Rachel Zegler Jokes About Not Blinking in Front of Steven Spielberg on “West Side Story” Set: 'My Eyeballs of Steel'

Spielberg chose the then-unknown actress for the lead role of María in the 2021 movie after putting out an open casting call

Rachel Zegler is reminiscing about being directed by legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg.

The actress, 22, shared a throwback clip of herself in West Side Story on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, joking about the instruction she received from Spielberg, 76, while shooting one particular scene in the 2021 film.

"That time it was my first day on set and Steven Spielberg said 'whatever you do don’t blink,' " she wrote, alongside footage of her in character as María, walking toward the camera wearing her white dance dress and red belt.

"Imagine Janusz Kaminski putting a whole light in your face and you have to A) not blink, B) not tear up, and C) not die because it’s your first day on your first movie ever," she continued in a follow-up tweet, referring to the movie's cinematographer.

"This is why I won the golden globe. My eyeballs of steel," she jokingly added in a third tweet.

When Spielberg decided to tackle a remake of the 1961 musical classic, he put out an open casting call to find a fresh face for the lead role of María. Zegler — who at the time was attending college and working part-time as a wedding singer — was chosen from among more than 30,000 applicants from around the world.

Related: Rachel Zegler and Hunter Schafer on Their Favorite Hunger Games Costume: Elizabeth Banks’ ‘Iconic’ Butterfly Dress (Exclusive)

She earned rave reviews for her breakout performance in the 2021 movie, and took home a Golden Globe the following year for best actress in a comedy or musical. After her win, she posted an emotional reaction video on X showing a tear rolling down her face.

She also wrote of the coveted career accolade, "I got cast as maría in west side story on 1/9/19. And I just won a golden globe for that same performance, on 1/9/22. Life is very strange."

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Related: Rachel Zegler Remembers Seeing Hunger Games in Theaters at Age 10: 'Ingrained in My Memory Forever' (Exclusive)

Zegler's latest role as District 12 tribute Lucy Gray in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (in theaters now) was another pinch-me moment. While walking the red carpet for the film's London premiere earlier this month, she recalled seeing the original 2012 Hunger Games movie in the theater as a kid.

“I went with my sister and my mom to see it," she told PEOPLE, saying the experience is "ingrained in my memory forever."

Though she recently had a chance to meet Jennifer Lawrence and bond with her over their shared experience of starring in the franchise, Zegler told PEOPLE she's glad the pair didn't connect until after filming wrapped on the latest installment.

"[It] relieved the pressure and made us feel like we were able to do our own thing," she explained.

"Though, if she had ever wanted to give me tips, I absolutely would have been open to hearing them," she added.

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