Actors Rachel Zegler and Josh Andrés Rivera met on set after being cast in the 2021 remake of West Side Story, directed by Steven Spielberg. Zegler starred in the movie as Maria, and Rivera played Chino, a potential love interest. They seemed destined to meet because they have been cast in the same film yet again: Both appeared in the Hunger Games prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
They dated a couple of years but ultimately broke up in late 2024. Here’s everything to know about Rachel Zegler and Josh Andrés Rivera’s relationship, from beginning to end.
January 2019
Some of the cast for Spielberg’s West Side Story were announced by Deadline in January 2019. Zegler screenshot the announcement and posted about it on Instagram. She tagged Rivera in her post, talking about how excited she was to work with him and the rest of the crew.
“when i played maria on stage a few summers ago, i never could have imagined that i’d be taking on the role again in steven spielberg’s ‘west side story,’” she wrote in the caption. “i send a huge thank you to everyone who helped make this incredible dream a reality— i never could’ve done it alone. i am so honored to join the legendary @TheRitaMoreno, @ansel, @arianadebose, @davidalvarezofficial, @joshandresrivera and more in telling this impeccably poignant story.”
July 2019
Filming began that summer in New York City, though the cast could have met anytime before that. The pair played opposite one another as potential romantic partners, though Maria ultimately falls in love with Ansel Elgort’s character, Tony. Still, they had a fair amount of scenes together.
February 2021
Zegler went Twitter official on February 17, 2021, with a message about Rivera.
“i love josh andres rivera,” she wrote, then shared a bunch of photos of them together.
December 2021
On December 4, 2021, Zegler shared more pics of Rivera while promoting West Side Story, including photos of being interviewed, with other castmates and with him.
“pretty good week!” Zegler captioned the pics.
The couple attended the premiere of their film together on December 7, 2021, posing with the cast on the red carpet.
In late December, Zegler posted more photos with Rivera, and shared some thoughts on her whirlwind year and spending Christmas Eve with him.
“spending christmas eve with a man i have never met before, maybe you know him, he seems pretty cool— like he could be the love child of iron man and john wick, idk though,” she wrote.
February 2022:
The couple celebrated their first Valentine’s Day together, which some fans considered their “Instagram Official” moment, since other posts could have potentially been interpreted as signs of friendship rather than romance. But for the lovers’ holiday, she shared a sweet black-and-white image of them together, writing, “committing valen-crimes.”
In her Instagram Story the same day, she shared a picture of them having dinner, writing, “happy love day from me n mine.”
March 2022
In March, Zegler received an award for her role as Maria at the National Board of Review gala. She was unable to attend but shared her speech on Twitter on March 18 from London, where she was filming Disney’s live-action Snow White.
In her speech, she mentioned Rivera, writing, “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. Thank you for holding my hand in my dreams and in my reality. I love doing life with you. Thanks for making me laugh.”
On March 27, 2022, the couple walked the red carpet together for the Oscars, where their film West Side Story was nominated for Best Picture.
The next day, Zegler shared pictures from the big night, writing, “couldn’t have done any of it without my other half by my side.”
Zegler presented at the event with Euphoria star Jacob Elordi, and fans apparently decided they’d make a good couple after seeing some backstage pics of them being playful together.
Rivera then shared a picture of himself with Zegler and Elordi, writing, “Friendly reminder that I was there also.”
April 2022
On April 3, they walked the red carpet again for the Grammys, where Zegler performed during the In Memoriam segment.
She shared photos of them together the next day as well, writing in the caption, “it’s all so much more fun with you.”
Later that month, Zegler shared more about her relationship while talking to ELLE for the May Rising Star issue.
“There’s always this deep understanding of what I go through,” she said of Rivera. “Since [his experience was] on a different scale, he’s able to bring me back to earth and tell me when it really doesn’t matter. 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.”
June 2022
On June 15, 2022, it was announced that Rivera and Zegler were both cast in the Hunger Games. It was already established that Zegler would play Lucy Gray Baird, a District 12 tribute, but then it came out that Rivera was cast as Sejanus Plinth, a Hunger Games mentor. On her Instagram Story, Zegler shared the news and wrote she’s “never been prouder of someone in my life.”
November 2022
Filming for the prequel ended in November, and Zegler paid tribute to the cast including her boyfriend.
“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,” she wrote.
March 2023
The couple attended the premiere of Shazam! Fury of the Gods on March 14.
![los angeles premiere of warner bro](https://cdn.statically.io/img/hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/rachel-zegler-and-josh-rivera-attend-the-los-angeles-news-photo-1693414990.jpg?resize=320:* "Los Angeles Premiere Of Warner Bros.' "Shazam! Fury Of The Gods" - Arrivals")
April 2023
Following the release of the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes trailer, Zegler replied to a film post about Rivera in his role, writing, “that’s my baby and i’m proud.”
October 2023
Zegler marked her two-year anniversary with Rivera on October 30. “2 years! happy anniversary, whammo,” she wrote. “i love you more and more each day. (you are the most grounded part of me.)”
The couple went on to attend Heidi Klum’s annual Halloween party together, dressing up as Daphne and Fred from Scooby Doo.
November 2023
Zegler and Rivera started doing press together for Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes in New York City on November 1.
On November 16, Zegler posted an Instagram reflecting on meeting Rivera there and making the film with him. She wrote, “we made a movie. you can see it in theaters now. 🩷and to my favorite scene partner, my life partner, my josh: i love you. thank you for each and every laugh upon our journey together. many people ask me what the most unexpected part of my career has been, or the most rewarding, or the greatest change. the answer is always you.”
During the Los Angeles premiere of the film, Zegler talked about work and romance coming together.
“Having a familiar face on any set, I think any young actor can attest, is the biggest form of comfort,” she told People. “And also as [Rivera’s] girlfriend, his friend, and his coworker, it's amazing to see the trajectory of his career, and to witness his rise to stardom. I love him so much.”
Rivera agreed, saying, “I feel really lucky. It was a really great source of comfort for me to have her with me so far away from home. We were in a different country. We got to explore that country together. It was absolutely lovely. I feel very fortunate."
February 2024
On Feb. 18, 2024, the pair attended the People’s Choice Awards at Barker Hangar.
May 2024
Zegler celebrated Rivera’s 29th birthday on Instagram, writing in her Stories over a series of pictures, “it’s the man’s birthday today. i love him so very much. he is my very best friend. and he has wings like this! and I am so lucky to be loved by him, for the goofy moments... and the more sincere ones. i love you through it all. ❤️ happy birthday.”
She also shared a picture of them laying on a mattress, writing they spent the “ultimate birthday week” moving.
September 2024
In her Instagram Stories, Zegler promoted the premiere episode of Rivera’s show, American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez. Rivera was in the starring role as Hernandez.
October 2024
Rivera joined Zegler and actor Kit Connor at the Variety New York Party in October, according to Just Jared. Connor and Zegler played the leads in the new Broadway play production Romeo + Juliet. On October 20, he gushed about her performance at the Newport Beach Film Festival Honors Brunch.
“Rachel just made her Broadway debut, which is really, really, exciting,” Rivera said. “I went to see the show a couple weeks ago and it’s incredible. Everybody go see it. It’s so good.”
July 2025
A source told Us Weekly that Zegler and Rivera “quietly” broke up “late last year.” The confirmation came shortly after photos of Zegler kissing her Evita co-star Nathan Louis-Fernand circulated.
