It is the dream of any new actress: to be chosen by Steven Spielberg himself from among 30,000 candidates for a leading role which opens the doors of Hollywood and potentially leads the way to an Oscar.
Still, nothing has long been easy for Rachel Zegler, who plays Maria in the new adaptation of
West Side Story.
“
It didn't sound like a fairy tale.
In fact, I was really in my mind!
», Told AFP the young woman, who was only 16 years old when she sent a video in which she sang
I Feel Pretty
, one of the hits of the original film released in 1961.
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, by Steven Spielberg: the big gang did not take place
The feet on the ground, the actress remembers having to go through
"eight or nine"
series of auditions, over a period of almost a year.
“Each time, I left the auditions telling myself that if I didn't have the part, I still couldn't wait to see the film, that I had met these great people that day and that they would maybe remember me for something next
, she recalls.
And then I really ended up making the film,
”smiles Rachel Zegler.
Due to the halt imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic on the entertainment industry, the film has been on hold for more than two years. In the meantime, Rachel Zegler has taken the luxury of landing the role of Snow White in Disney's upcoming live-action remake. Now 20, Rachel Zegler is on track to run for the Oscar for Best Actress next March, thanks to the massive global campaign for the launch of
West Side Story
. She claims, however, that she is not necessarily very comfortable with popularity.
"It is the most painful, the most overwhelming experience there is
.
"
But
“being famous is also fun and cool,” she
tempers.
Read also Rachel Zegler, the unknown chosen among thousands of candidates to play Maria in "West Side Story"
A film less offensive than the original
Steven Spielberg's decision to make a new version of the ten Oscar-winning film - a record for a musical - drew criticism from many
West Side Story
fans
, who felt it couldn't get any better than the original.
Despite Figaro's reservations, international reviews are nonetheless rave, particularly for Rachel Zegler and Ariana DeBose, who replaces Rita Moreno in the role of Anita.
Read alsoSteven Spielberg: "'West Side Story' is probably the most intimidating film of my career"
The 1950s snapshots of Puerto Rican immigrants, the racist slurs in the original, and the choice of a white actress to play Maria at the time did not help allay the controversy.
But Spielberg has chosen this time to play the card of authenticity.
A Puerto Rican mixed-race herself, Ariana DeBose believes that her culture has allowed her to free herself from the iconic performance of Rita Moreno, who also returns in the remake with a new character.
Now, with my character, young black Latin Americans will finally be able to see themselves in the skin of the main character.
Ariana DeBose
“It wasn't intimidating because we're different. Of course, he's a 100% legend, everyone loves him
, Ariana DeBose explains of Rita Moreno to AFP.
But we are very different, with different life experiences. When you feel like you have something to offer your character, you hold on to it. And you don't put yourself under pressure thinking about someone else's legacy
, ”she continues.
Rita Moreno, one of the few artists to have accumulated an Oscar (film award), an Emmy Award (television), a Grammy Award (music) and a Tony Award (theater),
“showed us that it was possible to 'to be successful
,' says Ariana DeBose with reference to Latin American artists.
And
"now, with my character, young black Latin Americans will finally be able to see themselves in the skin of the main character
,
" she
adds.
Rachel Zegler, who has Colombian origins on her mother's side, also says she is
"proud as a Latina"
to be part of such a project.
