Costar couple! Rachel Zegler and Josh Andrés Rivera first connected on the set of Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, where they quickly sparked a real-life romance.
Zegler earned her big break when she landed the role of leading lady Maria in Spielberg’s 2019 remake of the acclaimed musical movie opposite Ansel Elgort’s Tony. Rivera, for his part, portrayed the role of supporting character Chino. While Chino — one of Maria’s fellow Sharks —was set up as a potential suitor for the lovelorn teen, she ultimately fell hard for rival gang leader Tony. However, Zegler was drawn to Rivera when the cameras stopped rolling.
The pair confirmed their romance in February 2021, nearly one year before West Side Story was released in theaters. “I love Josh Andres Rivera,” the Snow White star captioned a series of smiling selfies of the duo via Twitter.
The twosome have since continued to grow in love as Zegler’s film career rises.
“I wish to extend my thanks to the love of my life, who I was blessed enough to meet on the set of this film many moons ago,” the Shazam! Fury of the Gods actress gushed of her boyfriend during her National Board of Review acceptance speech in March 2022, in which her West Side Story performance took home the Best Actress trophy. “Thank you for holding my hand in my dreams and in my reality. I love doing life with you. Thanks for making me laugh.”
One month later, Zegler credited the Cat Person actor for keeping her grounded when the film’s success exploded.
“There’s always this deep understanding of what I go through. Since [his West Side Story experience was] on a different scale, he’s able to bring me back to earth and tell me when it really doesn’t matter,” the New Jersey native recalled to Elle in an April 2022 profile. “Because he’s removed from it to a certain degree, he’s able to just snap me out of it, and tell me to stop checking my phone, or remind me of what actually matters, and remind me to be present, and to not focus on the opinions of 3,000 faceless strangers on the internet.”
Zegler and Rivera are set to share the screen again in the forthcoming Hunger Games prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. While the Golden Globe nominee will star as protagonist Lucy Gray Baird, her beau will take on the role of Hunger Games mentor Sejanus Plinth.
“Always and forever proud of my Joshua,” Zegler gushed via Twitter in June 2022 after Rivera’s casting news was confirmed by Lionsgate.
Once production on The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes wrapped the following November, Zegler paid tribute to the film — and her experience working alongside her boyfriend.
“I am, once again, forever grateful for another eternity captured on camera,” she wrote via Instagram at the time, thanking the film’s cast and crew. “To my favorite actor in the world, Josh Rivera, I love you so much, more and more each day. I am so glad we did this together.”
Sign up for Us Weekly’s free, daily newsletter and never miss breaking news or exclusive stories about your favorite celebrities, TV shows and more!
Scroll below for Zegler and Rivera’s complete relationship timeline:
