[SPEAKER_00]: I'm a gay up name for a gay up podcast.
[SPEAKER_01]: Layton Williams is calling from her dressing room at Titanic on Broadway, Layton Williams.
[SPEAKER_01]: You're on that's a gay as podcasts.
[SPEAKER_01]: Thank you so much for being here.
[SPEAKER_01]: How does it feel to be on Broadway recording a gay as pod?
[SPEAKER_00]: Um, what a privilege.
[SPEAKER_00]: What an honor.
[SPEAKER_00]: Um, it's she.
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
[SPEAKER_00]: I've not done that many podcasts since podcast is.
[SPEAKER_00]: Do you say that?
[SPEAKER_00]: Good star Listen, I'm not gonna lie my brain is fried currently.
[SPEAKER_00]: I am you know
[SPEAKER_00]: She's on Broadway eight times a week, but you know, this is we're just going to a lot.
[SPEAKER_00]: We've we've come to got a mouth infestation, but I'm here.
[SPEAKER_00]: I showed up and yeah, we're going to make it work.
[SPEAKER_01]: And listen, sometimes when our brains are fried, that's when we can speak from our true self and just let it rip.
[SPEAKER_01]: And so late in Williams, we're going to ask you so many controversial questions about Broadway about your history.
[SPEAKER_01]: But I think most importantly, we should start off with we share the same last
[SPEAKER_00]: Um, maybe distantly, um, what you very, very distantly who knows.
[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe I have some American where do you from?
[SPEAKER_00]: Do you know your, your history?
[SPEAKER_01]: My, my history is I'm like Polish Jew.
[SPEAKER_00]: Okay, I'm going to say we're popping we on.
[SPEAKER_01]: Are you not, are you not Polish Jew as well?
[SPEAKER_00]: No, I actually did do, I don't know if you have the show here, but it's called, um, in the UK, um,
[SPEAKER_00]: Who do you think you are?
[SPEAKER_00]: And I like fully went into like all of my ancestry and they took me to Jamaica and like I've got like a book that is like this thick of like every bitch in my family, not not me called them from my ancestors bitch child.
[SPEAKER_00]: Um, every home that ever was in my life.
[SPEAKER_01]: I think you're ancestors who have been dearly departed.
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, for any of us to all have been here, everyone must have heard at some point because there was a child child.
[SPEAKER_00]: So, waking up?
[SPEAKER_01]: No, I love.
[SPEAKER_01]: I love that we have that connection.
[SPEAKER_01]: I do find that most Williams' I have met are not white, so it's kind of an honor for me to represent.
[SPEAKER_01]: To be that.
[SPEAKER_01]: Thank you, Williams.
[SPEAKER_00]: Welcome.
[SPEAKER_01]: Thank you so much.
[SPEAKER_01]: It is an honor.
[SPEAKER_01]: I do think I'm willing because of like an Ellis Island situation.
[SPEAKER_01]: It might have been changed from like a Williams steam, but we support their truth.
[SPEAKER_01]: We support.
[SPEAKER_00]: And that's funny.
[SPEAKER_00]: You say that actually, I was just the last podcast that I listened to.
[SPEAKER_00]: It was Tiki Palmer.
[SPEAKER_00]: Love her down.
[SPEAKER_00]: We're like, we're going to be friends one day and it was just be, it would make sense.
[SPEAKER_00]: But she was, she was doing a podcast with Michelle Williams.
[SPEAKER_00]: So
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh my god, and speaking of the black one of the white one, but I saw myself black one in depth becomes her umbrella way.
[SPEAKER_00]: Not the black one, Jeff.
[SPEAKER_00]: But you know what I'm saying.
[SPEAKER_01]: Okay, so um, we need to let the listeners know if they don't already, uh, late in Williams was just nominated for a tonity award for his performance as the iceberg herself in Titanic, you won the, oh, there's that's my certificate there.
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm too lazy to like, I'm gonna get it.
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm like in, I'm all cozyed up right now, but um, maybe I'll bring it at the end.
[SPEAKER_00]: It took me about 10 minutes to do this set up.
[SPEAKER_00]: So I can be nice and cozy, but she's there.
[SPEAKER_01]: and I'm glad that you are cozy for this chat because I want to talk about the Olivier award win that you got.
[SPEAKER_01]: I want to hear about the Tony award evening.
[SPEAKER_01]: I also think it's important before we ask the gay ass podcast question of whose fault is it that your gay?
[SPEAKER_01]: We should start with some hard-hitting gay journalism, which is that you recently saw Ariana Grande with a lot of the Titanic cast, including Frank
[SPEAKER_01]: Guy Grande, Jim Parsons, John Riddle, friend of the podcast, also Mother Grande.
[SPEAKER_01]: Tell me, ladies and gentlemen, what is the VIP experience like at an Ariana Grande show?
[SPEAKER_00]: Honestly, it's like...
