Rachel Zegler is chalking up criticism over Disney’s live-action remake of Snow White to “passion” for the film and its characters.
While speaking with Vogue Mexico, the 23-year-old actress addressed negative reactions over her casting as well as past statements Zegler made about the original animation. She explained audiences feel protective over the famous princess as well as the original 1937 animated Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.
“I interpret people’s feelings about this film as their passion for her and what an honor to be a part of something that people are so passionate about,” Zegler said in her interview. “We are not always going to have the same feelings as everyone around us and all that we can do is do our best.” (Zegler’s interview was conducted in Spanish. Quotes were independently translated from Spanish to English by PEOPLE.)
Both Zegler and the adaptation have faced various criticisms since the project was announced. Following her casting announcement in 2022, the actress dealt with racist backlash from right-wing critics over her playing the Disney princess while being of Latinx background (Zegler is of Colombian and Polish descent).
The Disney remake has also been called out by Wicked actor Peter Dinklage, who was born with a form of dwarfism called achondroplasia. He accused Disney of “hypocrisy” over the upcoming film, citing the fairy tale’s “backwards story about seven dwarfs living in a cave together.”
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Zegler addressed backlash over her casting announcement with Andrew Garfield in Variety‘s Actors on Actors series, recalling it “was a huge thing that was trending on Twitter for days, because all of the people were angry.”
The West Side Story actress expressed that for those fans, “we need to love them in the right direction.” She added, “At the end of the day, I have a job to do that I’m really excited to do. I get to be a Latina princess.”
Zegler faced criticism once again during 2022’s D23 Expo, she described the 1937 original movie as “dated,” adding that Prince Charming “literally stalks” Snow White.
In her interview with Vogue Mexico, Zegler explained: “It’s very important for the public to know that Disney has found this beautiful and delicate balance between the 1937 animated classic that everyone knows and loves, and at the same time, introduces it to this new generation.”
The Snow White remake is directed by Marc Webb (The Amazing Spider-Man) and arrives in theaters on March 21.
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