Rachel Zegler (born May 3, 2001) is an American actress and singer who broke out in a big way as Maria in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story (2021). The role introduced her as a rare kind of modern leading performer: a strong actor with true musical-theater power, able to carry both emotional scenes and major vocal moments on screen.
After that debut, Zegler quickly expanded into high-profile studio projects, including Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023) and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023), where she played Lucy Gray Baird. She has also leaned hard into stage work, making a major Broadway run as Juliet in Romeo + Juliet and taking on headline roles in major musical productions, proving she is building a career that moves naturally between film, franchise scale, and live performance.
People also read:
Jenna Ortega (Wednesday), Zendaya (Euphoria), Elle Fanning, Florence Pugh
Quick Facts
| Real Name: | Rachel Anne Zegler |
| Profession: | Actress, singer |
| Born: | May 3, 2001 |
| Age: | 24 (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace: | Hackensack, New Jersey, United States |
| Nationality: | American |
| Known For: | Maria in West Side Story; Lucy Gray Baird in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes; starring roles in major musical productions |
| Notable Films: | West Side Story; Shazam! Fury of the Gods; The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes; Snow White |
| Awards: | Golden Globe winner (Best Actress, Motion Picture Musical or Comedy) for West Side Story; additional stage and audience awards |
| Zodiac Sign: | Taurus |
| Relationship: | Keeps most personal life private; previously dated actor Josh Andrés Rivera (reported) |
| Years Active: | 2016 to present |
Photo Gallery
Trailer Video
Early Life & Education
Rachel Anne Zegler was born on May 3, 2001, in Hackensack, New Jersey, and grew up in Clifton. Raised in a family with Colombian and Polish roots, she gravitated toward performance early, especially musical theater, where strong singing and storytelling sit side by side.
She attended Immaculate Conception High School, where she became known locally for leading roles in school productions. Before her screen breakthrough, she built experience the old-school way: rehearsals, auditions, and live performances that sharpened both her voice and her acting instincts.
Career Highlights and Milestones
Zegler’s breakthrough arrived with West Side Story (2021), where her portrayal of Maria put her in rare company for a first major screen role. The performance drew major awards attention and immediately positioned her as a next-generation musical lead with legitimate star potential.
She followed with franchise-scale projects, including Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023) and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023), where she played Lucy Gray Baird and anchored key musical moments. In parallel, she doubled down on theater, taking on Juliet in Romeo + Juliet on Broadway, then headlining Evita in London, reinforcing a career pattern that blends big-screen visibility with serious stage credibility.
Selected film and TV highlights
- West Side Story (2021)
- Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023)
- The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023)
- Y2K (2024)
- Spellbound (2024, voice)
- Snow White (2025)
Major recognition
- Golden Globe Award win for West Side Story (Best Actress, Motion Picture Musical or Comedy)
- National Board of Review win (Best Actress) tied to her West Side Story breakout season
- People’s Choice Awards win (Action Movie Star of the Year) for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
- Stage recognition including Broadway.com Audience Awards and major debut awards for Evita
Read More Celebrities Biographies
- Jenna Ortega Net Worth, Life Story, & Facts
- Zendaya Net Worth, Life Story, & Facts
- Elle Fanning Net Worth, Life Story, & Facts
- Florence Pugh Net Worth, Life Story, & Facts
Awards and Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actress (Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy) | West Side Story | Won |
| 2021 | National Board of Review | Best Actress | West Side Story | Won |
| 2021 | Critics’ Choice Movie Awards | Best Young Actor or Actress | West Side Story | Nominated |
| 2021 | Alliance of Women Film Journalists | Best Breakthrough Performance | West Side Story | Nominated |
| 2024 | People’s Choice Awards | Action Movie Star of the Year | The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes | Won |
| 2025 | iHeartRadio Music Awards | Favorite Broadway Debut | Romeo + Juliet | Won |
| 2025 | Broadway.com Audience Awards | Favorite Leading Actress in a Play | Romeo + Juliet | Won |
| 2025 | The Stage Debut Awards | Best West End Debut Performance | Evita | Won |
| 2025 | Saturn Awards | Best Performance by a Younger Actor | (work varies by award listing) | Nominated |
| 2026 | Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards | Best Actress | (theatre work) | Pending |
Filmography / Notable Works
| Year | Title | Type | Role / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | West Side Story | Film | Played Maria in Steven Spielberg’s film adaptation. |
| 2023 | Shazam! Fury of the Gods | Film | Played Anthea. |
| 2023 | The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes | Film | Played Lucy Gray Baird. |
| 2024 | Y2K | Film | Played Laura. |
| 2024 | Spellbound | Animated film | Voice role as Princess Ellian. |
| 2025 | Snow White | Film | Played Snow White. |
| 2024 to 2025 | Romeo + Juliet | Theatre | Broadway run as Juliet Capulet. |
| 2025 | Evita | Theatre | West End run as Eva Perón (London Palladium). |