[SPEAKER_00]: not to be cornered but I think it was just so magical to kind of be there and like no when you're watching a show but like it's you're like stood next to the superstars like mother or like like just to see that love from you know the family and i've got to say like the grandday's have been so beautifully generous in everything that they've done i'm not sure if this is like widely known but um drone ground day is a co-producer but the leading co-producer on the show so we've been standing drone from day to
[SPEAKER_00]: and she's been a dream with me personally so I only can say fabulous things about the woman she's just like unbelievable and Frankie is my like he's my room or not my room roommate he's we don't share room but he's right next door there
[SPEAKER_00]: and kind of what you see is what you get with him.
[SPEAKER_00]: It's just like he's crazy yes, but there's so much love and so much heart, which people knew that a lot more.
[SPEAKER_00]: I see what what goes down online and you know sometimes I'm just like, well, you could actually see what I see because like you're you're just fabricating stupidness.
[SPEAKER_00]: So to be with them, it was magical truly.
[SPEAKER_01]: I
[SPEAKER_01]: can only imagine.
[SPEAKER_01]: And I have to piggyback on the Frankie Grande event all.
[SPEAKER_01]: I have noticed that the internet has given her so many issues over the years, but the more I love it, don't they?
[SPEAKER_01]: They really do.
[SPEAKER_01]: I think it's partly because Frankie is so who he is and in all of his colors.
[SPEAKER_01]: And I think that people don't like someone who takes up space.
[SPEAKER_01]: But I've been seeing so much of the press that he has done for Titanic and also I know he's promoting his book.
[SPEAKER_01]: And
[SPEAKER_01]: I think you can really tell more and more like how how how much depth he does have.
[SPEAKER_01]: And it's it's it's it's a shitty thing on two levels.
[SPEAKER_01]: It's like, you know, straight people who don't want to see a gay person be themselves.
[SPEAKER_01]: But also a lot of a gay guys that have self hatred that.
[SPEAKER_01]: I think it's important for us to.
[SPEAKER_00]: It's as well sometimes.
[SPEAKER_00]: It's the same thing with women like, you know, the number one hate is going to be other women.
[SPEAKER_00]: It's just like it's actually just it's silly but but to be kind of welcome to into that space on that night and just see like a literal dare I say like one of
[SPEAKER_00]: of this generation, the most iconic pop divot vocalist hands-down life.
[SPEAKER_00]: Like you can't the mic was born.
[SPEAKER_00]: There's no, it's just, it's actually extraordinary how she can do that like night after night.
[SPEAKER_00]: because we know what it's like, couldn't you know to me, what we're out here doing it eight times a week, but to be as a sustain that level of vocal is that's some next level talent.
[SPEAKER_01]: I had friends who saw the show that you were at in New York, and they said the exact same thing, which is that she is otherworldly.
[SPEAKER_01]: And I, I don't think I've, I've never seen Ari on a live, but I need to fix that because I have, she has been one of the reasons I've been gay for for so many years,
[SPEAKER_01]: I think it's a good segue into asking you, late in Williams, the famous gay ass podcast question, which is, whose fault is it that you're gay?
[SPEAKER_01]: Who do we blame, babe?
[SPEAKER_00]: Honestly, to know what, and don't think I had like a fit P teacher annoying there, I think my was kind of crusty, so it's definitely not one of them.
[SPEAKER_00]: Um, it could potentially be
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, I was a little bit, I mean, 94, I think was one of the years where they had their big moment.
[SPEAKER_00]: That's when I was born.
[SPEAKER_00]: So I have to feel like I was born into spice world and I grew up with like two young to kind of be standing in their concerts.
[SPEAKER_00]: Later in life, I actually went to their concert with my mom, the recent, the last one, which was beautiful to be there with mom.
[SPEAKER_00]: Like,
[SPEAKER_00]: I love, we're just so much go, um, it might be the spice potion, because I was bumping and grinding to them really specifically and there was just something about
[SPEAKER_00]: not being a girl, not being so obsessed with go power and not understanding why I loved love them more than anything in anybody else, you know?
[SPEAKER_01]: I do know.
[SPEAKER_01]: I also can only imagine what a young gay boy in the UK would feel about the Spice Girls because us American gays are already so taken, but you were born really into their history of the year that you were born was their, you know, being at the top of the charts
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, have you ever met any of the spice girls?
[SPEAKER_00]: I actually have, I actually was like, I think I invited Mel, I've got Mel B's number, don't, I don't know, so random that I've got Mel B's number.
[SPEAKER_00]: And she'd like, do you know when someone texted you, but you're so scared, it's like, what can I actually say to Mel B's or like, I didn't text her back for ages.
[SPEAKER_00]: We actually sat together, so I did have her in the West End, and the week before I was due to play the NC, I went to go see the show by myself,
[SPEAKER_00]: of course, I'm sad next time I'll be like I was like this is correct.
