In 2021, Steven Spielberg cast then-unknown actress Rachel Zegler for the lead role of María in the movie “West Side Story.” Zegler recently posted a throwback clip of herself on social media, reminiscing about being directed by Spielberg. She shared a funny moment from her first day on set, in which Spielberg jokingly instructed her not to blink while filming a particular scene. Zegler humorously described the challenge of not blinking, tearing up, or dying, while Kaminski, the movie’s cinematographer, shined a bright light on her face.
After an open casting call of over 30,000 applicants, Zegler was chosen to play the lead role and received critical acclaim for her performance. She later won a Golden Globe for best actress in a comedy or musical and emotional reaction video where she expressed her gratitude. Zegler also shared her surprise and gratitude for her role in “West Side Story,” considering that on January 9, 2019, she received the casting call, and exactly three years later, she won the Golden Globe.
Zegler’s success continued as she took on the role of District 12 tribute Lucy Gray in “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” and shared her excitement during the film’s premiere. She even had the opportunity to meet Jennifer Lawrence and bond over their shared experience in the franchise. Zegler found meeting Lawrence after filming to be a relief, as it allowed them to form their identities in the role, but she would’ve been open to receiving advice from the seasoned actress.
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