This week, Harvey Morton is thrilled to be reunited with the incredible Vivian Panka, who is currently making history as the first woman of colour to play Regina George in the UK and Ireland tour of Mean Girls.
In this conversation, Vivian opens up about:
✨ Holding the Secret – What it was like keeping her Mean Girls casting under wraps for months and the overwhelming response when the news finally dropped
🎭 Growing Up in Holland – How High School Musical sparked her love of musical theatre, and what it was like discovering shows like Wicked and Sister Act
🇬🇧 The Leap to the UK – Moving to a new country during the pandemic to star in 9 to 5, and the people like Louise Rednapp who showed her kindness when she had no family nearby
👑 Making History – The profound significance of being the first Black or mixed-race woman to play Regina George full-time, and the messages from parents and young people that remind her why representation matters
💪 Quiet Determination – How she advocated for herself by asking to be seen for Regina (not just Gretchen), and what gave her the confidence to go after what she wanted
🎤 Finding Regina – How she's making the iconic character her own, why Someone Gets Hurt and World Burn have both become favourites, and her Disney Channel pre-show playlist
📹 Documenting the Journey – Why she's vlogging the entire Mean Girls experience and what it means to share these moments with her audience
🌟 Learning from the Best – The invaluable lessons she's learned from working with Alice Fearn, Ryan Kopel, and other leading performers about professionalism, calm, and community
🎯 Dream Roles – She's already done two of her three dream shows (Dear Evan Hansen and Mean Girls)
💭 Advice to Her Younger Self – What she'd tell herself on that first terrifying day of 9 to 5 rehearsals, and why we all need to remember that "we aren't saving lives"
Vivian is honestly such a warm, kind, and hard-working person. Her journey from Holland to the West End stage is inspiring, but what strikes us most is her genuine desire to use her platform for good and to open doors for others. I think we could all learn to be more Vivian.
Follow Vivian:
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VivianPanka
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vivianpanka/?hl=en
See Mean Girls on Tour:
https://meangirlsmusical.com/#tour-dates