[SPEAKER_00]: So she was just living in another and then there's this moment in the second act when the cast kind of like get that did you I'm not sure if you saw it here on Broadway but at the end, whether they did the same but they bring somebody up.
[SPEAKER_00]: or a few people to kind of do like a little like, you know, you know, all these processes patient, one thing about me when I'm on at one, but bitch, do not get me up.
[SPEAKER_00]: If I'm off to a, I am off to the vocal is off, the body is off.
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, I really don't like being in and around the fourth world when I'm just like, uh, let's am pissed.
[SPEAKER_00]: And there's a, there's a drunk, you know what I mean?
[SPEAKER_00]: And I wasn't, I was just like trying to take it in and I thought, also it's just not classy for me to be getting up on that stage while it's like, I'm about to take over there.
[SPEAKER_01]: Right.
[SPEAKER_00]: Do you know what I mean?
[SPEAKER_00]: They're like, what's he doing on the stage?
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, just bitch, you've got one more week and it'll be yours.
[SPEAKER_00]: For Mel was like, trying to, she was like, go on, go on, go on, go out there, go up there.
[SPEAKER_00]: So I had to, afterwards I was like, she was like, I thought, so were you, were you shy and I was like, girl.
[SPEAKER_00]: You don't know me, you don't know me, but like I've been shy of that I'm like a performer and then we had those back and forth issues that I was I've been on board with I was like I know babe, like I've seen your beautiful cuts of a friend and Chicago iconic Yes, so we had like a little back and forth and you should be saying give me a number like I'll come and see you and I was like what the fuck not thinking that she would actually text me and she did
[SPEAKER_00]: So, yes, I saw that she was in, she was doing like an activation for some kind of, you know, hashtag at some at the New York.
[SPEAKER_00]: And I was like, do you know what?
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to shoot my shot and thinking she wouldn't text back, but she looks at you.
[SPEAKER_00]: I was like, thanks.
[SPEAKER_00]: I've already gone but next time that I was stepped through, so yeah, so that's Ron Mel.
[SPEAKER_00]: The second Mel that was a long story for Mel, but she deserves it.
[SPEAKER_00]: She's a spicy girl.
[SPEAKER_00]: Mel, see, I've met a few times.
[SPEAKER_00]: We did this.
[SPEAKER_00]: Sure.
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm don't know how I didn't get picked up.
[SPEAKER_00]: People's called Queens, Queens of the universe, I think, and it was like a pilot.
[SPEAKER_00]: It was me, Korn Yacht, a comedian called Rob, and then Melcy as judges.
[SPEAKER_00]: And we picked like, well, not we, but the producers, it could be a soap start, it could be like TV star, a comedian like all these blocs, and they got into drag.
[SPEAKER_00]: Unlike a satinite, prime time TV show, and they had to look one how to do comedy, one how to do a dance, one how to do songs, so they all did different elements of what drag is.
[SPEAKER_00]: Next kind of amazing for the time,
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, you have these people that everyone loved from TV doing full purpose on Saturday night TV, and I was just sat next to them and I'll see it like this was also before I was like late molyms and UK, like I wasn't, I was kind of on the way up, but I was like bitch, I'm sat next to them and I'll say
[SPEAKER_01]: That's what I can see you on a judging panel so clearly.
[SPEAKER_00]: I really love it.
[SPEAKER_00]: I love it.
[SPEAKER_01]: You so know the biz so you can uplift but also not the need of bitch but you can also give it to them straight but also from a place of love because this is what I find about you that's so interesting is that for people who might not know late millions played Billy in Billy Elliot on the West End as a literal child.
[SPEAKER_01]: you then debuted on television at 14 years old in beautiful people alongside one of our favorite character actresses Olivia Coleman.
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, then had a breakout role in bad education in 2012.
[SPEAKER_01]: You started everybody's talking about Jamie.
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, you've had this crazy career in addition to all the other things.
[SPEAKER_01]: But yet, we can all tell from the jump, you're not a monster.
[SPEAKER_01]: You're already such a good hand.
[SPEAKER_01]: like you're such a like clearly lovely person on and off mic.
[SPEAKER_01]: Why do you think you're not a monster after achieving such success from such a young age?
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, I'm sure there's some people in the world that will think of a monster at all.
[SPEAKER_00]: Depends what time it day you get me out.
[SPEAKER_00]: But no, I genuinely believe I think because I'm from quite humble beginnings, like I feel like DV shape is like an and like a
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, there's certainly moments that order I get in my career and the less fucks I give and I'm not more, I know what I deserve.
[SPEAKER_00]: I definitely can be like, well, this is, this is what I need ABC blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know, I just see, I'm just a good time girl.
[SPEAKER_00]: I love to have a law, I love to have a gigal, I love to have a fun, I just think it's so much easier backstage to be like to get through work with that energy, because I've seen how.
[SPEAKER_00]: I've probably done contract with people like her.
[SPEAKER_00]: Like he's a dick, maybe.
[SPEAKER_00]: And it depends what I'm going through personally in that moment, but from leading a show at such a young age,
[SPEAKER_00]: I really did learn how it can really trickle down if there's a bad egg at the top.
[SPEAKER_00]: Especially when I was so brilliant as my first job and then all these years later what 15 years later I'm playing Jamie in the West End and it took that long for me to play its title role again.
[SPEAKER_00]: And I was like, this time as an adult, I really want to show, like, if I walk into the building, moaning and groaning and, oh, I've got to say it's harder than the, how the fuck do you think everybody else underneath me is not underneath me, but like, talks a long term, but you know what I'm saying?
[SPEAKER_00]: It's like, yeah, the fuck, how are they, if I'm, they know I'm getting a key check, they know my faces on the front of the building, they know like, I'm the star, I'm doing
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm coming in with this bad vibes, then it's just going to trickle down and I've seen it from company members that haven't necessarily been, you know, a good leader.
[SPEAKER_00]: So I tried as much as I can just to lead well.
[SPEAKER_00]: I also think, you know, I celebrate 20 years in the business next year, which sounds crazy.
[SPEAKER_00]: because I don't feel that old.
[SPEAKER_01]: But yeah, but there was a line these four Jesus.
[SPEAKER_00]: Do you know what I mean?
[SPEAKER_00]: I like I do like to take people under my wing and whenever I can give a little wisdom like I'm I fear I'm stepping it into like an on to mother ever even though literally don't want.
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
[SPEAKER_00]: Thank you.
[SPEAKER_00]: My two boys that shared the dressing room with me that played Jack in how in the West End they called me mother And both of them are all of me because I just have this like this this like they were like mother like a bird
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, we've seen some things, no, there's just from the get-go, is that hey boys, so, and this, no, I don't think this is David, but like, I think we should discuss some dressing moments, like we should have been eating, stinking, dirty, but in, like, let's respect each other, there's a green room for a reason, and a microwave there, like, and they've just looked at me like, shit, a bitch.
[SPEAKER_00]: because listen, it's been a while since I should address the room.
[SPEAKER_00]: So I was like, if we're gonna do this, let's do this in harmony.
[SPEAKER_01]: And you know what, that's someone who knows their worth, but also is not afraid to speak their needs and to exist.
[SPEAKER_01]: And I also think it's probably the fact that you've seen so much stuff is that you've seen so many stars probably from like the full spectrum of behavior.
[SPEAKER_01]: Like the fact that you're doing a Broadway show right now with the Yess Marlimandel who did this pot a few years ago when we stand her.
[SPEAKER_01]: But also with Jim Parsons who was on one of the biggest television shows of all time in the US for so many years
[SPEAKER_01]: eight shows a week with this incredible company like you've worked with people who have reached the top and you yourself have reached crazy heights.
[SPEAKER_01]: I think it's like you've seen that you've seen success doesn't mean you like a different person.
[SPEAKER_01]: It's really how you treat people that is important.
[SPEAKER_01]: Since we're bringing up Titanic, I think it's important to get into a few specific questions.
[SPEAKER_01]: One that might be controversial, since you play the iceberg,
[SPEAKER_01]: If we put ice in your drink, what shape?
[SPEAKER_01]: Cubebad?
[SPEAKER_01]: Crescent?
[SPEAKER_01]: Pebbled?
[SPEAKER_00]: Diamond.
[SPEAKER_01]: I knew you'd give a good retort.
[SPEAKER_01]: On second titanic question is, you had this beautiful Tony evening, but on gas podcasts, we really get into the real alley-tay of it all.
[SPEAKER_01]: What happens to somebody who gets nominated for a Tony, they find out they did not win that Tony, are you still able to enjoy the rest of the evening?
[SPEAKER_01]: It seems like you really cut up.
[SPEAKER_00]: babes that was literally win or lose one thing about me and no I'm gonna fucking party and famously oh shit that's a I'm working on my own show at the moment and I'm trying to find these clips of like just stupid things I've said and this is one of them the first interview I had backstage at the NBA so I was just like
[SPEAKER_00]: I just want to part it like, and lose even more so I don't want to use the word lose but like not go my way.
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
[SPEAKER_00]: I was just ready to to find my mom to find my partner.
[SPEAKER_00]: My besties were in town and I ended up like getting my life with Nicole Shersey for literally.
[SPEAKER_00]: hours.
[SPEAKER_00]: And if I could put this into perspective, like, I've been an O.G.
[SPEAKER_00]: Pascal or fan from day-to-day, and they know now, and we're all really, it's even crazy to say out loud.
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, we're actually friends, like, I know pretty much all of the dolls.
[SPEAKER_00]: Over the years, like, I mean, actually you've got clothes, like, I know Kimberly, like, and then the cold was like the final one that I really needed to get to and it was, it happens to be turning tonight.
[SPEAKER_00]: So at this point, this is a win for me because a few would have told, like,
[SPEAKER_00]: 13 year old late in Hude knows every single bit of choreography to every single music video life performance and not kidding.
[SPEAKER_00]: More so than the dolls, by the way, I bumped into Robin Anton the first time I met her, I was pissed as a bar at the like a press night and she said for those who don't know Robin Anton is the creator of the Postcat dolls.
[SPEAKER_00]: and I cornered her, and I was like, I taught her how much the big fun it was.
[SPEAKER_00]: And she was like, okay then, and she kept spitting, like, you know, random numbers, like, should be like, bottom-up, and buttons, don't you?
[SPEAKER_00]: And I would like perform the numbers for her in the corner of a theatre bar.
[SPEAKER_01]: which shows that late Williams has the range.
[SPEAKER_01]: You can do it on a week.
[SPEAKER_01]: Star would also appreciate that.
[SPEAKER_00]: So that for me was just, and there was a there was lots of invites to these beautiful crazy parties.
[SPEAKER_00]: What's that one that everyone goes to?
[SPEAKER_01]: Look for the chance.
[SPEAKER_00]: Colton.
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, but after the attorneys, the one where it's like, I wish I could be that girl I could say, oh, it's this one I haven't There's like a party like people that listen to public, it's like real famous, you know, and but by purpose is, you know, shout out to them, they got me like the cute invites, but it's just like I'm not going to leave
[SPEAKER_00]: my mom, my boyfriend, and my bestie is also like, this is, let's say at this party, thank you James Lloyd for organizing that party, and let's just get our lives eventually once everyone wants to bed, let's go try and get into this exclusive party, five, eight, and then we're like, kind of like, I think I think this is going to be in the, I was like, yeah, I wouldn't let me
[SPEAKER_00]: twice on the West End and on Broadway.
[SPEAKER_00]: Oh, look.
[SPEAKER_01]: I think it's one of the best performances I've ever seen on Broadway, truly.
[SPEAKER_00]: Honestly, because I came back here last year and I've said I already seen the show so I was doing my rounds if there's trips and I was just like, I can't not see my gotten a call again.
[SPEAKER_00]: So I can't just see the show on Broadway.
[SPEAKER_00]: and we would do an update home after the show on this very stage and if you would have told me last year that me me in a call backstage thanks to Tom Francis because I know him from the UK of course UK honey's if you would have told me a year later I would be also performing on that stage I would have been like yeah whatever you really just don't know what and when these things are going to happen
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, I mean, the fact that you've had this 20 year career and then you're 31 and then we can only imagine the next five years, 10 years.
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, I sort of, it's it's it's it's actually a nice way to look at things because I myself get really bogged down by the day to day of like am I not doing enough.
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm like a Virgo who always thinks that I'm okay.
[SPEAKER_01]: Shout out.
[SPEAKER_01]: When's your birthday?
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, I don't really know that much about Virgo's other than Beyonce is one.
[SPEAKER_01]: So obviously, that's the most important thing.
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm at 21st of September, so on the last day of Virgo, but very much of Virgo through and through and I don't know.
[SPEAKER_01]: There's just like there's an intensity to us that can be great, but then on the other side, it's like, it's a lot of animals.
[SPEAKER_00]: I literally, you call me a good time, because I had therapy today, so that's why I feel like I've been doing so much trying.
[SPEAKER_00]: I am very much like people think and I'm going to be real like people think you know you've got the Olivia you've got to turn you know you must be like buying away this it's just not the reality like we even at this point and at this level and I I think I'm in this like middle ground like I'm not this alist Tom Holland you know celebrity I'm not like a you know delist that I'm just like in the
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know how to try and articulate to people that's like, I don't just wake up and things get offered to me on a partner.
[SPEAKER_00]: By the way, if my agents listen to this, they do their work, trust.
[SPEAKER_00]: But like, I also am like working over time to help them work over time.
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, they see me coming.
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, yeah.
[SPEAKER_01]: I saw the interview that you had told might have been Paul Wanner at about you saw the press release about Titanic going to the West End.
[SPEAKER_00]: And it was a time.
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, you send your agent a text being like, this looks fun and you weren't even available to do it at that time.
[SPEAKER_00]: And that's what I do.
[SPEAKER_00]: And I wasn't even available to do this.
[SPEAKER_00]: But like,
[SPEAKER_00]: I just know that sometimes don't block your blessings like put it out into the universe and if it's meant to be, it's meant to be because, honestly,
[SPEAKER_00]: you know business business and people they forgive and forget there's been a couple of times in my career where I've had to unfortunately jump ship and I'm not saying that's a thing that we should always be doing but sometimes it's meant to be like just and somebody else supposed to do the thing that you were originally meant to be do and probably my two biggest roles Jamie and
[SPEAKER_00]: that I spoke, I wasn't supposed to do, you know what I mean?
[SPEAKER_00]: If I would have gone and down the path of, I don't want to upset these people, let's stick to this, I probably wouldn't be here now, you know?
[SPEAKER_01]: I listen, it's very inspiring to me.
[SPEAKER_01]: I also think that what you're speaking to, that you're just saying, instead of sort of hard to articulate where you're not a listener, whatever it is, I think that
[SPEAKER_01]: the biggest gift I've learned from this podcast is interviewing people like you and hearing this over and over and over because Joel Kambusert is at the podcast recently and he said after fire island hit people thought that you know he was going to feel differently his career would have been completely you know made but he said that no he immediately moved the goal post to try to get his second movie made and to get the next hit and I think that
[SPEAKER_01]: in ways the hustle never ends no matter what industry you are in.
[SPEAKER_01]: And so I think that I'm really trying to like enjoy where I am right now.
[SPEAKER_01]: And I'm sure people listening might roll their eyes if I because I say it all the time, but it's really hard.
[SPEAKER_01]: I think it's really hard to be someone who's ambitious and then be able to stop and smell the flowers.
[SPEAKER_01]: And it's like
[SPEAKER_00]: But we've got bills to pay bitch like I've got mortgage that up in London like luckily I got to a point thanks to the Miami contracts and doing the tour doing them wish which by the way is kind of a little bit I don't want to say frowned upon but like what you've done the West End is like okay people don't really expect you to be running on the road and I said that I want to buy a property I will love
[SPEAKER_00]: I want to make sure that this gig is actually not just helped me career-wise but like and hopefully listen the same with this tides of need like full like tea like I'm not this this is not no money gig trust and believe it this is giving like this is a living in water and turning on thank you and Broadway debut yes yes we okay but
[SPEAKER_01]: I need to interrupt you to ask you a few more questions about that.
[SPEAKER_01]: And by the way, we are going to in a few minutes cross over to the sub-stextice sites.
[SPEAKER_01]: We can put up a paywall and I can ask you some really hard hidden journalistic questions.
[SPEAKER_00]: We just said we've got bills to pay bills.
[SPEAKER_00]: We're leaving and I'm so sorry.
[SPEAKER_00]: Speaking of, speaking of and the podcast is of a literally a payload went up now.
[SPEAKER_01]: No, it's it's we're going to do a couple more questions before.
[SPEAKER_01]: You mentioned though, like Broadway debut huge.
[SPEAKER_01]: What was the first probably show you ever saw.
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm dying to know.
[SPEAKER_00]: think it was cats, but obviously not this one.
[SPEAKER_00]: It was my friend, Corey's night, who was in Billy Elliot with me, and he was one of the American police that got flown over, because there was not enough talent in the UK.
[SPEAKER_00]: Love.
[SPEAKER_00]: every time they flip up American Billy over as well, those UK's were just like, oh, why they're so fucking good.
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, they were just so good.
[SPEAKER_00]: It was like almost embarrassing for us.
[SPEAKER_00]: It was like, oh, shit, we really need to get us this guy.
[SPEAKER_01]: I saw Billy Elliott on Broadway.
[SPEAKER_01]: And was obviously blown away quick side of story is that Diana Ross was in the audience that night that I saw.
[SPEAKER_01]: I saw her here first.
[SPEAKER_01]: I was like, oh, I got anyways, you're freaking Billy Elliott.
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, so I saw him in the, I think it was the version.
[SPEAKER_00]: It wasn't, I think, because of controversy even then, like it wasn't Jillian Lynn's version for the first time.
[SPEAKER_00]: I think on Broadway, correct me if I'm wrong, you stagey hose out there.
[SPEAKER_00]: But I think from, yeah, because that was like, oh my god, they're doing cuts without Jillian Lynn's choreography, I love, and now look like to see it again,
[SPEAKER_00]: Wow, just, it was, it was so nice, but yeah, that was one of my first incredible show.
[SPEAKER_01]: I just saw, I saw that revival.
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, I guess both of them, jellicle ball and the last one and both, I mean, it's like the last one, but this one, this one is a bit of me.
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, yeah, I've gone record saying this that I'm not a cat scroll.
[SPEAKER_01]: Like it's I my husband is period and my husband is like huge cat stand and so I can really appreciate the performance is like like that's my biggest thing from jellical wall and the last revival.
[SPEAKER_01]: You have to be so insanely talented to do that show.
[SPEAKER_01]: Do I think the show makes sense?
[SPEAKER_01]: Never have, but that is.
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, do you think it makes more sense now though?
[SPEAKER_01]: I think it's made the most sense in jellicle ball.
[SPEAKER_01]: I think that production is by far the best I've ever seen.
[SPEAKER_01]: I absolutely loved it.
[SPEAKER_01]: But you know, if I wasn't married to Matt, I don't know if I would have... What if...
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, yeah, I have such a phone.
[SPEAKER_01]: People were talking about it, so...
[SPEAKER_01]: So much that I'm sure I would have.
[SPEAKER_01]: Speaking of, though, like, before we go into Sub-Second, I want to ask, like, some real lore about Tony's night about your gorgeous partner about the time
[SPEAKER_01]: stage store.
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
[SPEAKER_01]: What are you hearing backstage about Titanique?
[SPEAKER_01]: It seems like the show is doing well post Tony's.
[SPEAKER_01]: Is there a, um, uh, is it open ended or are you hearing any of us?
[SPEAKER_00]: Saturday, I think, I mean, we've extended past the day that we were supposed to be going to, but we do know like we're not going any further, which I don't know how much I can be somewhat like the situation was, but it was always going to be a limited run.
[SPEAKER_00]: It surprises me, I mean, I'm new here, so I'm just trying to figure it all out, but when you go out into the audience and you see pretty much jam packed, you know,
[SPEAKER_00]: able to write that.
[SPEAKER_00]: Just think Broadway and what I'm seeing is clearly broken in some way and that's for, you know, the powers above the distance, way above my paycheck to sought out, but there's something's like,
[SPEAKER_00]: If death becomes a camp run, if cats come run, if tights hanging in camp run for as long as it wants to run, what are we doing?
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, what's going on?
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, yeah, it seems to be a strange time.
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, exciting time to be on Broadway, but very, like, I can see the what's going on.
[SPEAKER_00]: And it's just seem to be a little bit spooky.
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, no, I agree with the spookiness.
[SPEAKER_01]: I've said many times how I used to be musical theater girl and I would love to go back to a part of the reason why I pivoted into another direction is because of the fact that I would love to own property one day and I didn't see myself getting there via the eight bars I was singing for... Do you know what I mean?
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, that's why my catch me on top when that boils a little, how about the more?
[SPEAKER_00]: Hello Chicago.
[SPEAKER_00]: Come on, Chicago.
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, and by the way, some of the best shows I've seen were touring production, regional productions, but listen, it is hard in these streets.
[SPEAKER_01]: Okay, so let's do the final podcast question before we cross over to that stunning paywall.
[SPEAKER_01]: The final question we ask here on that's a gay ass podcast is a tough one, latent Williams.
[SPEAKER_01]: And that question is if the world was ending,
[SPEAKER_00]: What would you say?
[SPEAKER_00]: Do you know what?
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know whether this is Corn, it's because like, I don't know if she's would be classed as one specifically now, because I don't think she's old enough, but I think in like 20 years.
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know, let me just go outside.
[SPEAKER_00]: I live here a comment.
[SPEAKER_01]: Yes.
[SPEAKER_00]: As she's been said before,
[SPEAKER_01]: It's been a long time.
[SPEAKER_01]: She's definitely been said before, but it's been ages.
[SPEAKER_01]: And a secret part of me, hope to say that because you worked with her.
[SPEAKER_00]: I just love her so much.
[SPEAKER_00]: And it's been so amazing.
[SPEAKER_00]: Again, my first ever job work can be someone who is now such an icon.
[SPEAKER_00]: My first ever, you know, I've got a living home in my first TV job.
[SPEAKER_00]: And that works alongside Tom Holland and my first musical job.
[SPEAKER_00]: So
[SPEAKER_00]: I've seen it from the very beginning and this was Olivia's first leading role in the sitcom and obviously me and Tom were playing Billy at the same time too.
[SPEAKER_00]: His first job too.
[SPEAKER_00]: And seeing how they have risen up.
[SPEAKER_00]: So it's so incredible, so inspiring and it kind of just every time you kind of second get yourself in your life and say, no, we're just going to keep moving.
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm grateful to just have like a slow trajectory and I kind of don't want to change that.
[SPEAKER_00]: I think it'd be quite stressful being a living a common in Tom Holland famous.
[SPEAKER_00]: But she
[SPEAKER_00]: When I went with her, we just such gorgeous loving human being on and off the camera.
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, she told me how to knit, she actually did, we were all, but why I got into knit in but every, she used a knit in between takes and then said to my shaper and I was like, why don't we get some sticks and sticks or they call sticks?
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't yet anymore, by the way.
[SPEAKER_00]: But we would literally hide our knit in and out of scoffs underneath the couches or wherever we're filming.
[SPEAKER_00]: And then as soon as they call it like cup, we just get them out and just do the other.
[SPEAKER_00]: She's amazing.
[SPEAKER_00]: I've only ever seen her a couple of times since you know I was like a kid and we worked together But I've then been quite nervous of going back It was like an award ceremony or something and I was like and I went back to the piano girly So I was like and he's going to see Olivia and they were like, we love you Like, but you know you can't do that and I was like no trust me She's my friend.
[SPEAKER_00]: I was like we worked together years ago I just want to give her a hug and just like say how proud I am of her because we were neighbors as well She used to live like a couple of streets away for me and um
[SPEAKER_00]: in Southeast London, and yes, she was a dream.
[SPEAKER_00]: So, how did you call me?
[SPEAKER_01]: To how cool to see also her eyes from when you work with her to now, I also think it's important to bring up the hard stopper scene when, yes, the coming off.
