Listen to the 17-year-old singer just cast as Maria in West Side Story

Steven Spielberg has found his Maria for his remake of West Side Story. Just listen to a few of this 17-year-old singer’s YouTube videos, and you’ll see why she’s perfect.

Following a nationwide search for the lead role in his West Side Story remake, Steven Spielberg has finally found the perfect actress to take on Maria. Rachel Zegler, who is only 17, will make her debut in the film starring alongside Ansel Elgort as Tony.

Zegler is nearly done with high school in New Jersey, and from her social media feed, is a certified theater nerd who loves to sing.

Joining the ranks of Natalie Wood (the original Maria in 1961’s West Side Story), Zegler will have some major musical shoes to fill. The musical isn’t exactly the easiest to sing and is a masterpiece of Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein. Putting it on the shoulder of a 17-year-old may seem questionable. Then again, if you watch any of her YouTube videos where she belts out famous tunes, all doubts will disappear.

The one you have to watch that truly shows her range and ability as both a singer and actress is her take on a classic Les Miserables song. Singing “I Dreamed a Dream”, Zegler puts all fears of her casting aside. Watching this, we know she will be perfect as she sings “Tonight” and other Maria classics from West Side Story.

Want some more popular songs by Rachel? Don’t worry, she kills Robyn’s “Dancing On My Own” as well!

And, just like the rest of us, she’s obsessed with A Star is Born.

Zegler has quite the amount of Queen on her channel as well, showing her love of the band and their music.

Zegler is truly a theater kid at heart, as proven by this final video.

Check out more of this songbird by visiting Rachel Zegler’s YouTube page!

Check back here on Culturess for news, reviews, and more on West Side Story.