Rachel Zegler Wants to Play Hamlet — With a Twist

Rachel Zegler is setting her sights on one of theater’s most iconic roles — but with a twist.

In a recent interview with The Standard, the rising star revealed she would love to take on a gender-swapped version of Hamlet from William Shakespeare’s classic tragedy.

“If they’ll have me, I’m dying to do more Shakespeare,” Zegler said. “I’d love to do a female Hamlet.”

The actress acknowledged the role’s emotional weight, noting it isn’t exactly “fun” due to its dark and complex themes. Still, she expressed excitement about diving deeper into such a layered character as her confidence continues to grow.

Zegler’s ambition comes on the heels of a strong run in theater. She made her Broadway debut as Juliet in Romeo + Juliet during the 2024–2025 season, earning praise for her performance. She followed that with a standout turn as Eva Perón in a West End revival of Evita, which earned her a nomination at the Laurence Olivier Awards.

Most recently, she won Best Musical Performance at the Standard Theatre Awards, further cementing her growing reputation on stage.

While a female-led Hamlet is not currently in development, the idea fits into a broader trend of gender-flipped Shakespeare productions. Recent performances by Ruth Negga and Cush Jumbo have shown how reimagining classic roles can bring fresh perspectives to familiar stories.

Beyond her stage ambitions, Zegler remains busy with several projects. She is currently performing in a concert version of The Last Five Years at the London Palladium alongside Ben Platt. On the film side, she is set to appear in She Gets It From Me, a comedy-drama co-starring Marisa Tomei and Ed Helms.

She has also teased a new, still-untitled movie musical and continues to be associated with Disney’s live-action Snow White, released in 2025.

Industry observers say Zegler’s interest in Hamlet signals a shift toward more dramatic, non-musical roles as she expands her range. For now, the idea remains a personal goal — but one that could soon become reality if the right production comes along.