Gloria Estefan has officially confirmed that a biopic on her life is finally taking shape, and Hollywood star Rachel Zegler has been chosen to play her.
The 68-year-old Cuban-American music icon revealed that the project has been “years in the making”, but things are now inching closer to a green light. “We’re still working on the green light because we’re figuring out where to do it and how to do it,” Estefan told The Sun. “This has been in the works for quite a few years now. You work and work, and then suddenly, boom, the trigger’s pulled, and you’ve got to do it right away.”
Praising the West Side Story breakout star, Estefan couldn’t contain her excitement. “I think she’s awesome; I think she’s incredible. I know she killed it in Evita,” she said, adding that she’s confident Zegler would say yes once the film officially moves forward. “I met her on Zoom. She’s got a beautiful singing voice, and she’s a great actor. I just need to offer her the actual part.”
The Conga hitmaker also shared that she’s eager to tick another dream off her list, which is performing on Glastonbury’s iconic Pyramid Stage, where her daughter Emily played last year alongside Cyndi Lauper. “It’s very exciting, big and complex, from what I hear from Emily. Like, it was crazy. But that would be super exciting. If I’m still around, I’d love to do that. Glastonbury loves all kinds of artistes,” she said.
Zegler, who is of Colombian and Polish descent, shot to fame with her Golden Globe-winning debut as María Vasquez in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story. Her viral YouTube cover landed her the role, and she has since appeared in Shazam! Fury of the Gods and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
