Broadway and West End star of Anastasia, Nicholas Cunningham, answers some candid, everyday questions
The state of my hair is …
Show ready, classic, coiffed to Imperial Russian – Playful Parisian perfection!
The state of my heart is …
Full. I recently transitioned home to Australia after living in New York for fifteen plus years, and I’m so grateful to be part of Anastasia and the magnificent company that surrounds me. I look forward to the laughter and love I experience every day!
The state of my underwear drawer is …
Neat as a pin. I wear briefs and have a shocking amount of swimwear.
The best accessory I ever bought is …
A smile. Well, you can’t buy a smile, but I do believe it’s the best accessory one can have.
The most famous person I’ve met is …
Mariah Carey and The Queen. In my eyes, both are Queens.
Back in high school, I was …
Different and stood out. Being the artistic type and gay, I knew I’d have to find my crew. As tough as it was, I learned about resilience, persistence, and confidence. It taught me many things I’d use later in life, and how to implement them in an industry I chose to be part of. Through those lessons, I found my own version of ‘home, love, and family’. It’s a strong parallel to the character of Anya in Anastasia. A woman searching for her identity, for her place in the world, for her family, and discovering who she really is.
The best thing about live theatre is …
The human connection.
The worst thing about live theatre is …
Mobile phones!
Matt with Nicholas Cunningham
I feel sad when …
A chapter comes to an end. There have been so many, and being a performer can really put you in that position frequently. Finding gratitude in those moments of closure is important to regaining happiness and joy.
I’m shit scared of …
Finite goodbyes.
People don’t know that I once …
Worked as a Certified Lifeguard.
When alone in my car, I …
Sit in silence. I often do it at home too!
If you want to make my blood boil, start talking about …
Taking any sort of dig at Mariah Carey.
My best on-stage stuff-up was …
During an opening scene in La Cage aux Folles on Broadway. My bustier broke when I cracked a bullwhip during a scene with Kelsey Grammar, and he graciously fixed the blunder while I continued my lines. The audience was in uproarious laughter, and you can watch it on YouTube.
My secret food indulgence is …
A ‘fridge cigarette’ (Diet Coke).
If I travelled a different path, I’d now be …
A veterinarian or zoologist.
If I could have one superpower, it would be …
Teleportation. Travelling nowadays is such a hassle.
My favourite all-time television character is …
Each of The Golden Girls. They are the main characters of my life.
The song that makes me smile and want to dance is …
Baby, I’m A Star, by Prince. It’s iconic!
The song I can never get out of my head is …
Journey to the Past, from Anastasia, and I get to listen to Georgina Hopson sing it eight times a week. It’s magnificent.
My straight mates are …
All in musical theatre, and I love them!
Anastasia is currently playing at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre
For more visit: anastasiathemusical.com.au
Follow Nicholas on Instagram @nicholaslouiscunningham
