The Best Rachel Zegler Roles

From breakout musical leads to fantasy blockbusters and acclaimed stage turns, Rachel Zegler has quickly built a varied résumé across film, animation, audio drama, and theatre. Below are ten notable roles that showcase the breadth of her work in movies and shows—spanning classic adaptations, franchise entries, and live performance.

‘West Side Story’ (2021) – María

Steven Spielberg’s reimagining of the Leonard Bernstein–Stephen Sondheim musical casts Rachel Zegler as María, a young Puerto Rican immigrant whose romance with Tony unfolds amid a turf war between the Sharks and the Jets. The production features choreography inspired by Jerome Robbins and new Spanish-language elements without subtitles to preserve authenticity. Zegler recorded vocals for the film’s iconic songs and performed opposite Ansel Elgort, Ariana DeBose, and David Alvarez.

‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes’ (2023) – Lucy Gray Baird

In this prequel set decades before Katniss Everdeen, Zegler plays Lucy Gray Baird, the District 12 tribute mentored by a young Coriolanus Snow. The role combines acting with on-camera folk performance, as Lucy Gray is the lead singer of the Covey. Filmed primarily in Europe, the production expands the franchise’s worldbuilding through early Capitol politics, proto-Games mechanics, and origin threads for later series lore.

‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ (2023) – Anthea

Zegler appears as Anthea, one of the Daughters of Atlas, in this DC superhero sequel led by Zachary Levi. The character manipulates spatial geometry, allowing sequences with shifting environments and “city fold” effects. The film integrates Greek-mythology antagonists with the Shazamily ensemble and employs large-format practical sets alongside CG creatures like a dragon and manticores.

‘Y2K’ (2024) – Laura

This dark comedy follows a group of teens whose New Year’s Eve party collides with a worst-case scenario interpretation of the millennium bug. Zegler’s character intersects with a story that riffs on late-’90s tech, dial-up culture, and end-of-the-world anxieties. The production leans on period-authentic props, wardrobe, and a needle-drop soundtrack to ground its satire.

‘Spellbound’ (2024) – Princess Ellian

In this animated musical adventure, Zegler voices Princess Ellian, who sets out to save her kingdom after a spell transforms her parents. The film features original songs, an orchestra-driven score, and a cast that includes Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, and John Lithgow. Voice sessions were designed to capture sung and spoken performance continuity, supporting character-centric musical numbers.

‘Snow White’ (2025) – Snow White

Disney’s live-action adaptation casts Zegler in the title role opposite Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen. The film blends practical sets with digital environments and reimagines classic elements while preserving core motifs like the magic mirror and the poisoned apple. New character dynamics and original music expand the narrative beyond the animated template.

Share your favorites from this list—and any roles you think should be added—in the comments!