One of the lead cast in the brand-new musical I Should Be So Lucky, which features music from the likes of Kylie Minogue, Rick Astley and more, Lucie-Mae Sumner is a London-based musical theatre actor with a flair for entertaining. Here, she shares her life in loves from her favourite film to the book she keeps coming back to.
The last film I saw and loved… I’m a big fan of cinema and the last thing I popped in to see was Late Night With The Devil. I loved the brilliant concept of it. Myself and a couple of friends actually have a horror club where we discuss all things spooky and occasionally see movies together, it’s so much more fun in a group! We even have a podcast coming out soon so keep an eye out if you love horror and comedy.
The book I keep coming back to… is Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. I have recommended it to all of my friends – twice. It’s a beautifully rendered book about magic and loneliness and is moving in a way that is so rare.
I find inspiration in… everything. My notebooks are filled with half-baked ideas drawn from everyday conversations I catch snippets of on the train, dreams I’ve had, or throwing ideas around with friends. I have a creative bunch of close friends and most of us enjoy writing/creating on the side. So I guess most of all, they’re my main inspiration.
My favourite film is… Muppet Christmas Carol. I’m a puppeteer and it was a huge inspiration for me as a child. The songs are perfect, I love Christmas, and Michael Caine performs it like he’s gunning for the Oscar. I watch it religiously every year.
My career highlight is… probably seeing myself and some of my best mates on screen in the Titanic musical film. It was nerve-wracking to film a live performance to be preserved that way, but I’m so pleased we now have it forever and those real-life stories have been told to so many.
The song I listen to, to get in the zone is… at the moment, Texas Hold ‘Em by Beyoncé. I am utterly obsessed with her.
The last series I recommended is… Stranger Things. It is utterly astonishing.
I never leave the house without… SPF on my face and a book in my pocket
The film I still think about is… Women Talking. Or, more specifically, Claire Foy’s speech in Women Talking. An incredible feat.
My dream role would be… a complete surprise, probably. Anything I’ve expected to do, I haven’t, but then people have entrusted me with the most unexpected roles and they’ve been a challenge and a joy. I love a challenge.
The best advice I’ve ever gotten… “What’s for you won’t pass you by”. It’s overused but it’s never wrong.
The show that means the most to me is… West Side Story. It was one of the earliest scores I ever heard and I’ll just never be able to get over it.
My favourite moment in this show is… there’s a scene I have with the brilliant Matt Croke where Ella finally lets go of her distress about what’s happened to her and she gets a little tipsy, a little liberated. It’s so fun to bring her out a little in that moment but you’ll have to watch the show to see what happens!
The most challenging thing about being on stage is… often, it’s touring! Staying in a different bed every week and negotiating a new city can be really tough.
After a show, I… do a vocal cool down, shower and head straight home! I’ll usually ready my book (I’m currently reading Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellor) or watch something that doesn’t require too much concentration (my guilty pleasure is Love is Blind ). Ella’s a tough sing and she runs around a lot so I always make sure I get plenty of sleep and drink plenty of water to replace what I’ve lost during the show.
If I wasn’t an actor, I would be… a writer. But I do feel very strongly that it’s still something I’d like to explore.
The magic of theatre to me is… collaboration. I often wonder if the audience knows that they’re at least 80% of the show. The way it runs, the beats, that phenomenon of a room of people all joining to experience one thing together, despite being strangers – you are the show. That’s the best thing about it. You buy a ticket to be part of something and that can never be replicated by AI or a TV.
I Should Be So Lucky plays at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre May 7-11. Using music by Stock Aiken and Waterman, the production also features a digital Kylie Minogue who plays a gorgeous fairy godmother-type role throughout the show. Find more information and ticket info here.
Imagery courtesy Lucie-Mae Sumner.
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