‘West Side Story’ star Rachel Zegler also stars in the podcast telenovela ‘Princess of South Beach’
The perfect recipe for a telenovela? Twins, separated at birth of course, one raised in a convent, one raised in a mansion. Throw in a tragic accident, a classic case of mistaken identity, and a cast of characters filled with suspicions, dark secrets and one handsome, but bumbling, prince, and you have got yourself a telenovela that would make Thalía jealous. Oh, and throw in a double dose of rising star Rachel Zegler to create “Princess of South Beach.”
Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, a new episode of “Princess of South Beach” drops in both English and Spanish. Nearing 30 episodes so far, don’t worry too much about catching up, since episodes are only 15 minutes each.
Okay, back to the plot. We open in only the most dramatic of fashions: a boat crash nearly kills Gloria Calderon, the rich and famous “Princess of South Beach.” Thankfully, friends and family saw her swim to shore before fainting, only Gloria has a secret. She’s dead.
Because María del Carmen, an orphan raised by nuns, was the lifeguard that day, and also happened to be Gloria’s long-lost twin sister. As Gloria’s lifeless body slipped from her grasp, María was the one who washed ashore and was mistaken for the socialite. When María is brought to the Calderons, she must decide whether to reveal herself, or to learn the dark secrets of the wealthy and powerful Calderon family.
“Princess of South Beach” is hilariously self-aware of it’s antics, but that only makes it that much more charming. Rachel Zegler voices both twins, blurring the lines of who’s speaking, making the story that much more interesting. Is it the ghost of Gloria? Is it María’s conscience eating away at her?
If you don’t recognize Zegler’s name now, then you will soon. Her big break came in 2018 when she was cast as María in Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of West Side Story at just 16 years old. Yes, Steven Spielberg discovered her when she was just 16 years old. We digress. The Leonard Bernstein musical was withheld from us an extra year, its release date pushed back to December 10, 2021. So, yeah, you could say that we’re anxiously awaiting to see the newest Forbes 30 Under 30 alum on the silver screen.
Do yourself a favor and listen to “Princess of South Beach.” Not only is it a sneak-peak at what Zegler’s career has in store for us, but it’s chock-full of drama, mystery, and probably murder. Because what’s a good telenovela without a little bit of murder? With all of the comedic instincts of Jane the Virgin mixed with the good old-fashioned back-stabbing of ’90s telenovelas, “Princess of South Beach” is a new take on an old classic.
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