Rachel Zegler
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Rachel Zegler

Rachel Zegler is a rapidly rising American actress and singer who has made a significant impact in Hollywood in a relatively short period. Born on May 3, 2001, in Hackensack, New Jersey, to a Colombian mother and Polish-American father, Zegler's early life was steeped in musical theater. She gained local recognition for her performances in high school musicals, where she notably played Belle in "Beauty and the Beast," Ariel in "The Little Mermaid," and Maria in "West Side Story," among others. Her talent was also showcased on her popular YouTube channel, where she posted singing covers.Zegler's career took a monumental turn when, at just 16 years old, she was discovered through an open casting call on Twitter for Steven Spielberg's film adaptation of "West Side Story." Out of more than 30,000 applicants, she was chosen to play the lead role of Maria, marking her feature film debut in 2021. Her critically acclaimed performance earned her numerous accolades, including a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical, making her the youngest winner in that category and the first actress of Colombian descent to do so.Following her breakthrough, Zegler quickly secured prominent roles in major franchise films. In the DC Extended Universe, she appeared as Anthea, one of the Daughters of Atlas, in "Shazam! Fury of the Gods" (2023). She also took on the lead role of Lucy Gray Baird in the highly anticipated "Hunger Games" prequel, "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes" (2023).Looking ahead, Zegler is set to star as the titular character in Disney's live-action remake of "Snow White" (scheduled for 2025) and has voice roles in animated films like "Spellbound" (2024). She also appeared in the independent sci-fi comedy "Y2K" (2024). Beyond film, Zegler has expanded into stage work, making her Broadway debut in "Romeo + Juliet" in 2024, and is slated to appear in "Evita" in London in 2025. Her rapid ascent and diverse range of projects highlight her versatility as both an actress and a powerful vocalist.

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