Rachel Zegler leaves Evita stage mid-show after falling ill

Rachel Zegler, currently starring in Evita at London’s West End Palladium, abruptly exited Thursday evening’s performance due to illness, according to People.

The 24-year-old actress had performed the matinee earlier that day but was unable to continue the night show. During intermission, the production announced Zegler’s departure, and understudy Bella Brown took over the lead role of Eva Perón for the second act.

Brown opened the act with the show’s most iconic number, “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina,” and delivered a performance that earned her a standing ovation lasting nearly five minutes. She and the cast returned for 10 curtain calls. Sharing her thoughts on Instagram, Brown praised understudies and stand-ins, saying, “They are pillars of a show!” She later called the experience “a proud day to be at Evita.”

-Instagram.

Zegler’s absence comes amid a headline-making run of the Jamie Lloyd-directed production, which opened in June and continues through September 6. While many have praised Zegler’s West End debut, the staging choice for her performance of “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” — sung from a balcony outside the theatre while audiences inside watch via livestream — sparked controversy. Some ticketholders expressed frustration on social media, questioning the value of the experience. Others defended the choice, viewing it as a poignant symbol of accessibility for those unable to afford theatre admission.

The role is a personal milestone for Zegler, who previously shared that Evita had deep meaning to her and her father. “The stage has always felt like home to me,” she told Deadline in March.

Zegler’s off-stage life has also drawn attention recently. She was seen with dancer Nathan Louis-Fernand at a Sabrina Carpenter concert in July, following reports of her split from actor Josh Andrés Rivera. Her latest role follows a tumultuous year, including public backlash over her comments during Disney’s Snow White press tour and the film’s poor box office performance.