The entertainment industry is often a hard nut to crack, and Rachel Zegler’s unforgettable journey proves that perseverance pays off.

You have to be like a rubber band, bendable and resilient. This could be the sentiment that seems to echo the struggles Rachel Zegler has faced in her career. But let’s talk about the real rubber band stretch—auditioning.

Picture yourself in a room; the casting director says, “Come back,” and you’re back again. And again. That’s what Zegler, the brilliant talent behind West Side Story, endured—nine times, to be exact, for a role that was never hers. As a fresh face in the industry, she got a taste of how grueling Hollywood can be.

She described it as “borderline abuse,” having her hopes repeatedly dashed in the name of ‘trying out’.
Rachel Zegler in West Side Story | Credits: 20th Century Studios
Here’s how it all unfolded, from auditioning for the role of Supergirl in The Flash to eventually becoming part of the Shazam family.

Rachel Zegler’s audition journey: 9 separate auditions for 20th Century Studios

Rachel Zegler’s journey into the superhero world wasn’t exactly paved with gold. Before she got to play Anthea in Shazam! Fury of the Gods, she auditioned relentlessly—and we mean relentlessly. She put herself through nine auditions for 20th Century Studios in one grueling year.

Reflecting on her audition journey, she recalled the relentless grind of West Side Story, with nine separate auditions at 20th Century Studios, each one testing her patience and resolve. Imagine holding your breath for a year, with no guarantee. Zegler called it “borderline abuse” for actors to go through that kind of psychological and emotional experience, and we completely agree (via The Direct).

Rachel Zegler in Snow White | Credits: Walt Disney Studios

In Zegler’s words, it was “horrible”, the kind of anxiety-ridden pressure that can break the strongest of spirits. Yet, she stood tall:

Oh gosh, it was so fast. I auditioned for ‘West Side Story’ for a year. They really kept me on the edge of my seat for a year. I sweat out my entire junior year, so it was horrible. Borderline abuse, at that point, for actors, that anybody who has done it knows, having you go in nine times for something is torture.

Her journey didn’t end with West Side Story, though. After that, she went on to audition for The Flash, hoping to land the role of Supergirl. But, as fate would have it, Sasha Calle took the role. It wasn’t a defeat for Zegler, though; it was an opportunity to step into another major DC film. She was, quite literally, in the right place at the right time.

How Rachel Zegler’s journey led her to Shazam 2

This next part of her story? Well, it’s like the universe had a different plan for her. After being rejected for Supergirl, Rachel Zegler found herself reading for Shazam 2 after being approached by casting director Rich Delia. She thought she might be stepping into a role that would be just another addition to her burgeoning portfolio, but as we all know, fate is a tricky mistress.

A Zoom read with director David Sandberg followed, and then—the cherry on top—a chemistry read with Jack Dylan Grazer. And he was apparently the one who picked Zegler. “We got to have her,” he said (via The Direct).

Just like that, Zegler was cast in Shazam 2, playing Anthea, a character whose complex relationship with Freddy Freeman (played by Grazer) added a fresh layer of depth to the movie.

Rachel Zegler in Snow White | Credits: Walt Disney Studios

It’s honestly the kind of story that reminds us to trust the process, no matter how odd it may seem. One minute, she’s left standing in the wings, auditioning for roles she didn’t get; the next, she’s part of an iconic DC movie, rubbing shoulders with heavyweights like Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu.

Rachel Zegler’s involvement in Shazam! Fury of the Gods wasn’t just a random twist of fate. She’s a talent whose star was bound to rise, no matter the hurdles. After West Side Story, we all knew that this was just the beginning. Her role as Anthea in Shazam 2 was a step toward bigger things, but in many ways, it felt like a new chapter, one that balanced the superhero world with the complexities of human emotion.