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Rachel Zegler Shines at Olivier Awards After Snow White
Rachel Zegler cemented her return to prominence after her much-maligned role in Snow White with triumph at the Olivier Awards on Sunday night.The singer, 24, wa...
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Bintano News
April 13, 2026
cemented her return to prominence after her much-maligned role in Snow White with triumph at the on Sunday night.
The singer, 24, was honoured with Best Actress In A Musical for her critically-acclaimed performance in Evita and was visibly emotional as she paid tribute to her parents and co-stars at London's Royal Albert Hall.
Rachel had starred as Snow White in Disney's live-action adaptation last year, but it was fraught with controversy, including changes to the plot and claims of behind-the-scenes tension between her and co-star Gal Gadot.
After the film flopped at the box office, Rachel has reinvented herself as a West End star with her performance in Evita.
The show became a viral sensation last year, as it included the moment Rachel performed the iconic Don't Cry For Me Argentina on a balcony outside the London Palladium, with hundreds gathering to watch.
Describing the performance as 'the honour of a lifetime,' Rachel said she's felt 'so welcomed by the people of London' since starring in the show, before praising director Jamie Lloyd.
Rachel Zegler cemented her return to prominence after her much-maligned role in Snow White with triumph at the Olivier Awards on Sunday night
Rachel had starred as Snow White in Disney's woke live-action adaptation last year, but it suffered huge box office losses after a string of controversies
Taking to the stage, Rachel said: 'Thank you so much everybody in this toom. I'm so inspired by all of you, everyone in my category, I am so lucky to be in the likes of you, you're all so so amazing.'
The star confessed the decision to write a speech was a last-minute one, and she'd prepared hers on hotel stationery.
She continued: 'Thank you so much to the Oliviers for this tremendous honour and thank you so much to the city of London for making me feel so welcome here, I never could have imagined.
'It was the honour of a lifetime singing to the people on Argyll Street eight times a week.
'I can't believe I got so lucky as to sing in front of thousands of you, and it's so beautiful that Jamie Lloyd made such an accessible moment of theatre for people to walk by and witness something really really cool, so thank you to Jamie Lloyd who is a genius, and trusted me with his vision to lead this Titanic show. I would be nothing without you and I adore you so very much.'
'This is my Mom and Dad's, they harvested my talents, they harvested my passion, they never thought that it was silly or out of reach and so they're at home in suburban New Jersey right now, and I just want them to know that I won and it's because of them.
'The cast of this show is so unbelievable, they are the best ensemble that the West End has ever seen, and they made me laugh in a three-hour show where I had very little water breaks, so I thank them.
'James [Olivas] and Diego [Andres Rodriguez], who is nominated tonight, you guys, I could not have done it without you, we move as one, and I love you so much I share this with you.
'And finally to Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, who allowed me to take on the legacy of the show, I really hope I've made you proud.'
Describing her Evita performance as 'the honour of a lifetime,' Rachel also paid tribute to her parents for 'harvesting her talents'
Evita became a viral sensation last year, thanks to the moment Rachel performed Don't Cry For Me Argentina on a balcony outside the London Palladium
Jack Holden for Kenrex at The Other Palace
Rosamund Pike for Inter Alia at National Theatre
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Paapa Essiedu for All My Sons at Wyndham’s Theatre
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Julie Hesmondhalgh for Punch at Young Vic & Apollo Theatre
Best New Play supported by The Londoner
Punch by James Graham at Young Vic & Apollo Theatre
James Hameed & Arti Shah for Paddington The Musical at Savoy Theatre
Best Actress in a Musical
Rachel Zegler for Evita at The London Palladium
Sir Peter Hall Award for Best Director
Luke Sheppard for Paddington The Musical at Savoy Theatre
Paddington The Musical, music & lyrics by Tom Fletcher & book by Jessica Swale at Savoy Theatre
Even in the months leading to its disappointing release, Snow White faced backlash over changes made to make it more 'progressive.'
As filming took off in 2022, Rachel labelled Prince Charming a 'stalker' and described the animated classic as 'extremely dated' in its portrayal of women in positions of power.
Prominent critics weren't impressed either, with Peter Dinklage blasting the Mickey Mouse corporation for creating a 'f***ing backwards story about seven dwarfs living in a cave together.'
Tensions escalated when the film's 'creepy' computer-generated dwarfs appeared in the first trailer, making it one of the most disliked videos on YouTube.
The controversy nearly boiled over when Zegler took to social media to criticise Israel and the Trump administration, with bosses going on to cancel the planned London premiere in favour of a closed event in Spain in a bid to shut out wider press.
Rachel went on to speak about the backlash she faced for the role, telling Harper's Bazaar UK: 'I was told I wasn't enough of one thing for West Side Story and too much of another for Snow White. It was a really confusing time to be in my early twenties and hearing that.
'I grew up proud of being Colombian – eating the food, wearing the dresses, drinking the coffee, doing all the things that were so intrinsic to who I was as a kid and who I am as an adult – but I do think there's an argument to be made that.'
'In the public eye at least, when you're two things, you're simultaneously nothing. But I refuse to assimilate for anybody else's comfort.'
Rachel gushed that it was honour to play former First Lady of Argentina Eva Peron in the show, which debuted in 1978 and was written by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber.
When she wrapped her run in Evita in September, Evita 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 wrote on Instagram.
During Sunday's Olivier Awards, which was celebrating its 50th Anniversary, Paddington The Musical dominated the evening winning a whopping seven awards.
The smash-hit musical - which is adapted from the books by Michael Bond and the hit films - won in seven categories from 11 nominations including best new musical, best actor in a musical and best actor and actress in a supporting role.
It follows the adventures of the marmalade-loving bear from Peru, starring a life-like puppet of Paddington, and also picked up the prize for best costume design, best set design and the Sir Peter Hall award for best director.
Paddington, currently on at the Savoy Theatre in London, features music written by star and its book was written by playwright Jessica Swale.
During the acceptance speech for best new musical, Fletcher praised the production for 'celebrating kindness', and said it felt 'so special' to be a part of it.
Olivier Awards THE WINNERS
Here We Are, book by David Ives, music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim at National Theatre – Lyttelton
Paddington The Musical, music & lyrics by Tom Fletcher & book by Jessica Swale at Savoy Theatre - WINNER
Shucked, book by Robert Horn, music & lyrics by Brandy Clark & Shane McAnally at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry, book by Rachel Joyce, music & lyrics by Passenger at Theatre Royal Haymarket
Best Musical Revival supported by Piper-Heidsieck
American Psycho, book by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, music & lyrics by Duncan Sheik, based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis at Almeida Theatre
Evita, lyrics by Tim Rice, music by Andrew Lloyd Webber at The London Palladium
Into The Woods, music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Lapine at Bridge Theatre - WINNER
The Producers, music & lyrics by Mel Brooks, book by Mel Brooks & Thomas Meehan at Garrick Theatre
Best New Play supported by The Londoner
1536 by Ava Pickett at Almeida Theatre
Inter Alia by Suzie Miller at National Theatre – Lyttelton
Kenrex by Jack Holden & Ed Stambollouian at The Other Palace
Punch by James Graham at Young Vic & Apollo Theatre - WINNER
All My Sons by Arthur Miller at Wyndham's Theatre - WINNER
Arcadia by Tom Stoppard at The Old Vic
Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare at Theatre Royal Drury Lane
The Seagull by Anton Chekhov, adapted by Duncan Macmillan & Thomas Ostermeier at Barbican Theatre
Noël Coward Award for Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play
The Comedy About Spies by Henry Lewis & Henry Shields at Noël Coward Theatre
Every Brilliant Thing by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe at @sohoplace
Oh, Mary! by Cole Escola at Trafalgar Theatre - WINNER
Paranormal Activity by Levi Holloway at Ambassadors Theatre
Cate Blanchett for The Seagull at Barbican Theatre
Marianne Jean-Baptiste for All My Sons at Wyndham's Theatre
Julia McDermott for Weather Girl at Soho Theatre
Rosamund Pike for Inter Alia at National Theatre – Lyttelton - WINNER
Rosie Sheehy for Guess How Much I Love You? at Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at Royal Court Theatre
Bryan Cranston for All My Sons at Wyndham's Theatre
Sean Hayes for Good Night, Oscar at Barbican Theatre
Tom Hiddleston for Much Ado About Nothing at Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Jack Holden for Kenrex at The Other Palace - WINNER
David Shields for Punch at Young Vic & Apollo Theatre
Marc Antolin for The Producers at Garrick Theatre
James Hameed & Arti Shah for Paddington The Musical at Savoy Theatre - WINNER
Andy Nyman for The Producers at Garrick Theatre
Jamie Parker for Into The Woods at Bridge Theatre
Diego Andres Rodriguez for Evita at The London Palladium
Best Actress in a Musical
