Rachel Zegler
Birthdate: May 3, 2001
Birthplace: Hackensack, New Jersey, USA
Rachel Zegler has enjoyed one of the most rapid rises to fame among any actor-singers of her generation, having leaped from jobs as a wedding and funeral singer to being cast in her big-screen debut as Maria in Steven Spielberg’s revival film production of the Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim musical, West Side Story (2021), written by Tony Kushner, and co-starring Ansen Elgort, Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, Mike Faust, and Rita Moreno, and though the movie earned seven Oscar nominations (including Best Picture), it was a rare Spielberg box-office misfire, grossing $75 million below its $100 million price tag.
Zegler had a major supporting role in DC Studios/Warner Bros.’ poor-grossing ($134 million worldwide) Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023), with Zachary Levi, Adam Brody, Lucy Liu, Djimon Hounsou, and Helen Mirren. Zegler landed her second co-starring role in her third feature with the much-anticipated reboot sequel, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023), directed by Francis Lawrence and co-starring Tom Blyth, Peter Dinklage, Hunter Schafer, Josh Andres Rivera, Jason Schwartzman, and Viola Davis.
Rachel Zegler then starred in the title role of Disney’s long-awaited live-action musical, Snow White (2024), directed by Marc Webb and co-written by Greta Gerwig and Erin Cressida Wilson (adapted from The Brothers Grimm’s Tale), and co-starring Gal Gadot as The Evil Queen. After starring in the lead voice role in the Netflix-streamed Skydance Animation animated musical, Spellbound (2024), opposite Nicole Kidman, Javier Braden, John Lithgow, Jenifer Lewis, and Nathan Lane, Zegler co-starred with Jaeden Martell and Julian Dennison in the disaster comedy, Y2K (date to be announced), directed by Kyle Mooney and co-produced by Jonah Hill, and released by A24.
Personal Details
Rachel Zegler was born in Hackensack, New Jersey, and was raised in Clifton, New Jersey by parents Craig and Gina Zegler. Zegler has an older sister, Jacqueline. Zegler’s father is of Polish descent; her mother is of Colombian descent, with her maternal grandmother having emigrated to the U.S. from Colombia in the 1960s.
Zegler studied at St. Philip the Apostle Prep School, and then Immaculate Conception High School in Lodi, New Jersey, from which Zegler graduated in 2019. At Immaculate Conception, Zegler starred in lead roles in several musical productions, including Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, 42nd Street, and Shrek the Musical. Zegler’s height is 5’ 2”. Zegler’s estimated net worth is $3 million.
Filmography
actor
Upcoming (2)
- 2025 | Snow WhiteasSnow White
Snow White
Live-action adaptation of the 1937 Disney animated film 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'.
- 2024 |
Previous (3)
- 2023 | The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & SnakesasLucy Gray Baird
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
Coriolanus Snow mentors and develops feelings for the female District 12 tribute during the 10th Hunger Games.
- 2023 | Shazam! Fury of the GodsasAnthea
Shazam! Fury of the Gods
The film continues the story of teenage Billy Batson who, upon reciting the magic word "SHAZAM!" is transformed into his adult Super Hero alter ego, Shazam.
- 1961 | West Side StoryasMaría
West Side Story
Two youngsters from rival New York City gangs fall in love, but tensions between their respective friends build toward tragedy.
Some Facts About Rachel Zegler
Almost Snubbed: Rachel Zegler had originally not been invited to the Academy Awards ceremony in which West Side Story was a major contender, even though she had won two Best Actress prizes from both the National Board of Review and the Golden Globes; under pressure from such figures as Russ Tamblyn, the Academy relented and invited Zegler as both guest and co-presenter of the Best Visual Effects Oscar.
30 Under 30: Zegler landed on Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list for 2022.
Social Media Star: On her Twitter/X feed, Rachel Zegler’s performance of the song, “Shallow,” from A Star Is Born, has received over 12 million views.
