In the fast-paced world of Hollywood, where talent meets relentless scrutiny, Rachel Zegler’s rise to fame stands out as a testament to perseverance. The 24-year-old actress, known for her breakout role as María in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story and her recent portrayal of Snow White in Disney’s live-action remake, has faced her share of challenges. Among them is a particularly grueling audition experience that she has openly described as “terrible,” a moment that nearly derailed her career before it began. As of June 24, 2025, at 02:39 PM +07, this story continues to resonate, offering a glimpse into the emotional rollercoaster of aspiring actors and the resilience that propelled Zegler to stardom.
The Infamous Broadway Audition
Zegler’s most notorious audition ordeal took place during her teenage years, as she pursued a spot in a Broadway revival of a well-known musical. In a candid 2023 interview with Vogue alongside The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes co-star Tom Blyth, she recounted the humiliating experience. At just 16 or 17, she stepped into a room filled with producers and directors, only to find them ordering lunch while she sang. “It was so horrible,” she recalled, her voice tinged with disbelief. The casual indifference of the room—plates clattering, orders being shouted—clashed with the intensity of her performance, leaving her feeling dismissed and undervalued. The audition, which she has never named publicly, became a low point that tested her resolve.
Remarkably, this setback occurred just a week before Spielberg’s open casting call for West Side Story changed her life. Zegler submitted a self-tape in January 2018, singing “Tonight” and “I Feel Pretty” after performing the role of María at BergenPAC’s Performing Arts School in 2017. Out of 30,000 applicants, her raw talent shone through, securing her the role despite the earlier rejection. The contrast between the Broadway snub and her Hollywood breakthrough highlights the unpredictable nature of the industry, where one door’s closure can lead to another’s opening.
The Emotional Toll
The Broadway audition left a lasting mark on Zegler, who has since reflected on its emotional weight. In a 2024 appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, she revisited the moment with humor, noting that the self-tape from that disastrous audition is now used to teach future casting directors at NYU. “Is it a good example or a bad example?” she quipped, prompting Meyers to joke about professors dissecting her success despite the tape’s flaws. Yet, beneath the laughter lies a deeper story of anxiety and self-doubt. Zegler has described the lengthy audition processes she endured—nine auditions over a year for West Side Story and additional tries for roles like Supergirl in The Flash—as “borderline abuse.” The pressure of repeated rejections, coupled with the Broadway incident, pushed her to the brink, forcing her to question her place in the industry.
Her West Side Story journey, spanning nearly a year from January 2018 to January 2019, was particularly grueling. In a 2021 BuzzFeed interview, she revealed screaming a curse word upon learning she’d landed the role, followed by an emotional hour with Spielberg, who advised her to ignore online comments. This rollercoaster of hope and despair shaped her early career, forging a resilience that has carried her through subsequent projects like Shazam! Fury of the Gods and Snow White.
A Career Forged in Adversity
Zegler’s ability to rebound from that terrible audition underscores her determination. Born in Hackensack, New Jersey, to a Colombian mother and Polish father, she grew up in Clifton, performing in school musicals like Beauty and the Beast and Shrek the Musical. Her YouTube channel, started in 2011, showcased her vocal talent with covers like “The Wizard and I” from Wicked, laying the groundwork for her West Side Story submission. The Broadway rejection, though painful, didn’t deter her; instead, it fueled her drive to prove herself.
Her West Side Story success, earning her a Golden Globe in 2022 at age 20, marked the beginning of a meteoric rise. Roles in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, Y2K, and her Broadway debut as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet (2024-2025) followed, alongside her West End turn as Eva Perón in Evita (2025). Each project built on the foundation laid by that shaky start, with Zegler’s vocal prowess—evident in her soprano range for West Side Story and Snow White’s “Waiting on a Wish”—winning critical acclaim. David Ehrlich of IndieWire praised her “captivating” Hunger Games performance, noting her ability to convey nuance on a grand scale.
Public Perception and Backlash
The audition story has taken on new life amid Zegler’s polarizing public image. Her candid nature—seen in her humorous take on the Broadway incident—has endeared her to fans but also drawn criticism. Comments about the original Snow White film and her political views on social media have sparked backlash, with some labeling her “ungrateful” or “entitled.” A 2025 Daily Mail article suggested her career was in jeopardy after Snow White’s underwhelming box office, though reviews called her a “shining supernova.” Supporters on platforms like Reddit argue the hate is misogynistic, comparing her to Jennifer Lawrence or Anne Hathaway, who faced similar scrutiny.
Zegler’s response to criticism has been to lean into self-deprecation, a strategy she hinted at in the Vogue interview. This approach, paired with her talent, has kept her relevant, with Snow White streaming on Disney+ since June 11, 2025, and Evita selling out at the London Palladium. Her journey from a “terrible” audition to Broadway and beyond challenges the narrative of overnight success, revealing years of hard work beneath the glamour.
Industry Reflections
The Broadway audition incident sheds light on broader industry issues. Zegler’s experience mirrors accounts of other actors, like her West Side Story co-star Ansel Elgort’s scandal or the grueling auditions described by peers. Her call for better treatment—labeling excessive auditions “abuse”—echoes a 2025 FandomWire piece that highlighted the mental toll on actors. Casting directors, however, defend the process, noting it ensures the right fit, as seen with her Shazam! Fury of the Gods role, secured after a Zoom read with director David Sandberg.
Spielberg’s advocacy, including a letter supporting her Snow White casting, underscores the role of mentorship in overcoming such setbacks. Director Marc Webb, who helmed Snow White, praised her “optimistic grace,” a quality forged through adversity. The industry’s evolution—seen in open calls and self-tapes—offers hope for talents like Zegler, though it also exposes the need for empathy in auditions.
Looking Ahead
As of June 24, 2025, Zegler’s career shows no signs of slowing. Her Evita run and upcoming She Gets It from Me with Marisa Tomei promise further growth. The “terrible” audition, once a source of humiliation, now serves as a badge of honor, a story she shares with humor and pride. For aspiring actors, it’s a reminder that rejection can precede triumph, a lesson Zegler embodies as she navigates fame with the same spirit that carried her through that fateful day.
This tale of a young actress facing indifference, only to rise through talent and tenacity, captures the essence of Hollywood’s highs and lows. Zegler’s journey, from a Clifton stage to global screens, proves that even the worst auditions can pave the way for extraordinary success.
