We speak to actor and dancer Niamh Wilson about jumping into the Grease universe in GreaseRiseofthePinkLadies with her character Lydia, getting her own musical number, and more:
Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies is a fun new look at the world of the 1978 musical movie. The Paramount+ series takes place four years before the original Grease, and follows the establishment of the Pink Ladies girl gang. Thanks to the fact that Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies season 1 has 10 episodes, the series is also able to dive deep into the social dynamics of Rydell High and explore the lives of students of different backgrounds, social groups, and passions.
Years later, to have that pushed a step further and be in this production with these massive dance numbers, working with Jamal Sims and the whole choreography team, was so exciting and so fulfilling. It was really wonderful, but it definitely came as a surprise. I didn't think in a million years, when I got the first audition, that I would book this job.
When we got to the point of episode 5, I was like, “These are logical things that she would say, and it's all part of what makes Lydia, Lydia.” In episode 4, when I hadn't quite been there yet, there's that scene where they're talking about Romeo and Juliet and she's like, “It’s so trite.” In that moment, when I was still kind of finding her, because that was only my second episode, I was really channeling Miranda Priestly in her character there.
Ari and I really worked at forging a good relationship with one another. I first met them in the chemistry read, and then before we started filming--I only flew in maybe one or two nights before my first day on set—Ari was lovely and invited me out for dinner. We got a chance to meet and talk about the storyline and the characters before stepping on set.
I want to ask you about your song “Merely Players”. Can you kind of walk through the process of putting that together? You’re in the studio first, doing vocals, and then you had to film on a bunch of different sets, I imagine, for the choreography. Then, once all of everything was recorded, we had to wait months until filming the actual thing. We didn't film “Merely Players” until mid-April, I think. With the scene in the kitchen having been my chemistry read scene, I was so excited. I knew it was coming, and I was so excited to film it.
Niamh Wilson: We filmed them the same day, because the kitchen leads into the musical number. They built the set so they could pull the walls away so that we could come around into the number. I think because I had read that scene so many months prior in the chemistry read, it was so deeply ingrained in my brain already that there weren’t really any nerves around it. I was just excited to do it, whereas having never done a musical before, I'd never lip-synced.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Jurors begin deliberations in trial of Stop & Shop shooting suspect Gabriel WilsonClosing arguments wrapped up Tuesday in the trial of a man accused in a deadly shooting at a Long Island grocery store.
Read more »
Willie Wilson to write series of exclusive columns for Tribune’s opinion sectionChicago business owner and former mayoral candidate Willie Wilson is writing a series of columns for the opinion section, focusing on important issues facing Chicago and possible solutions. His columns will appear in print and online every other Thursday.
Read more »
Goodman Theatre hosts national competition in the name of playwright August Wilson'Your spirit can fit inside these words. So I think that's an important skill to have. Blackness is not just contained into the skin, but it's also a culture that's important.'
Read more »
Cannes: Bobby Cannavale, Elizabeth Debicki, Ruth Wilson Teaming on Romantic Thriller ‘Andorra’ for James Ivory (Exclusive)'My Policeman' banner Independent Entertainment will launch sales on the 'Kafkaesque tale of murder, love and deception' — from director Giuseppe Capotondi — in the Marche du Film.
Read more »