Hi Amy, you’re currently playing Mrs Wormwood in the West End production of Matilda The Musical. Tell us about your experience with the show so far…
I’m having a fabulous time bringing this iconic story to life! It’s a really exciting year to be involved with the production – it really is a team effort. This diverse and talented cast bring such inspiration to young audiences everywhere, which is very special. I was and still am a big fan of Roald Dahl and his stories, so it’s great to get the chance to give my own take on Mrs Wormwood. With the global success of the movie born too, it’s bringing a wider audience to us here in the West End than ever before which is marvellous.
Mrs Wormwood is Matilda’s mother, who if you don’t know from the musical, you may remember from the books and film is a pretty bad mum – in a hilarious Roald Dahl sort of way! Is she fun to play?
Mrs Wormwood is an incredibly fun woman to play. She has a rather specific way of parenting – suffice to say, she doesn’t have one! Her one true love is ballroom dancing and all she wants is to win the Salsa Championships in Paris. She definitely rules the roost, bossing her husband around, and always likes to get her own way! Dennis Kelly – the writer – has taken the imagination of Roald Dahl and created witty dialogue of his own, which makes my task easy and helps to make my character one of those you really do love to hate.
Matilda has a huge cast, not only of adults but of child actors too! What’s it been like working with a cast full of kids?
Being around such talented young humans brings you huge perspective, joy and humility, especially the older you get. You see it all through their eyes, which keeps you very grounded and reminds you of why you started out in the business in the first place.
Matilda premiered in 2010 with the RSC before moving to the Cambridge Theatre in the West End. It’s been running without interruption (unless you count the pandemic years…) ever since. Why do you think the show has had such success and longevity?
Matilda The Musical is timeless. It is moving, hilarious, stunning to look at and appeals to every generation, with the most beautiful score and story at its heart. It spreads vital messages too, especially to younger members of the audience: that you must always stick up for what’s right, can achieve anything in life even if the odds are stacked against you, and to be the hero or heroine of your own life.
Tim Minchin famously wrote the songs for this show. Does his style differ from other musicals that you’ve been in?
Tim Minchin is one of those rare and special talents whose unique style really takes a story or a moment to the next level. He has a knack of capturing the mood of a moment, and the power of his music and lyrics can make you laugh and cry. Occasionally I’ll hear a distinct combination of his that reminds me of Victoria Wood or Stephen Sondheim; all of them are magicians and artists in their own right, and the most generous and humble of humans too. Getting the chance to sing and interpret songs like theirs is always a dream come true.
What’s your favourite song in Matilda and why?
The songs are all good for their own reasons and I’m not just saying that because I’m in the show! Each one elevates the story so beautifully and evokes a wide spectrum of emotions in me. Tim and Chris Nightingale, our Orchestrator, are such masters of their craft.
Apart from Matilda, what has been your favourite role to date?
So tricky to answer, as each of the characters I’ve had the opportunity to give life to over the last 22 years have satisfied a different part of my soul, or given me something creatively that the other hasn’t. I do love playing the polar opposite of what I’ve previously done if the chance arises – and the challenge that brings. I also very much enjoy playing strong, complex female characters; for example some have been The Bakers Wife in Into The Woods, Margaret New in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Lois Lane in Kiss Me Kate & now Mrs Wormwood, each very different and each so rewarding. Ultimately, I like being pushed out of my comfort zone; when you allow yourself to be authentic and put all your vulnerabilities on the table, you can produce much more exciting stuff. You can really surprise yourself at times. The transformative nature of being an actor thrills me no end.
What are the best and worst things about your job?
I honestly don’t think there’s a ‘worst’ thing about performing, it’s such a vocation for me. Like every job, it has its downsides, but what I cling to is the immense happiness we give to audiences, the community and company we bring either in the theatre or into their homes and the opportunity for escapism and education. People can be transported to another world for a few hours and offered the chance to be moved or feel accepted; those things are priceless to me. I think we all learnt the hard way how vital the arts and music were to us all during the sad events of 2020, so those are the best things about what I do for a living.
If you hadn’t been a musical theatre performer, what would you have done?
I’ve known nothing else and have had such a huge drive and passion for performing ever since I owned my first pair of tap shoes at 2yrs old. I do adore animals though so perhaps, in another life, I would work in conservation and help do my bit to save the beautiful wildlife that inhabits our planet.
What are you excited about for the rest of 2023?
In this business, you never know what’s around the corner, so who can tell what’s ahead for me in 2023. As always, I’m going to enjoy the ride, hope for good health, strength and happiness, be the best person I can be, and have plenty of giggles along the way.
