'West Side Story' was almost delayed further to ensure Mike Faist could play Riff.
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As Tony's best friend and the film's primary antagonist, Riff has meaningful emotional weight to carry in, so it was important that the actor who took on the role be able to shine in quiet close-ups as well as the ambitious performance pieces. Zegler, a New Jersey native whose mother is of Colombian descent, was a 17-year-old high school senior when she sent in videos of herself singing"Tonight" and"I Feel Pretty" to the open call. She had acclaimed musical theater experience and a popular YouTube channel, which featured videos of her singing, but no previous film experience, yet she wowed Spielberg enough that he ultimately made her his Maria.
"It just blossomed on the screen, and eventually, I said, 'She's Anita,'" Spielberg recalls of the performance.If you are using ad-blocking software, please disable it and reload the page.When it came to casting Bernardo, Maria's protective older brother -- a role which won George Chakiris a supporting actor Oscar for the 1961 adaptation -- Spielberg knew he needed a specific type.
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