Rachel Zegler, star of the forthcoming Snow White, says she repeatedly had to “prove [her] identity” as a Colombian-American to “a bunch of white executives” during the casting process for her first high-profile film, West Side Story.
Zegler was speaking to Allure in the run-up to Snow White’s release, and discussed her “cultural identity” with writer Patricia Alfonso Tortolani. Zegler commented that “there’s confusion because I don’t have a single ounce of Latin in my name”, adding: “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 was born in New Jersey, and has said previously that her mother, Gina, is the US-born daughter of Colombian immigrants . Her father, Craig, is descended from Polish immigrants to the US. Referring to her Colombian roots, Zegler said: “It’s an interesting experience being part of that diaspora in the current climate we live in. But I love being Colombian.”
Snow White, a live-action remake of Disney’s groundbreaking 1937 animated fairytale Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, has become something of a lightning rod for controversy, with film academic and journalist Stephen Galloway telling the Observer: “It’s hard to imagine a picture in this DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion], or post-DEI, post-woke age could be more controversial and polarising.”
Zegler has attracted much of the attention. Like Halle Bailey in The Little Mermaid, Zegler’s ethnic background appeared to trigger accusations of a “woke” reimagining of a classic story.
Zegler has also incurred the wrath of commentators with her political statements, posting messages on social media in support of the Palestinian cause and attacking Donald Trump supporters in the wake of the 2024 presidential election. (She apologised for the latter, saying “sorry I contributed to the negative discourse”.) She also said that in the original Disney cartoon, the prince “literally stalks” Snow White.
The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has given Snow White a PG certificate, with its scene descriptions triggering more accusations of “ridiculous” levels of sensitivity. The BBFC’s content advice says that the film contains a scene where “a woman is deliberately poisoned”, “a girl is surrounded by ominous trees” and “a character threatens to shove something up another’s backside during a comic exchange”.
