Rachel Zegler shines as Disney’s *Snow White*, proving she was meant for the role despite early controversy.

Rachel Zegler embodies the role of Snow White in Disney’s latest adaptation, showcasing her enchanting voice and heartfelt performance. From her debut in West Side Story, where Stephen Sondheim likened her voice to a nightingale, to her latest role, she captures the essence of a Disney princess.

Before West Side Story even premiered, Disney had already chosen her as the lead for their (partially) live-action remake of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the studio’s first animated classic from 1937.

In this new version, Snow White is portrayed as kind and compassionate, but also as a young woman striving to become a leader like her late parents, the former king and queen. She faces uncertainty in her ability to restore goodness to the kingdom, which has been overshadowed by the reign of the Evil Queen, played by Gal Gadot.

Zegler’s wide-eyed sincerity and melodic voice bring warmth and depth to the role, making her a natural fit for the iconic princess.

In this adaptation, Snow White’s vulnerability and empathy become her greatest strengths, shaping her journey of embracing these values as a source of power against fear and oppression.

At just 23, Rachel Zegler has already made a significant mark in Hollywood, winning a Golden Globe for West Side Story, starring as Lucy Gray Baird in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, and making her Broadway debut as Juliet in a modern take on Romeo + Juliet. She was recently announced as the lead in a reimagined Evita on London’s West End.

While New Jersey may not be a monarchy, Zegler has certainly earned her place as a Disney princess, even if she sings her way there.

Controversy and Criticism

Zegler’s casting as Snow White sparked backlash from so-called “traditionalists” who objected to a Colombian American actress playing a character originally described as having “skin white as snow.” Critics also took issue with her comments at a Disney event, where she shared that the original Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs had scared her as a child and that the remake would move away from the idea of Snow White relying on a prince for salvation.

“She’s not going to be saved by the prince or dreaming about true love,” Zegler stated at the D23 event in 2022. “She’s dreaming about becoming the leader she knows she can be—the leader her late father believed she could be if she was fearless, fair, brave, and true.”

These qualities are at the heart of Disney’s reimagined Snow White, even as the studio appears to be scaling back press during its rollout and premiere.

Written by Erin Cressida Wilson (The Girl on the Train, Secretary) and directed by Marc Webb (The Amazing Spider-Man), the story introduces Snow White as a young girl (played by Emilia Faucher) born into a royal family that prioritizes justice and fairness for its people over superficial beauty—contrasting sharply with the obsession of the Evil Queen.

As an adult, Snow White (Zegler) carries a pendant inscribed with her father’s guiding words: fearless, fair, brave, and true—a symbol of the love and security she once knew. But after losing both parents, her father unknowingly leaving the kingdom in the hands of his vain and power-hungry new wife, Snow White is stripped of her rightful place. Under the Evil Queen’s rule, darkness spreads, and hope is all but erased.

Snow White gradually fades from public view, spending her days cleaning the castle—almost as if she has forgotten she is royalty. Corrupt power has taken root, creating a climate of fear where not only does a princess step aside, but no one dares to question or challenge the queen.

Yet, a spark remains. Snow White speaks out when a man is caught stealing the queen’s potatoes, pointing out that the people are starving while the queen hoards food rather than sharing such “luxuries” with the struggling kingdom.

Gal Gadot’s Evil Queen captures the iconic look of the original animated character but lacks the same chilling presence. While she exudes the same disdain and relentless obsession with being the fairest of them all, she doesn’t inspire the same fear.

This is where live-action adaptations often struggle—certain forms of villainy, the kind that instills both dread and awe, simply translate more powerfully in animation.