Rachel Zegler’s West End Ambitions: Dream Roles Revealed
Rachel Zegler shares her aspirations for two iconic musical theatre roles, hoping to take on Christine Daaé in Phantom of the Opera and a gender-swapped Javert in Les Misérables.
Life has a habit of moving at a brisk pace, something Rachel Zegler knows all too well. In just a few short years, she’s experienced the kind of public scrutiny that would have most people ducking for cover, all thanks to a whirlwind of online debate surrounding her involvement in a live-action adaptation of Snow White. The controversy, largely centred on her comments during press interviews and the film’s creative choices, seemed rather overblown, especially considering Zegler’s age and the nature of the project itself.
Despite the noise, it’s impossible to overlook her remarkable talent and rapid ascent. Zegler, who was still a student in 2019, clinched a Golden Globe for Best Actress at just 19 for her performance in Steven Spielberg’s reimagining of West Side Story. Compared to some of her co-stars’ more questionable pandemic antics, her own missteps seem fairly minor. When Snow White finally reached audiences, it proved unremarkable, allowing Zegler to move forward and focus on her craft—something she does with impressive energy.
From Screen to Stage: A Relentless Work Ethic
In 2023 alone, Zegler appeared in a string of high-profile films, including Shazam: Fury of the Gods, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, and the comedy-horror Y2K. The following year, she took to Broadway in a modern production of Romeo and Juliet, directed by Jack Antonoff, before leading the cast of Evita in London’s West End. Her schedule barely allowed for a pause, as she soon returned to the Palladium for her own solo show, blending numbers from her burgeoning career with classic Broadway hits.
Her relentless pace suggests she’s not one for idle moments. Yet, even with such a packed diary, there remain a couple of roles she’s yet to tackle—ones that have long captured her imagination.
Musical Aspirations: Dreaming of the Classics
Speaking to Glamour, Zegler confessed,
“While I’m still young and sprightly, I would love to do Christine Daaé in Phantom of the Opera. That would be a dream come true because I don’t get the opportunity to return to my soprano operatic training roots. And if ever given the chance, I would love to be Javert in a gender-bent Les Miz.”
Phantom of the Opera, first staged in 1986, follows the journey of Christine Daaé, a young soprano drawn into the world of a mysterious musical genius haunting the Paris Opera House. The original production, starring Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford, became a global phenomenon, with its soundtrack selling over 40 million copies worldwide.
Looking Ahead: New Challenges on the Horizon
Zegler’s other dream role, Javert, is the dogged inspector in Les Misérables, a production that has graced the West End since 1985 and holds the record as the longest-running musical in history. The character was famously portrayed by Hugh Jackman in the 2012 film adaptation. Zegler’s ambition to take on a gender-swapped version of Javert speaks to her desire to challenge conventions and explore new territory on stage.
Not one to rest on her laurels, Zegler is set to continue her West End journey next year, starring in The Last Five Years—a musical chronicling the relationship between a novelist and a struggling actor, previously adapted for the screen with Anna Kendrick in the lead. With her sights set on both classic and contemporary roles, Zegler’s theatrical journey shows no sign of slowing down.