Rachel Zegler is making her priorities clear as she looks ahead to her next run of movies. The actor said she deliberately sought projects that put women and Latinos in key creative roles. Her comments come after Zegler has spoken publicly about how Hollywood treats women and Latino performers.
Rachel Zegler explains why she’s prioritizing projects led by women and Latinos
In a TIME interview shared on YouTube, Rachel Zegler said she entered the year with one mission: to work with women and Latinos. She pointed to upcoming projects including She Gets It From Me, NDA, Octet, and Last Dance as examples of that goal taking shape.
Zegler said she was excited about the doors those movies could open, not only for her but for collaborators who had been “disenfranchised in this industry.” She also pushed back against the idea that actors should squeeze themselves into a preset mold.
That mindset connects with comments she has made before about women in Hollywood. In 2025, Zegler discussed female friendship in the industry, saying the business often pits women against one another. She instead said she preferred to champion coworkers and build female friendships.
Her experiences in Hollywood have also shaped how she views criticism. Earlier this year, Zegler revisited the Snow White backlash and recalled hearing that she was not enough of one thing for West Side Story and too much of another for Snow White.
Now, the Rachel Zegler movies on her slate reflect the direction she described. Women directors helmed She Gets It From Me and NDA, while Latino filmmakers led Octet and Last Dance.
For Zegler, prioritizing Latinos and women is not simply about who appears on screen. Her comments focused on who gets to create, lead, and build careers behind the camera as well.
The actor also said she wants to play fully formed people rather than fit a narrow type. Her upcoming projects reflect her stated interest in working with women and Latino creatives while taking on roles that allow her to avoid being confined to a particular mold.
