Learn more about Rachel Zegler
Rachel Zegler is an actress and singer from the USA. Her character María in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story (2021) first brought her widespread recognition.
She also won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for that role.
Other leading roles Rachel Zegler played were Lucy Gray Baird in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023), Snow White in Disney’s live-action remake (2025), and Eva Perón in the 2025 revival of Evita.
Profile
- Full Name: Rachel Anne Zegler
- Stage Name: Rachel Zegler
- Born: May 3, 2001
- Age: 24 years old
- Birthplace: Hackensack, New Jersey, U.S.
- Nationality: American
- Occupation: Actress, Singer
- Height: 157 cm (5 ft 2 in)
- Religion: Christianity
- Ethnicity: Mixed (Colombian and Polish)
- Parents: Craig Zegler and Gina Zegler
- Siblings: Jacqueline Zegler (older sister)
- Spouse: Nathan Louis-Fernand
- Relationship: Dating
- Net Worth: $3 million to $4 million USD
Early Life and Education
Rachel Anne Zegler was born on May 3, 2001, in Hackensack, New Jersey but she grew up in Clifton, New Jersey.
Her mother, Gina Zegler, is Colombian (her mother went to the US from Barranquilla, Colombia, in the 1960s), while her father, Craig, is of Polish origin.
Rachel has an elder sister named Jacqueline, who goes by Jay. Her ethnicity is a combination of Colombian and Polish.
Brought up in a Christian family, she was raised in a bilingual home environment, as she is proficient in both English and Spanish.
As soon as she was a small child, Rachel developed an interest in the performing arts after watching her very first Broadway show, Beauty and the Beast, when she was only four years old. Rachel took part in the school musicals and also the local theatre productions.
Rachel Zegler went to Immaculate Conception High School, from which she graduated in 2019.
At first, she was a student at Carnegie Mellon University, but she temporarily left her studies to concentrate on her career. Her loving family and her early experience with musicals helped her grow rapidly in the industry.
Career
Rachel Zegler started singing covers on YouTube and acting in community musicals before she won her lead role of María in West Side Story (2021), a movie which she managed to get even though she was competing with thousands of others.
Critics loved her singing debut, and she became the recipient of several awards. She went on to portray Anthea in Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023) and Lucy Gray Baird in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023).
Rachel Zegler took on the role of Snow White in Disney’s live-action remake that came out in 2025, which resulted in a lot of negative comments on social media and poor box-office performance.
Besides being in the comedy Y2K (2024), she also played Eva Perón in the Jamie Lloyd-directed revival of Evita (2025), performing a balcony “Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina” that garnered her a nomination for the renowned Olivier Award (2026).
Other endeavors include a one-week concert engagement doing The Last Five Years (2026) as Cathy Hiatt alongside Ben Platt and films in production as She Gets It from Me.
Rachel Zegler is even a singer-songwriter who has a progressively larger presence in the music industry.
Award and Nominations
- Golden Globe Award – Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Winner for West Side Story (2022)
- National Board of Review Award – Best Actress Winner for West Side Story (2021)
- Olivier Award nomination – Best Actress in a Musical for Evita (2026)
- Additional nominations: Critics’ Choice Awards, BAFTA, and others for West Side Story and subsequent roles
Total number of awards and nominations: Multiple (at least 2 major wins and over 20 nominations).
Social Media
Instagram: @rachelzegler
Personal Life
24-year-old Rachel Zegler is romantically involved with dancer and fellow Evita co-star Nathan Louis-Fernand (as of 2025).
Earlier, she was in a relationship with actor Josh Andrés Rivera (a co-star from West Side Story) from 2021 till they separated at the end of 2024.
She is not a mother. Rachel keeps a pretty low-key personal life. On the other hand, she openly talks about her multicultural background, mental health, and the times she got backlash online. She still sees her family in New Jersey often and considers her roots very important.
Controversy
Rachel Zegler has been subjected to heavy criticism and online backlash, most notably after she made some comments about the Snow White remake that led to divided opinions, and the movie faced a difficult path in terms of reception.
Zegler has also opened up about how she has been the victim of racial discrimination and online harassment because she is a mixed Latina person.
Nevertheless, she is still very vocal about the need for better representation.
Net Worth
Rachel Zegler’s net worth reportedly stands somewhere between $3 million and $4 million. Acting in blockbuster films (West Side Story, The Hunger Games prequel, Snow White) and live theatrical performances (Evita), singing, endorsements, and royalties contribute to her main source of income.
As her visibility and popularity on both the silver screen and stage continue to rise, so will her financial success.
Filmography
- West Side Story (2021) – María
- Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023) – Anthea
- The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023) – Lucy Gray Baird
- Y2K (2024)
- Snow White (2025) – Snow White
- Evita (2025) – Eva Perón (stage)
- The Last Five Years (2026) – Cathy Hiatt (concert)
- She Gets It from Me (TBA) – Nicky Jannis
Total number of Filmography: 8 (including major released films, stage productions, and announced projects).
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Conclusion
Rachel Zegler grew up in a multicultural family in New Jersey, had her first exposure to musical theater at a young age, and made her film debut in West Side Story, which won her a Golden Globe.
Then she landed major roles in The Hunger Games and Snow White, and also showed her excellent skills as a lead actress in the stage production of Evita. She has showcased her prodigious vocal powers as well as her acting skills.
At only 24 years old, apart from her tremendous talent, her commitment to Latinx representation, and her strength through the hardships have gotten her acclaim and made her known all over the world.
Along with future engagements and her distinct artistic viewpoint, she will continue to be a dazzling and leading figure in the world of American entertainment.
Chimezie Duru is a Lagos-based Digital Entrepreneur, Wikipedia Editor & Biography Writer, Affiliate Marketing Strategist, IT Consultant, and Blogging Coach with over 6 years of experience building and monetizing blogs in Nigeria’s digital space. He is the founder of InkRise Academy (InkRise Digital Concepts) and creator of the Ink To Income Masterclass. A 9-module blogging course for aspiring Nigerian & African writers and bloggers covering SEO, content strategy, and monetisation.
As the creator of AffiliatePlog.com, Chimezie writes from real experience on Wikipedia editing & biography writing, affiliate marketing, online earnings, and digital tools for Nigerian freelancers and content creators. He also works as a freelance Business and Data Analyst, IT Consultant & System Administrator, bringing an analytical edge to every content and business decision.
