Rachel Zegler has dramatically shifted her stance on Disney's Snow White, now describing her role in the live-action remake as "the honour of a lifetime" just as the film releases in cinemas today.
The 23-year-old actress made headlines in 2022 when she criticised the 1937 original animated film as "weird" and claimed it featured a prince who "literally stalks" Snow White.
Her recent praise came on Thursday's Good Morning America and stand in stark contrast to those earlier comments, with Zegler now declaring herself "a huge Disney fan" eager to bring the character to life "in such a unique way".
"It was the honour of a lifetime. I think every young person dreams about a phone call like that," Zegler told the US talk show.
"This one is certainly extra special as a huge Disney fan," she continued.
The Golden Globe winner expressed gratitude for the opportunity to portray the iconic princess.
Snow White has hit cinemas with Rachel Zegler in the leading role
DISNEY
"To get to bring her to life in such a unique way and such a special way, it's just a beautiful opportunity, and I'm very honoured," she said.
Her enthusiastic comments came just one day before the film's theatrical release in the UK.
In 2022, Zegler made comments to Extra at the D23 Expo that sparked significant backlash.
"The original cartoon came out in 1937 and very evidently so," she said at the time.
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Rachel Zegler appeared on Thursday's Good Morning America in the USA
ABC
"There's a big focus on her love story with the guy who literally stalks her. Weird, weird," she added. "So we didn't do that this time."
She also told Entertainment Weekly that she was "scared of the original cartoon" and had only "watched it once and then never picked it up again" until being cast in the remake.
Zegler further claimed the new version would take "a different approach" to Snow White's tale.
In her recent interview, Zegler appeared to embrace aspects of the original story she had previously criticised.
"It's all about bridging a classic to a modern age to bring it to these beautiful young people," she told Good Morning America.
She emphasised continuity with the original film's themes rather than differences.
"Her superpower remains her heart, you know, that's always been the core of this story. That's always been the core of the Disney Company," Zegler said.
The actress also insisted the film is intended for both children and "the inner child in all of us."
Disney has significantly scaled back promotional activities for Snow White following the controversy surrounding Zegler's comments.
The film's Los Angeles premiere featured only select photographers and interviewers employed by Disney.
Zegler and co-star Gal Gadot, who plays the Evil Queen, reportedly arrived separately and posed for limited photos together.
The £270 million remake has faced criticism for being "woke" due to changes made to the original storyline.
These alterations include tweaks to the romance plot and the replacement of dwarf actors with CGI.
Sources have also claimed Zegler and Gadot have "nothing in common", with their 16-year age gap cited as one factor.
Their political views differ significantly, adding to alleged tensions, given that Israeli-born Gadot, who served in the IDF, has publicly supported the release of Israeli hostages.
Meanwhile, Zegler has used her platform to voice support for Palestine amid the conflict in Gaza.
The West Side Story actress has also faced criticism for her public condemnation of President Donald Trump.
Zegler's apparent change in stance comes as the film hits cinemas today amid reportedly "awful" reviews for the controversial remake.
The timing of her more positive comments about the Disney classic has not gone unnoticed by observers.
Her shift from criticising the original as "sexist" and "dated" to celebrating its core values coincides precisely with the film's release.
The actress had previously revealed she refused to sing the beloved song Some Day My Prince Will Come from the 1937 classic.
Snow White marks Zegler's latest high-profile role following appearances in the Shazam and The Hunger Games franchises.