| 2026 | The Last Five Years | Theatre | Scheduled as Cathy Hiatt in a concert staging (limited run). |
Net Worth, Income, & Lifestyle
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Net Worth (2026) | Public estimates vary widely. Rachel Zegler has not disclosed a verified net worth figure, and reliable documentation is limited. |
| Income Sources | Acting (film and stage), singing and soundtrack work, and select brand and promotional partnerships tied to major releases. |
| Properties & Assets | She keeps most personal financial details private. Public coverage focuses primarily on roles and productions rather than disclosed assets. |
| Lifestyle | Public-facing lifestyle appears work-centered, split between film sets and demanding theater schedules, with an emphasis on performance craft and live vocal work. |
Social Media & Online Presence
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| Official account listed publicly as @rachelzegler (verification and follower counts change over time). | |
| X (Twitter) | Handles and verification can change quickly. Confirm before treating any account as official. |
| TikTok | Many clip and fan accounts exist; confirm verification before relying on any handle. |
| Public pages and repost accounts exist; verification can change. Confirm before treating any page as official. | |
| YouTube | Public video appearances include interviews, performances, and studio channel uploads. Confirm official channel ownership before linking as personal. |
| IMDb | Verified filmography at IMDb. |
Fan communities on social media (unofficial)
NOTE: In addition to any official accounts listed above, many fan-run pages and clip accounts exist. These are not confirmed to be affiliated with Rachel Zegler. Links and usernames can change at any time.
Trivia & Lesser-Known Facts
- She was named after the character Rachel Green from Friends, a detail she has talked about in public interviews and posts.
- Before her film breakthrough, she built a strong musical-theater foundation through school productions and local performance work.
- Her early career is unusually split between major studio films and high-level stage roles, reflecting a deliberate “screen plus theater” path.
- Her breakout year for West Side Story became an awards-season run that included major wins and multiple critics-group nominations.
- She has performed and recorded music tied directly to her film roles, including soundtrack-related releases.
Quotes
“Life is very strange.”
— Social post reacting to her Golden Globe win
“The reality is, I was given a chance because I could sing.”
— On being cast as Snow White
“I think she exists. I genuinely think she exists in all of us.”
— On what Snow White represents to her
“So my parents are my heroes.”
— On her family’s support and sacrifice
“I always say that he constructed my Nueva York.”
— On her father’s construction work in New York City
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is Rachel Zegler’s age?
A: She is 24 years old (born May 3, 2001).
Q: What is Rachel Zegler best known for?
A: She is best known for playing Maria in West Side Story and Lucy Gray Baird in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, plus major stage roles like Juliet in Romeo + Juliet.
Q: Where is Rachel Zegler from?
A: She was born in Hackensack, New Jersey, and grew up in Clifton, New Jersey.
Q: Has Rachel Zegler won a Golden Globe?
A: Yes. She won a Golden Globe for West Side Story (Best Actress, Motion Picture Musical or Comedy).
Q: What are some of Rachel Zegler’s most notable films?
A: West Side Story, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, and Snow White.
Upcoming Projects
- She Gets It from Me (in production) – A comedy-drama feature reported to be starting production in late February 2026, with Zegler starring alongside Marisa Tomei.
- The Last Five Years (March 24 to 29, 2026) – Limited concert staging at the London Palladium with Ben Platt, directed and conducted by Jason Robert Brown.
- The Last Five Years (April 2026 dates reported) – Additional U.S. concert performances after the London run have been announced in major coverage.
Interviews & Features
- Allure, “Rachel Zegler Is Snow White” (Mar 18, 2025) , a long-form profile on her path from West Side Story to a modern Disney lead, including her perspective on craft, singing, and public scrutiny.
- People, “All About Rachel Zegler’s Parents, Gina and Craig Zegler” (Apr 20, 2024) , a background feature that includes quotes about her family, New Jersey roots, and the support system behind her early career.
- i-D, “Rachel Zegler: Theater Kid, Based Princess” (Jun 23, 2025) , a style-forward interview touching on theater life, creative friendships, and the emotional whiplash of modern fame.
- Deadline, casting update on She Gets It from Me (Feb 12, 2026) , a production update framing the project’s next steps and key collaborators.
- AP News, feature on Evita staging and public performance (2025) , a reporting piece on the London production’s balcony staging and the public response to the concept.
Public Appearances & Festivals
- London world premiere of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (Nov 2023): Zegler attended the London premiere events tied to the film’s release campaign.
- Snow White premiere (March 15, 2025): She appeared at the Los Angeles premiere and press events for Disney’s live-action Snow White.
- Evita London Palladium run (June 2025 season): The production drew large public attention, including widely covered staging choices that brought performances into public spaces.
- Broadway Opening Night (Oct 16, 2025): She appeared at a Broadway opening-night event, part of her continued overlap between screen work and theater-world visibility.
