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Rachel Zegler rose to prominence after gaining traction on social media platforms like Twitter and TikTok, ultimately landing the role of Maria in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story remake. Her breakout performance not only marked her entry into major film projects but also propelled her to notable achievements and recognition within the entertainment industry.
Portraying Maria in West Side Story, Zegler made history by becoming the youngest person to win the Golden Globe for Best Lead Actress in a Comedy or Musical. Her casting was deemed significant, particularly because the original 1961 version featured white actors without Latinx heritage in many Puerto Rican roles. However, Rita Moreno, a legendary Puerto Rican figure, notably achieved an Oscar from that film, earning her EGOT status.
Although there was some vocal discussion about Zegler not being of Puerto Rican descent, her performance received acclaim, especially as several of the Latinx roles, including Anita, were portrayed by actors with Latinx heritage, such as Ariana DeBose. Before her casting, curiosity arose regarding the cast members who were fluent in Spanish due to their Latinx backgrounds.
Zegler showcased her proficiency in Spanish through audition videos for West Side Story, singing “Tonight” and “I Feel Pretty” in Spanish, posted on Twitter during the open casting call. Additionally, she had previously uploaded a cover of “Sonya Alone” from “Natasha, Pierre, & the Great Comet of 1812,” in both English and Spanish on YouTube in 2018.
However, in a 2022 interview with Variety, Zegler admitted that she isn’t fully fluent in Spanish, mentioning her upbringing around the language but not receiving formal teaching. She shared insights from her family, emphasizing speaking English as an important part of her upbringing. Despite this, Zegler later tweeted that she considers herself semi-fluent in Spanish, suggesting that her proficiency might not be absolute, but she has a reasonable grasp of the language.