Katie Brayben for Into The Woods at Bridge Theatre
Danielle Fiamanya & Georgina Onuorah for Brigadoon at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
Jane Krakowski for Here We Are at National Theatre – Lyttelton
Jenna Russell for The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry at Theatre Royal Haymarket
Rachel Zegler for Evita at The London Palladium -WINNER
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Isis Hainsworth for Arcadia at The Old Vic
Julie Hesmondhalgh for Punch at Young Vic & Apollo Theatre - WINNER
Lucy Karczewski for Stereophonic at Duke of York's Theatre
Hayley Squires for All My Sons at Wyndham's Theatre
Sophie Thompson for When We Are Married at Donmar Warehouse
Enver Chakartash for Stereophonic at Duke of York's Theatre
Linda Cho for The Great Gatsby – A New Musical at London Coliseum
Tom Scutt for Into The Woods at Bridge Theatre
Gabriella Slade (Costume Design) & Tahra Zafar (Paddington Design) for Paddington The Musical at Savoy Theatre - WINNER
Best Set Design supported by Blue-i Theatre Technology
Paul Tate dePoo III (Scenic & Projection Design) for The Great Gatsby – A New Musical at London Coliseum
Tom Pye (Set Design) & Ash J Woodward (Video Design) for Paddington The Musical at Savoy Theatre - WINNER
Tom Scutt for Into The Woods at Bridge Theatre
David Zinn for Stereophonic at Duke of York's Theatre
Best Sound Design supported by d&b audiotechnik
Adam Fisher for Into The Woods at Bridge Theatre
Gareth Owen for Paddington The Musical at Savoy Theatre
Ryan Rumery for Stereophonic at Duke of York's Theatre
Giles Thomas for Kenrex at The Other Palace - WINNER
Outstanding Musical Contribution
Matt Brind (Orchestrations & Arrangements) for Paddington The Musical at Savoy Theatre
Will Butler (Original Songs & Orchestrations) & Justin Craig (Orchestrations) for Stereophonic at Duke of York's Theatre
John Patrick Elliott (Composition) for Kenrex at The Other Palace
Chris Fenwick (Musical Supervision & Arrangements) & Sean Hayes (Live Piano Performance of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue) for Good Night, Oscar at Barbican Theatre - WINNER
The Boy At The Back Of The Class, adapted by Nick Ahad at Rose Theatre - WINNER
The Boy With Wings, adapted by Arvind Ethan David at Polka Theatre
The Firework-Maker's Daughter, adapted by Jude Christian at Polka Theatre
The Three Little Pigs, music by George Stiles, book & lyrics by Anthony Drewe at Unicorn Theatre
Best New Dance Production
Into The Hairy by Sharon Eyal for S-E-D at Sadler's Wells - WINNER
Mimi's Shebeen by Alesandra Seutin & KVS at Sadler's Wells East
Random Taranto by María del Mar Suárez (La Chachi) as part of Dance Umbrella: Change Tempo at The Pit at Barbican
She's Auspicious by Mythili Prakash at Sadler's Wells East
Best New Opera Production supported by TAIT
Dead Man Walking by English National Opera at London Coliseum - WINNER
The Makropulos Case by The Royal Opera at Royal Opera House
Tosca by The Royal Opera at Royal Opera House
Die Walküre by The Royal Opera at Royal Opera House
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Hammed Animashaun for Dealer's Choice at Donmar Warehouse
Paapa Essiedu for All My Sons at Wyndham's Theatre - WINNER
Zachary Hart for The Seagull at Barbican Theatre
Zachary Hart for Stereophonic at Duke of York's Theatre
Giles Terera for Oh, Mary! at Trafalgar Theatre
Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Trevor Ashley for The Producers at Garrick Theatre
Corbin Bleu for The Great Gatsby – A New Musical at London Coliseum
Tom Edden for Paddington The Musical at Savoy Theatre - WINNER
Jo Foster for Into The Woods at Bridge Theatre
Oliver Savile for Into The Woods at Bridge Theatre
Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Tracie Bennett for Here We Are at National Theatre – Lyttelton
Amy Booth-Steel for Paddington The Musical at Savoy Theatre
Kate Fleetwood for Into The Woods at Bridge Theatre
Victoria Hamilton-Barritt for Paddington The Musical at Savoy Theatre - WINNER
Georgina Onuorah for Shucked at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
Sir Peter Hall Award for Best Director
Jordan Fein for Into The Woods at Bridge Theatre
Luke Sheppard for Paddington The Musical at Savoy Theatre - WINNER
Ed Stambollouian for Kenrex at The Other Palace
Lyndsey Turner for 1536 at Almeida Theatre
Ivo van Hove for All My Sons at Wyndham's Theatre
Gillian Lynne Award for Best Theatre Choreographer
Fabian Aloise for Evita at The London Palladium
Ellen Kane for Paddington The Musical at Savoy Theatre
Drew McOnie for Brigadoon at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
Lynne Page for American Psycho at Almeida Theatre
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