Having faced persistent trolling on social media for her role of Snow White in the fantasy film of the same name, actor Rachel Zegler says she survived the negative comments by avoiding having a “victim mindset”.
Online comments can be alarming, says Zegler, but it helps that she focusses on “positivity, light and happiness”.
The actor received mixed reviews on her casting in the film, with many questioning the makers’ choice of the actor in 2021. Directed by Marc Webb, who is best known for films such as ‘500 Days of Summer’, the ‘Amazing Spider-Man’ series and ‘Gifted’, Snow White also featured Gal Gadot in the role of the Evil Queen and released in March.
In 2022, she was again criticised for calling the character of Prince Charming from the original 1937’s story as "dated", adding how he “literally stalks” Snow White.
Addressing negativity that she often has to bear as an actor, the 24-year-old said in an interview, “I think a victim mindset is a choice, and I don’t choose it. I also don’t choose nastiness in the face of it. I don’t choose negativity in the face of it. I choose positivity and light and happiness. And I do believe at times, happiness is absolutely a choice, and every day I wake up and I think I’m very lucky to live the life I live.”
Zegler has been vocal in her support of Palestine as it faces conflict in Gaza and other places from Israel. "My compassion has no boundaries, is really what it is, and my support for one cause does not denounce any others. That’s always been at the core of who I am as a person. It’s the way I was raised," she said.
Asked if she fears facing flak by those who don’t agree with her politically, Zegler said, "There are obviously things that are at stake by being outspoken, but nothing is worth innocent lives. My heart doesn’t have a fence around it, and if that is considered my downfall? There are worse things."
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