hard work, and while the general public didn't have concrete proof of it, the backing of those like Spielberg should've been enough. Hollywood can be a tricky place, but some people really do find success on their talent alone. Hopefully now, Zegler can shed some of that imposter syndrome and bask in her triumphs.
Source: THR
