A star of the hit musical Mamma Mia! is making it a family affair — appearing in the show 15 years after her mother led the cast.
Meg Hateley, 23, has debuted in the West End as Sophie in the musical inspired by the hit songs of Abba at the Novello Theatre. Sophie’s mother Donna was played by Meg’s own mother, Linzi, all those years ago.
The actress said taking on the part in the show felt like being in a “second home”. She told the Standard: “It’s strange but of anything I’ve ever done performing wise this is the most calm I’ve ever felt and there is definitely something about the show and the theatre that I feel at home in.
“There is also a whole load of the same faces working backstage, or part of hair and make-up or costume, who were people who worked on the show when my mum did, so I’m surrounded by those who also have a care for me and a connection so I feel so supported. It is the nicest way I could make my West End debut because I’m surrounded by people who knew me when I was little.”
Meg celebrated getting the part by tweeting a video of her singing along to the show aged eight in her mother’s dressing room.
8 year old me spent many evenings ‘doing homework’ in mums dressing room whilst she was onstage playing Donna (the mother) in Mamma Mia! West End 🇬🇷
— Meg Hateley (@MegHateley) September 8, 2022
15 years later I can’t believe I get to say that I will be playing Sophie (the daughter) in Mamma Mia! West End
See you there 💙 pic.twitter.com/45W0f1MdDi
She was lucky that all that time backstage as a child left her knowing the songs and the story “by osmosis”.
Meg said it had helped having someone “who knows first-hand” what the role involves. Her mother went to see the show three times in the first two weeks.
Linzi, 52, whose theatrical career has included roles in shows from Les Miserables to Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, admitted it had been “hugely emotional” seeing her daughter on stage.
She said: “The pride that I feel is extraordinary because it is my girl, and she is succeeding.
“Whatever she did I would feel huge pride in, but I suppose the fact it’s a show that I have been associated with myself makes it more special and more unusual.
“I never dreamt in a million years I would be sitting there on the other side watching my daughter do it so it’s wonderful and the tears were flowing a lot.”
She said people had asked her if she wanted to rejoin the show to share the stage with her. But she told them “this is very much Meg’s moment and I’m really very much enjoying being able to support her and be on the other side of it”.
Mamma Mia! opened in 1999 and is one of the longest-running shows in West End history. The story, which includes Abba hits such as SOS, Money, Money, Money and Super Trouper, was also adapted for a hugely successful film version starring Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan.
