People say that even if you don’t recognise a famous face when you pass one in the street, they still have a superstar quality about them that turns your head. ‘They must be a celebrity,’ we mutter under our breaths, and scorn the lack of reverse-Google Image search in the real world.
The innate starpower of these born performers gives them an aura, a glow, a whiff of godly magnetism. If you don’t believe me, scroll on through these photos of actor, Chloé Zuel, who plays Eliza Hamilton (the lead female role!) in Australia’s production of Hamilton.
Despite this seemingly inexhaustible energy that comes with a performer’s confidence, stage work is a gruelling, exhausting and nerve-wracking job. But it’s also an exhilarating one, particularly when it’s in a musical at the forefront of a pop culture reckoning. When it debuted on Broadway in 2015, Hamilton swept up a record 16 nominations at the Tony Awards, winning 11 of them – plus a Pulitzer Prize for Drama for its writer and star, Lin Manuel Miranda. Its world domination has continued steadily, with the production landing on Sydney’s sunny shores last year and now making it’s way to Melbourne in the coming months.
Amongst this heady mix of glamour and the grit, we followed Chloé around for a day in her hardworking shoes to see just what it’s like behind the scenes of the world’s most famous musical. Between morning meditation at her home in Clovelly to battling nerves and navigating upside-down days (she has dinner at 5pm and starts work after!) – we talked self-doubt under the spotlight, making musicals cool again, and, of course, work!
