Emily-Mae on her second year of 'Hamilton' in the West End

London Theatre Magazine catches up with the Barnsley-born star as she heads into her second year at Hamilton as Angelica Schuyler.

When Emily-Mae graduated from drama school, she threw herself into auditioning, and landed in the room at Hamilton. In a word, she was terrified. “I was a baby!” she recalls, thinking back to her first attempt at getting into the show. She was cut in the second round of auditions, but that was far from the end of her journey across the UK’s professional scene.

Now eight years post-graduation, the charismatic actor is no stranger to the stage, having performed in shows such as Hairspray, The Bodyguard, Frozen and City of Angels. In 2024, Emily-Mae had a full-circle moment when she was cast as Angelica Schuyler in Hamilton. She tells London Theatre Magazine all about entering her second year in the role.

What made you want to stay at Hamilton for another year?

It’s such a great show, I feel very lucky to be a little cog in this amazing machine – and Angelica is just so interesting. Because the show moves so quickly, it sort of runs off on its own. It’s nice to get lost in that, and also find something different in it every day. And, to be candid, I just bought a flat – so the security doesn’t hurt!

What do you like about Angelica?

On the outside, she’s this bold, sassy, confident character, but she’s got a lot of vulnerability; she’s putting a really strong facade on a lot of the time. So, it’s interesting to play with that balance of how much vulnerability to show and hide.

Do you have a pre-show ritual that helps you get into character?

If I’ve downed something like six pints of water before I come into work, there’s something that tricks my mind into thinking, “Oh, it’s all going to be fine.” I just feel so much better when I’ve got water in me!

How do you get back to being Emily-Mae after the show?

I go and get undressed with the sisters, and it’s nice to have a quick debrief together. Taking my wig off is a real moment of shedding the character – you can’t be scrolling on your phone at the same time. The monotony and stillness of taking the pins out really focuses me.

What’s a dream role you’d love to play in another musical?

My favourite musical of all time is Little Shop of Horrors, and though I’ve been one of the Ronettes before, I’d love to have a go at Audrey. Or Elphaba in Wicked, of course – even just for a week before handing it over to someone else!

Book Hamilton tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Photo credit: Emily-Mae. (Courtesy of production). Inset: Nathania Ong, Emily-Mae and Simbi Akande. (Photo by Danny Kaan)