Rachel Zegler.Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty
Rachel Zeglerhas a message for the internet commenters with an issue over her casting inDisney’s upcominglive-action remake ofSnow White.
The 20-year-old actress recently chatted withAndrew GarfieldforVariety’sActors on Actorsseries, recalling that her casting announcement “was a huge thing that was trending on Twitter for days, because all of the people were angry.”
“Ah, those people. The people that we need to educate. The people that we need to love into awareness,” said Garfield, 38.
“We need to love them in the right direction,” replied Zegler of those who criticized her casting over her race.
She added, “At the end of the day, I have a job to do that I’m really excited to do. I get to bea Latina princess.”
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Rachel Zegler (L); Snow White.20th Century Studios; Everett
“Never in a million years did I imagine that this would be a possibility for me,” she also said. “You don’t normally see Snow Whites that are of Latin descent. Even though Snow White is really a big deal in Spanish-speaking countries.”
“Blanca Nieves is a huge icon whether you’re talking about the Disney cartoon or just different iterations and the Grimm fairy tale and all the stories that come with it,” she continued. “But you don’t particularly see people who look like me or are me playing roles like that.”
The June announcement of herSnow Whitecasting came months before audiences saw Zegler’s debut performance inSteven Spielberg’sWest Side Story, which opened in December. For her role as Maria, she nabbed theGolden Globefor best actress in a motion picture – musical or comedy.
RELATED VIDEO: Ansel Elgort Says HisWest Side StoryCostar Rachel Zegler Is a “Legend in the Making”
Snow Whiteis the latest of Disney’s live-action remakes. The studio has previously reimaginedCinderella,Beauty and the Beast,Mulan,AladdinandDumbo, withThe Little Mermaidslated for a 2023 release. Villain origin stories have also gotten the live-action treatment withMaleficentand 2021’sCruella.
source: people.com
