Comparisons with Natalie Wood inevitable: Rachel Zegler on ‘West Side Story’

By PTI

MUMBAI: Actor Rachel Zegler, who steps into the sneakers of legendary star Natalie Wood to play Maria in Steven Speilberg’s adaptation of “West Side Story”, mentioned her intention is to not overshadow the legacy of the late actor.

The musical romantic drama brings again the basic story of forbidden love between Tony (Ansel Elgort) and Maria (Zegler) in Fifties New York City regardless of having affiliations with rival road gangs — the Jets and Sharks.

The movie is an adaptation of the famed 1957 Broadway musical of the identical title, which was earlier become a 1961 movie, that includes Wood as Maria.

Zegler mentioned she is conscious that there are going to be comparisons between her and Wood however she has targeted on including a recent take to the character.

“I believe any movie is a problem, if it is easy, you do not care. And I care quite a bit concerning the story. The story knowledgeable me as a child what I wished to do for the remainder of my life. I knew comparability was inevitable when it got here to myself and the late nice Natalie Wood.

“I think that the original film stands on its own, as this iconic piece of film history, that everybody’s going to refer to for the rest of time. And that was very present in my mind,” the 20-year-old actor, who’s making her debut with ‘West Side Story’, mentioned throughout the digital international press convention of the movie, additionally attended by PTI.

Zegler additionally shared that she did not revisit the unique movie as a result of she thought it would add pointless strain on her.

“I did not revisit the fabric as I did not wish to examine in my very own thoughts. I believe that provides pointless strain. I simply wished to do an excellent job. And that is actually all we wished to perform. It wasn’t like, ‘Am I going to overshadow the legacy of a late nice actress?’ That was by no means the intention.

It was about what I can deliver from my very own life expertise that wasn’t there earlier than,” Zegler mentioned.

In addition to Zegler, Spielberg’s model of ‘West Side Story’ stars Ansel Elgort as Tony, Ariana DeBose as Anita and David Alvarez as Bernardo.

Veteran actor Rita Moreno, who gained one of the best supporting actress Oscar for her function of Anita within the authentic, shall be seen as Valentina, a brand new character.

Zegler and her co-star David Alvarez additionally talked concerning the significance of Latino illustration within the movie.

“I am the first Latina to play Maria on screen and that’s a huge thing. It’s a part of a legacy of a very important musical to so many people that’s not lost on me. We all come in different shades, different walks of life,” Zegler mentioned.

Alvarez mentioned the movie is “a huge step forward”.

“What Steven Spielberg has done and what this whole production has done is what the past generations had failed to do. I think it’s changing everything. And this is kind of like leading by example, and I think it’s just opening so many doors for the future. So, this is incredible for us to be leading this and it’s thanks to Steven’s vision,” he added.

DeBose mentioned, “We don’t want to validate all of these lived experiences and showing that and celebrating a diaspora. I think our film does a really good job of that and I’m really proud.”

“West Side Story” is about to bow out theatrically on December 10.