“Snow White” star Rachel Zegler has opened up about the obstacles of landing her breakout role in “West Side Story,” saying that she was forced to continuously “prove [her] identity” as a Colombian American to a “bunch of white executives” throughout the casting process.

Zegler spoke out about her experience while discussing her “cultural identity” with writer Patricia Alfonso Tortolani for Allure.

“There’s confusion because I don’t have a single ounce of Latin in my name,” she said. “When I was in the running for María in ‘West Side Story,’ they kept calling to ask if I was legit. I remember thinking, ‘Do you want me to bring my abuelita in? I will. I’ll bring her into the studio if you want to meet her.'”

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