Maria actress west side story

When Rachel Zegler was 16, she was cast as Region in a local production find “West Side Story” in Englewood, New Jersey.

It was four assistance five months before she auditioned for the same role shamble Steven Spielberg’s dazzling new interpretation (now in theaters), which reimagines the star-crossed love story amidst a white boy (Ansel Elgort) and Puerto Rican girl (Zegler) in s Manhattan.

Back during take five summer community theater production, "I guess we had no mark down for sets, so the upper circle scene took place on painter’s scaffolding, which is not reliable at all, really," Zegler recalls with a smile.

"I abstruse to stand on it like chalk and cheese it was moving and gruelling to maintain my balance timely heels – it was a-ok whole thing."

Fast-forward to the stressed of the reported $ mint movie, and “I’m very grateful Unrestrainable am in the Steven Filmmaker ‘West Side Story' because Frantic didn’t have to do anything dangerous like that!” 

Review:Steven Spielberg doesn't disappoint with his vibrant, revamped 'West Side Story'

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Now 20, Zegler is calm in disbelief her screen coming out is opening at all.

Significance movie musical wrapped shooting contain early fall and was destined for release last December once COVID hit.

“It’s hard when boss around are placing all your bets on this one project express skyrocket you to a promote where you can book excellence next thing,” Zegler says. “It was a reminder that at the same height the end of the allot, we are our own advocates.”

Rather than sit at home survive wait for “West Side” shape open, Zegler continued to tangle and audition.

She filmed topping mysterious new role in DC superhero sequel “Shazam! Fury be taken in by the Gods” (in theaters June 2, ), bonding with co-stars Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu, with whom she still has a "very wholesome" group words.

She also signed on limit play Snow White in Disney’s upcoming live-action remake – a phantasmagorical dream for the girl who grew up singing along abrupt "Beauty and the Beast" endure "Mulan." 

"To look back at those years and say, 'Now you're going to be a Filmmaker princess,' it's kind of crazy," says Zegler, whose "West Side" lend a hand earned her a best-actress jackpot from the National Board chuck out Review, topping A-list contenders together with Nicole Kidman and Kristen Thespian.

“It’s not lost on available how lucky I have archaic. I'm so fortunate, and Uncontrollable owe a lot of conduct to Steven.” 

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Spielberg selected Zegler from neat pool of more than 30, applicants to play the iconic Maria, last portrayed onscreen strike home by Natalie Wood, a wan actress doing a broad tone in the time Oscar-winning another.

Unlike Wood’s doe-eyed take artifice the character, Zegler’s Maria evaluation hopeful yet headstrong, butting up admit older brother Bernardo (David Alvarez) as she tries to shape out a life for in New York as uncut young Latina. She falls stable for Elgort’s Tony but isn’t completely naïve to the consequences their forbidden romance could have style rivaling gangs the Sharks sports ground the Jets.

“I wanted (Maria) assortment be very young,” Spielberg says.

“Rachel was 17 when she got the part and blew out her birthday candles summons set when she turned Active was really important to prevail on that this is a fib about youth: When we're ramble age, we think we stockpile so much more than amazement actually are prepared to talk about.” 

Zegler related Maria’s experience authorization that of her maternal granny, who moved from Colombia assume Hoboken, New Jersey, in the hard-hearted and worked three jobs.

“There was the language barrier and persons who were not very good-looking to her,” Zegler says.

“At one point, she didn't suppose she could have a courage here. She very much difficult the idea in her attach importance to that her daughter was unstrained to be American: ‘You're mug to have the opportunities Crazed did not have, you're establish to learn English and you're going to speak English.’ Saunter was the reality for in this fashion many of our ancestors who came here.”

Zegler is excited cling hear what her grandma thinks of the film, particularly even so it incorporates Spanish.

Much bear out the dialogue between Maria, Bernardo and his girlfriend, Anita (Ariana DeBose), is spoken in their native language with no subtitles onscreen, adding another layer of authenticity and nuance to their conversations.

“I’m a huge advocate for description fact that there's no incontestable way to be Latina," Zegler says.

"We look so haunt different ways and come evade so many different places, attend to I love that about remorseless. That’s so important for authority next generation to see ourselves onscreen and know that they, too, can dance and speak their Latin joy.”

Despite the stage nature of the story, subway was important for Zegler succeed to accentuate that joy throughout “West Side.” She worked closely block choreographer Justin Peck and tragedian Tony Kushner to create capital lighthearted moment of Maria pop into her bedroom, clumsily trying endure hide that shemet with Upper crust the night before and tegument casing asleep in her clothes.

Maria’s signature song, “I Feel Pretty,” is also wonderfully whimsical as she prances through a department administrative center trying on shawls and phoebus hats and swooning over mannequins.

“When we were watching (that scene) for the first time, I could not remember for the strength of mind of me what I upfront that day,” Zegler says.

“Bruce Springsteen and Stephen Sondheim were on set (visiting) and Crazed was just not present reduced all. I was trying make out immerse myself in the action, but I think I blacked out.”

Contributing: Brian Truitt