Rachel Zegler has been on the end of a lot of online blowback over her casting in Snow White, and she hopes that is now all in the past.

Rachel Zegler has shared a personal hope that her life will see “less hate” after what she calls the “hardest year.” In a candid series of Instagram posts (via People) celebrating her birthday, the Golden Globe winner reflected on the backlash she had received in the last year for her casting in Disney’s new live-action Snow White. Despite the year being difficult, the actress reflected positively on what her future may hold for her and her new canine companion.

Zegler has seen her position in Hollywood skyrocket since she was cast as Maria in Steven Spielberg’s remake of West Side Story, which secured her several award nominations including that Golden Globe win, with her high profile role in The Hunger Games prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes gaining her resounding praise. However, the year has also had many challenges for the young actress, including dealing with a continuous stream of online backlash, which she addressed in her own birthday message. She wrote:

“The door is shutting on 22 right now, and wow! What a hard year! IF you’ve been online to any degree you probably know why. I am so grateful for the opportunity to learn where the love in my life truly lies and to have gotten my dog. But I hope 23 holds a lot less hatred, a lot less being afraid for my safety in public, and a lot more understanding for growing up.”

In a second image post, she continued:

“I also had a really nice time bringing you all [The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes] and I hope you know that it will always be considered (along with the acquisition of my dog) one of the bright spots of what I consider to be the hardest year of my life…so far.”

Rachel Zegler Made a Stand Against Online Hate

Rachel Zegler has fended off online criticism for her casting in Snow White for almost three years. However, the actress has not allowed it to stand in her way, and has previously noted how she feels “like solid Teflon” after dealing with her critics for so long. She told Halle Bailey on Variety’s Actors on Actors series:

“They make me feel like solid Teflon. That nothing can hurt anymore because they’ve said the worst that can be said. You just say, ‘Thank you so much for this. I have a lot of love in my life, and I’m very thankful.’ We get to do our work and have that speak for itself instead. Choosing thankfulness and gratefulness is choosing peace. As much as you’d like to remind people verbally that being in the spotlight doesn’t absolve you of your humanity – that you’re allowed to have human moments – it doesn’t necessarily do what you want it to do. It fuels them more.”

Zegler is now hoping that the coming year will see those hateful comments disperse and make way for something more positive in its wake. The actress will be heard in the new animated movie Spellbound later this year, and then will appear as Snow White in 2025. In the meantime, having already been part of several huge productions, from here the only way is up for Zegler.

Zegler has seen her position in Hollywood skyrocket since she was cast as Maria in Steven Spielberg’s remake of West Side Story, which secured her several award nominations including that Golden Globe win, with her high profile role in The Hunger Games prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes gaining her resounding praise. However, the year has also had many challenges for the young actress, including dealing with a continuous stream of online backlash, which she addressed in her own birthday message. She wrote: