D
22
Did you watch Annie growing up, and if so, what are your earliest memories of it? My earliest memories of Annie are seeing it at the cinema when I was a kid and just knowing the songs, belting out Tomorrow and It’s The Hard-Knock Life. I went to a stage school where it was pretty much a staple for any kid. We had quite a few kids who were in the original cast of Annie at our school, it was just part of our childhood and heritage growing up.
Miss Hannigan is one of musical theatre's most iconic villains. What attracted you to the role? I’ve wanted to play Miss Hannigan since I was a kid. When all my friends were obsessed with Molly, Annie, Pepper and Duffy, I always wanted to be Miss Hannigan. It’s such an iconic role and it’s come at the right stage in my life. I’ve had a wealth of life experience, and I feel it will be nice to bring all that to the role.
Why do you think Annie continues to resonate with audiences decades after it first premiered? Annie is a timeless show, and it resonates with audiences because somewhere in our brains we all know the songs. Every song is a hit, and the story is so heartfelt. It’s part of our culture from when we were growing up, and I think it’s one of the greatest musicals of all time.
You've worked across television, theatre and music throughout your career. What keeps drawing you back to the stage? Whatever I am doing I will always be drawn back to the stage. I absolutely love musical theatre, so much so that on my nights off I’m at the theatre most nights! I’m always drawn to it and I
LIVE24-SEVEN.COM
will continue to be drawn to it. It’s just a deep, engrained love.
Looking back on your career so far, where does Miss Hannigan rank among the characters you've played? Miss Hannigan, for me, is the pinnacle. It’s a role I’ve always wanted to play. A friend of mine gave me a collage for my 40th birthday, 15 years ago, with pictures of my life on there. And he superimposed my face onto the body of Paul O’Grady playing Miss Hannigan, so I’ve sat and looked at myself as Miss Hannigan for the last 15 years and I’ve just been manifesting it.
It’s tragic, it’s funny, it’s just a brilliant role. It’s got everything in it.
INTERVIEW CLAIRE SWEENEY
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116
