Birchington hopeful Maisie Waller is one of 14 contestants battling it out on ITV’s Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream which airs this Sunday at 6pm.
The show, hosted by Zoe Ball, is a musical theatre competition to find the next Sophie and Sky for the smash West End production of ABBA show – Mamma Mia.
The character of Sophie is an exuberant bride-to-be, excited to be marrying her fiancé, Sky – there are seven hopefuls also competing for that role.
Sophie adores her mom, Donna, but has recently felt a longing to have her dad in her life…in fact, she has a longing to find out who he is.
Maisie,22, flew out to Corfu last May to film the show after beating thousands of other hopefuls to make the final seven competing for the role of Sophie.
The former Ocean Signal electronics manufacturer staff member is not professionally trained but still managed to wow the judges to gain a place on the show.
Maisie has taken lead parts in many local productions at venues including Margate’s Theatre Royal (pictured above) and is also a member of many three-piece band Diva Show.
Maisie says her favourite ABBA song is ‘My Love, My Life.’
She added: “It was featured in the MAMMA MIA! sequel and it was such a beautiful and emotional way to end the movie. It’s about Sophie and Donna’s relationship and I’m very close to my mother so I could relate.
“I covered the song on my YouTube channel and have had loads of lovely messages.”
Maisie reveals she has always loved the stage, saying: “ I have three sisters and when I was younger my mum put us all into musical theatre classes and I absolutely fell in love.
“My sisters realised it wasn’t for them, but I begged my mum to keep me in the classes and when I started performing in local amateur dramatics, I would try and do every show in the area no matter how big or small. I just wanted to be on stage. I spent all my free time in rehearsal!
“I’ve loved the character (of Sophie) ever since I first watched the Mamma Mia movie. I loved her bubbly personality and adventurous spirit. She has a close relationship with her mum that I can relate to. It’s the ultimate feelgood role and I can imagine it’s so much fun being up on-stage dong that role every night and I would love to do it.
“Opportunities like this don’t come around often for amateur dramatic performers like myself. As someone that’s had no formal training or contacts in the industry, it would be impossible for me to get an audition for anything professional, so I’m grateful to be given the opportunity.”
Maisie’s family will be watching the ITV show at the Birchington United Services Club as Maisie and the other contestants are put through their paces by judges Alan Carr, Jessie Ware, Samantha Barks and Amber Riley in the eight episode show.
It screens on ITV1 and ITVX at 6pm starting this Sunday (October 22).
