Jessica Daley will play Lynette Pomeroy in An Officer and A Gentleman, which comes to Milton Keynes Theatre next week (July 9 - 14).
Jessica was a finalist on the BBC 1’s Over The Rainbow, and previous theatre credits include Mamma Mia! In the West End and the UK Tour of The Sound of Music.
She talked all things theatre with Total MK...
Tell us about your first memory of theatre
I played Kate, one of the orphans, in Annie for my local amateur dramatics society and it was an absolute hoot. I think I still have a pair of holey grey socks that I wore somewhere.
And the moment when you realised theatre was your calling
I always loved entertaining everybody at family gatherings when I was younger. I would always find some wacky way to make them laugh.
I remember dressing up in my best Tammy girl outfit and performing ‘Lady is a Vamp’ by the Spice Girls at one party and duetting with myself, impersonations included, to Celine Dion/Pavarotti’s duet ‘I Hate You Then I Love You’ at another party.
I think it was first dance teacher that called it though. One of the girls at my dance school used to perform an acro solo to My Heart Will Go On and I used to sing along to her music. My dance teacher pulled my Mam aside one day and told her to take me to singing lessons. I’ve not looked back since!
Any dreadful calamities, or funny happenings on stage that would care to share with us?
A few weeks ago I suffered my first ever bout of stage fright. I panicked for a full week after messing up a line unexpectedly one evening. It was TERRIFYING.
Which stage actor, living or dead, would you most like to meet, and at question would you ask them?
I really admire Barbra Streisand and how she seems completely fearless. I’d love to ask her if there’s ever been a moment she’s seriously doubted herself and her ability and how she overcome that, if so.
Do you have any superstitions, or pre-performance routines?
Not particularly. I tend to assess how focused I am when I’m doing my make-up for the show. Then I kind of do what I need to do depending on how I think I’m feeling. If I need perking up, I’ll put on some upbeat tunes. If I need to calm down, I’ll pop on a bit of folk or just enjoy the silence.
Oh, I do have a fist-pump/Hand-shake thing going on with my mate Jonny Fines, who plays Zack Mayo, that we do every night during the first number.
The best piece of advice given to you when you started in the business?
I’ve been conditioned from a young age that this industry is an uphill climb and you have to put in the hard work in order to get the results.
I’ve never expected it to be an easy ride from the very beginning. I tend to see every experience as a learning curve as a result!
What do you think has been your steepest learning curve?
100% has to be when we filmed Over the Rainbow for BBC1. I was relatively young at the time, at 18.
I picked up my life and moved away from home for the first time and it forced me to learn how to be independent.
Being judged on live television every Saturday night also taught me how to deal with good/bad criticism. Learning that not everybody out there is going to like you, or be a fan of what you have to offer as a performer, was a pretty harsh but INCREDIBLY useful lesson that I took away from that experience.
How do you fill spare time while on tour?
I like being a bit of a tourist in places that I haven’t visited before, I’m a bit of an explorer. I like to seek out good coffee and I love a good exhibition. I’m also partial to a bit of shopping...
Nerves or excitement? Which takes over just before the curtain rises?
Mostly excitement, though I sometimes feel the nerves when I have family/friends in the audience!
How can the future of theatre be safeguarded? What would you do to entice new blood to audiences?
We need to continue to make theatre as accessible as possible, for people from all walks of life - whether that be moderating the price of tickets or continuing to support performances for people with disabilities.
I also think it’s important to realise just how much influence theatre and the arts have on future generations, and how helpful they can be when it comes to expressing yourself as a young person in today’s society. I think it’s vital that we continue to create pieces of theatre that follow the times and cover subjects that relate, and challenge, the current climate.
Now tell us about the three favourite roles you have played so far and what makes them special
1. Ali in Mamma Mia - This was my first job out of ArtsEd and my West End debut. I also got to play opposite by best friend Steph, we had a brilliant year!
2. Maria in The Sound of Music - This was always a favourite movie of mine growing up. I never thought I’d ever get the chance to play this part, it was a lovely surprise!
3. Lynette in An Officer and a Gentleman - Creating my own version of this character for this brand new production has been nothing short of a creative gift. She’ll always hold a very special place in my heart.
Finally. Why should people come and see An Officer and a Gentleman...
Great tunes, great cast and an all-round great night out!
To book tickets click here
