Rachel Zegler Breaks Down After 'Evita' Performance

Newsweek

7 hours ago

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Rachel Zegler broke down in tears after receiving a standing ovation for her performance in Evita.
Newsweek contacted Zegler's representative for comment via email on Tuesday.
The Context
Zegler, 24, stars as Argentine politician Eva Perón in a revival of Evita at the London Palladium. The original production by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice debuted in 1978.
The Snow White actress previously came under fire over her comments about the live-action remake. In a 2022 interview with Extra, she criticized the animated version of the film. "The original cartoon came out in 1937 and very evidently so. There's a big focus on her love story with a guy who literally stalks her. Weird. Weird!" Zegler said. "So we didn't do that this time."
Zegler, who won a Golden Globe for her performance in West Side Story, has also received backlash over her stance on the ongoing conflict in Gaza. In May 2021, she wrote on X, formerly Twitter, "It will always be free palestine." Following President Donald Trump's electoral victory in November, Zegler issued a foulmouthed tirade against him, receiving further criticism in the process.
Rachel Zegler, as Eva Perón, performing "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" on a balcony in "Evita" at the London Palladium on June 18.
Rachel Zegler, as Eva Perón, performing "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" on a balcony in "Evita" at the London Palladium on June 18.What To Know
Over the weekend, Zegler appeared emotional as the crowd cheered for her during curtain call. Several videos of the moment have gone viral on social media.
On June 28, Instagram user @fabxo shared the original clip, writing in the caption, "Forever grateful I got to see @rachelzegler shine in Evita!"
In the video, Zegler laughs and cries. She appears to say, "I don't know what to do," and one of her colleagues puts his hand on her back.
At the time of publication, @fabxo's post had racked up more than 381,000 views, and Zegler herself liked the post.
User @ZeglerSource, a fan account on X, also posted the clip, garnering another 1.3 million views. X user @DiscussingFilm raked in an additional 3.4 million views.
In an interview posted on Evita's official Instagram account, Zegler told director Jamie Lloyd that she was "quite obsessed" with the musical growing up. She added that her dad used to sing "Don't Cry for Me Argentina," one of the show's hit songs, around the house.
What People Are Saying
Instagram user @doodledwarf commented on the viral video: "This must've meant so much more to her after the snow white movie's backlash."
User @peachysweetplinth said: "Oh she's so precious."
User @leobessauer wrote: "After all the hate she's been through, she's finally back to where she belongs, the stage, to clapping audience."
User @her_veronika added: "She seems like a beautiful and humble soul. Can't wait to see it in August!"
User @rainbowperformer said: "She's so real for that. I can't imagine how she must feel having her dreams come true."
What Happens Next
Zegler is set to star in Evita for 12 weeks. However, according to the show's website, she will not be performing on several upcoming Mondays. On July 14, July 28, August 11 and August 25, her castmate Bella Brown is scheduled to play the role of Eva Perón.