Rachel Zegler Names Two Dream Musical Roles She's Dying to Play
The 24-year-old Broadway and film star opens up about her ultimate theater ambitions, including one surprising gender-bent casting idea that would make history.
At just 24 years old, Rachel Zegler has already packed more into her career than most performers see in a lifetime. From winning a Golden Globe at 19 for Steven Spielberg's West Side Story to selling out solo shows in London's West End, she's proven that controversy can't slow down true talent.
The young star's journey hasn't been without bumps. Her promotional interviews for Disney's live-action Snow White sparked internet backlash, with critics calling her comments dismissive and entitled. But when the film finally hit theaters, the drama faded as quickly as it had erupted, leaving Zegler free to focus on what she does best: performing.
A Packed Performance Schedule
Zegler's work ethic is nothing short of impressive. In 2023 alone, she appeared in three major films: Shazam: Fury of the Gods, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, and the comedy horror Y2K. The following year brought her to Broadway in a Jack Antonoff-directed Romeo and Juliet, followed by her starring turn as Eva Peron in London's Evita.
Within months of closing Evita, she was back at the Palladium with her own one-woman show, mixing songs from her brief but brilliant career with Broadway classics. It's clear this performer doesn't believe in taking breaks.
Musical Theater Dreams Still Unfulfilled
Despite her packed resume, Zegler has her sights set on two specific roles that would fulfill her theatrical ambitions. Speaking with Glamour, she revealed her ultimate goals: "While I'm still young and sprightly, I would love to do Christine Daaé in Phantom of the Opera. That would be a dream come true because I don't get the opportunity to return to my soprano operatic training roots. And if ever given the chance, I would love to be Javert in a gender-bent Les Miz."
The Phantom of the Opera, which premiered in 1986, tells the story of Christine Daaé, a soprano who becomes obsessed over by a disfigured musical genius living beneath the Paris Opera House. The original production featured Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford, and its soundtrack has sold over 40 million copies worldwide.
Breaking Gender Barriers
Zegler's second dream role presents an intriguing twist on tradition. Javert, the relentless police inspector in Les Misérables, has traditionally been played by male actors since the show opened in London's West End in 1985. The character gained wider recognition when Hugh Jackman portrayed him in the 2012 film adaptation.
Her interest in gender-bending this iconic role demonstrates her willingness to push boundaries and challenge theatrical conventions. It would certainly make theater history if she became the first woman to tackle this complex character in a major production.
While she dreams of these future roles, Zegler isn't slowing down. Next year, she'll return to the West End in The Last Five Years, a musical about a novelist and struggling actor that was adapted into a 2014 film starring Anna Kendrick.