Rachel Zegler is recalling how touchdown her “West Facet Story” lead position included “proving” her Latin heritage.
Zegler, who’s now starring because the titular princess in “Snow White,” instructed Attract that her breakout flip as María in Steven Spielberg’s “West Facet Story” had some “confusion” within the casting course of. Spielberg wished the position of María to be performed by a Latina actress.
“There’s confusion as a result of I don’t have a single ounce of Latin in my title,” Zegler mentioned. “Having a bunch of white executives have you ever show your id to them…It’s an fascinating expertise being a part of that diaspora within the present local weather we stay in. However I really like being Colombian.”
She added, “Once I was within the operating for María in ‘West Facet Story,’ they stored calling to ask if I used to be legit. I bear in mind considering, ‘Would you like me to deliver my abuelita in?’ I’ll. I’ll deliver her into the studio if you wish to meet her.”
Zegler’s casting in “Snow White” was later criticized on account of her being of Latina descent. David Hand, the son of the director of the unique 1937 animated movie whose late father had the identical title, instructed The Telegraph UK that Walt Disney can be “delivering his grave” over the brand new “woke” route of the stay function.
Zegler now instructed Attract that she hopes the “Snow White” position will assist the following era with racially blind casting.
“The fact is, I used to be given an opportunity as a result of I may sing,” Zegler mentioned. “My solely prayer for the way forward for range and inclusion is that we put money into and nurture expertise it doesn’t matter what they seem like. That’s why it’s so necessary for the following era to see films like ‘Snow White,’ to appreciate there’s nothing flawed with selecting to do what’s proper and that it doesn’t should be with anger or a clenched fist. Anger generally is a highly effective emotion, but it surely doesn’t deliver the brightest future. Snow White chooses kindness and nonetheless makes change. Energy takes many varieties. I hope we’ll see a brand new daybreak of kindness and acceptance within the subsequent couple of years. And folks don’t see the necessity to use hate to trigger additional division.”