Rachel Zegler recalls being directed by legendary director Steven Spielberg.
The 22-year-old actress shared a throwback snap of herself story from the west side on x (formerly Twitter) on Friday, joking about the instructions she received from Spielberg, 76, while shooting one particular scene in the 2021 film.
“Then it was my first day on set and Steven Spielberg said ‘whatever you do don’t blink,'” she wrote alongside a shot of her playing María, walking towards the camera in her white ball gown and red sash.
“Imagine Janusz Kaminski putting a full light in your face and you have to A) not blink, B) not cry and C) not die because it’s your first day on your first movie ever,” she continued below. tweet, referring to the film’s cinematographer.
“This is why I won a Golden Globe. My eyeballs made of steel,” she jokingly added in a third tweet.
When Spielberg decided to tackle the remake of the 1961 musical classic, he put out a casting call to find a new face for the lead role of María. Zegler – who was attending college at the time and working part-time as a wedding singer – was chosen from more than 30,000 applicants from around the world.
Rachel Zegler and Hunter Schafer on their favorites Hunger Games Costume: Elizabeth Banks ‘Iconic’ Butterfly Dress (Exclusive)
She received rave reviews for her breakthrough performance in the 2021 film, and took home the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical the following year. After her win, she posted a video of her emotional reaction to X, showing a tear rolling down her face.
She too wrote coveted career accolade, “I was cast as María in West Side Story on 9/1/19. And I just won a Golden Globe for that same performance on 9/1/22. Life is very strange.”
Rachel Zegler stars in ‘West Side Story’. Studies of the 20th century
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Rachel Zegler remembers seeing Hunger Games in theaters at age 10: ‘Ingrained in My Memory Forever’ (exclusive)
Zegler’s last role as District 12 which pays homage to Lucy Gray in the The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (currently in theaters) was another pinch-me moment. While walking the red carpet for the film’s London premiere earlier this month, she recalled seeing the 2012 original. Hunger Games movie in the theater as a kid.
“I went with my sister and my mom to see it,” she told PEOPLE, saying the experience was “ingrained in my memory forever.”
Although she recently had the opportunity to meet and bond with Jennifer Lawrence due to their shared experience of acting in the franchise, Zegler told PEOPLE that she’s glad the pair didn’t hook up until after filming on the final installment.
“[It] took the pressure off and made us feel like we could do our own thing,” she explained.
“Still, if she ever wanted to give me advice, I’d be willing to hear it,” she added.
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Source: HIS Education