Rachel Zegler Shares Iconic Moments from the Making of Disney’s Snow White

By Alison Stateman

Taking on the lead role in Disney’s Snow White—the live-action reimagining of the animated classic—was a dream come true for lifelong Disney fan Rachel Zegler. “We had the most incredible time making this movie. It was so magical,” Zegler told Disney twenty-three at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim, California, last August.

In an exclusive interview for the Spring 2025 digital cover story of Disney twenty-three, Zegler shares stories inspired by a number of photos that capture some of the iconic looks and moments from the production, as well as her experience at D23.

Looking at a backstage photo from the D23 event, Zegler says, “I am wearing my best princess dress for you all—and that was right before [Gal Gadot] and I went onstage to show the first official trailer for Snow White, which was so exciting. I was very nervous!” she adds with a laugh.

“It’s such a nerve-wracking experience to show what you’ve been working on to so many people, but it was such a warm, amazing environment. To see an auditorium filled with so many people who are so excited about what Disney has coming out was an amazing experience,” Zegler says about her presentation with co-star Gadot, who plays the Evil Queen. In addition to the teaser trailer for the film, which debuts exclusively in theaters on March 21, fans were treated to the first glimpse of the “Whistle While You Work” musical sequence with Zegler, as Snow White, and the Seven Dwarfs.

Commenting on a photo from the shoot for the film in 2022, Zegler marvels, “This is me and director Marc Webb having a conversation over the wishing well. This scene changed so many times because we just wanted to get it absolutely right about introducing Snow White’s character and her relationship to wishing and her relationship to the well. Ultimately, we ended up adding some really adorable squirrels and mice into this scene where Marc is standing,” she says about the visual effects added in post-production. “This is such a sweet photo. I’m such a baby. I think I was 20 years old.”

During the filming, Zegler celebrated a milestone occasion on set, and she delights at a behind-the-scenes photo from that day.

“This was on my birthday. These are our amazing puppeteers. We named the deer head [puppet] Denzel,” says Zegler about one of the woodland creatures represented by a lifelike puppet during filming. “This is right after the scary forest scene, where the scary forest becomes the beautiful forest, and all the animals come out to help Snow White.”

“I really loved this day of shooting,” Zegler adds with a warm smile. “This was my 21st birthday. What a way to spend it.”

Read more about Disney’s Snow White in the Spring 2025 issue of Disney twenty-three, available exclusively to D23 Gold Members. Join today to access our digital publication and receive more perks year-round!