Rachel Zegler has revealed the incredible words of wisdom that legendary actress Helen Mirren gave her as she faced struggles in the industry.
The actress, 24, is currently starring in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s EVITA in the West End after facing backlash following her Disney live-action remake of Snow White bombing at the box office earlier this year.
Now, Rachel has revealed that she had a ‘wake-up call’ speaking to Helen while celebrating her 76th birthday at sushi restaurant Liu in Atlanta, while filming 2023 superhero caper Shazam! Fury of the Gods together.
Speaking to Glamour as their 2025 Woman of the Year, she recalled Helen’s kind words about finding fame at a young age.
She said: ‘She was like, “When I was 20, I would have killed to just be doing what you’re doing. I was surviving meal to meal doing theatre at that time.”
‘I don’t often feel the need for a wake-up call, but a reminder is really, really important.’
Rachel Zegler has revealed the inspirational advice that legendary actress Helen Mirren gave her as she faced struggles in the industry
The actress, 24, is currently starring in EVITA in the West End after facing backlash following her Disney live-action remake of Snow White bombing at the box office earlier this year
She added: ‘It’s a needed perspective when you find success at a young age to know that it could be very, very different.’
Rachel found fame at the age of 17 for her role Maria in Steven Spielberg’s 2021 film adaptation of West Side Story
Her success in West Side Story led to major roles in the likes of, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, and Snow White in Disney’s live-action remake.
She is currently starring in Evita, which was composed by Webber with lyrics penned by Tim Rice. It is centered on Eva Perón and her life and career in Argentine politics.
It comes after Rachel took to Instagram to commemorate a career bounceback with Evita.
The singer posted a carousel of black-and-white photos to her 2.5 million followers on the social media platform, commemorating the end of her run of the Evita revival on London’s West End.
‘I never imagined I’d get to be a part of something so celebrated in this lifetime,’ the New Jersey native captioned the shot.
Rachel said playing the title role in the musical was akin to a dream come true.
Now, Rachel (R) has revealed that she had a ‘wake-up call’ while speaking to Helen (center) while filming 2023 superhero caper Shazam! Fury of the Gods together; pictured with Lucy Liu
Speaking to Glamour as their 2025 Woman of the Year, she recalled speaking to Helen about finding fame at a young age
She said the project marked ‘a dream role in a dream show with a dream director and a dream choreographer and a dream cast (!!!) and a dream crew.’
The Golden Globe-winning star said that she had made a new group of confidantes working in the musical in England.
‘The friends I have made on this journey are forever, and the memories we’ve shared this summer are enough to bring me to tears during every curtain call,’ Rachel said.
The actress showed her gratitude to those who had shown up to watch her take the stage at the London Palladium through the limited run.
‘Whether you’ve been part of the 220,000 that joined us inside the palladium these past 12 weeks, or the over 130,000 descamisados who showed up at our balcony everyday, thank you,’ she said.
Rachel also thanked the play’s director Jamie Lloyd ‘for everything,’ adding, ‘The truth is I shall not leave you.’
It comes after Rachel looked loved-up with her boyfriend Nathan Fernand as they stepped out for a rainy stroll in London in August.
The actress and her new backing dancer partner, 27, looked cosy with their arms around each other while wandering the streets in the capital city.
She said: ‘She was like, “When I was 20, I would have killed to be doing what you’re doing. I was surviving meal to meal doing theatre.” ‘I don’t often feel the need for a wake-up call, but a reminder is really, really important’
For the outing, the Snow White star opted for a casual figure in a charcoal grey top and blue jeans.
Meanwhile, Nathan donned a green top with blue baggy jeans and a black Yankees cap.
The couple are believed to have met during Evita rehearsals, which began in April for Jamie Lloyd’s adaptation of the Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber musical.
Over the past year, Nathan has worked as a stripper on the Magic Mike Live show – a performance created by Channing Tatum based on the films he starred in by the same name.
The 90-minute experience sees a cast of male dancers performing provocative routines, acrobatic acts and musical hits which ‘celebrates female desires’.