[SPEAKER_00]: I could just say that she couldn't do that.
[SPEAKER_01]: I know, I know.
[SPEAKER_00]: But even that scene, when they change, when they change people.
[SPEAKER_00]: It means it means it means me.
[SPEAKER_01]: Well listen you got you got to film the gig exactly it's also like it's also like when you see like Wicked and an alpha bus which started in a mission you're like wait wait that happens to me ones.
[SPEAKER_00]: I think I had to Car remember who was but I went in second act for Billy and it was just like I think one of the art scenes It will probably you look different just to kind of break the eyes because like it's from a literal white boy to me Alpha birth that you can get away with because they go on the green.
[SPEAKER_00]: You know Yeah
[SPEAKER_01]: Olivia Coleman, stunning answer and late Williams, you have immediately become a gas podcast favorite.
[SPEAKER_01]: I could chat with you for hours and think good as we have still a few more minutes to chat on the sub-stackside.
[SPEAKER_01]: Before we do so, will you tell these stunning listeners where to follow you and anything else you would like for them to know?
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, hey, Divers, I hope you've had a good time listening to us.
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, I feel like this is always a good introduction to a new person, just listening to them on podcasts.
[SPEAKER_00]: So it's always my honor to be invited on one.
[SPEAKER_00]: So thank you for having me.
[SPEAKER_00]: And you guys can find me at later not Williams on most platforms.
[SPEAKER_00]: If it's got to take it to me, if it's not, it's some random attendance of me, period.
[SPEAKER_01]: period.
[SPEAKER_01]: Everyone go fall late and go see Titanic while you can't on Broadway and we continue to be a fan and watch the gorgeous things you do.
[SPEAKER_01]: So over on Substack, we're going to talk about Tony's performance.
[SPEAKER_01]: I want to talk about your stunning man.
[SPEAKER_01]: You went to Fire Island recently.
[SPEAKER_01]: I want to hear some
[SPEAKER_01]: Stage door stuff.
[SPEAKER_01]: Let's talk about the Tony performance.
[SPEAKER_01]: How did it feel after that because the sound for every single cast that performed was I'm just going to you keep it straight.
[SPEAKER_01]: So I'm keeping straight.
[SPEAKER_01]: It felt wanted to do.
[SPEAKER_01]: And so you were part of the way you're lying reading everybody loves him and I now it's become my new stem as they say and I hope people can say to say it, but let's get into, did you walk off what did what did the cast say after you walked off stage?
[SPEAKER_00]: I think for us, because we don't obviously see and hear it back, because we just cracked on it.
[SPEAKER_00]: I think I'm not going to speak too much on what other customers are editing there were emotions or high.
[SPEAKER_00]: We, I want people to know how exhausted we are by the time we get to the Tonya's.
[SPEAKER_00]: This is nothing like in London, the Olivier's of it all is just a brewery's compared to the Tonya run.
[SPEAKER_00]: I enjoyed it, but let me tell you, I was glad when it was over, because not only did we have the award season of it all, the lunches, the press, the nine to five before you get to the dressing room, the interviews and interviews asked whether I could do it.
[SPEAKER_00]: One day when we did the press junk, it was like 40, 50 journalists in one day and it was giving Lady Gaga and then people in a room and one at the end, by the end of it, my hypothesis is that she wanted to say, I don't think I can speak, I genuinely don't think I can speak to anybody else.
[SPEAKER_00]: Like I have to go and just close my eyes.
[SPEAKER_00]: So I'm just trying to put that into perspective for you.
[SPEAKER_00]: And there's no excuses, you know, like, but in the month up into that moment and the pressure of the day,
[SPEAKER_00]: give me the day off.
[SPEAKER_00]: What do you mean I have to do the show?
[SPEAKER_00]: We don't do we don't do that like in London like obviously, if I am personally nominated for it for an award like this kind of award.
[SPEAKER_00]: Let me sleep.
[SPEAKER_00]: Let me wake up and enjoy the day.
[SPEAKER_00]: Let me have a glass of champagne with breakfast.
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean we're couldn't drink anyway because we were performing.
[SPEAKER_00]: Which I think was
[SPEAKER_00]: great, but also, you're not only performing in your number, you're performing the opening, so there's rehearsals for that all week, it is, I was in full pussy glam at like 6 a.m.
[SPEAKER_00]: In this very dressing room at 6 a.m. then we go over to do a full one at like a.m. Then we come back here, do a show, go back, you're dealing with your family, friends,
[SPEAKER_01]: are you watching fucks for the rest of the interview had to substact linked below where you will also find chats with Colin Braun rich burns Christopher Patterson Rosso Tyler Varvel Sebastian Dino Cody Silver Johnny Sibley Sam Altizer and more it's at substact.com slash at Eric Wills and I will see you there for a gorgeous Harry Hornie time.
[SPEAKER_01]: I love you.
[SPEAKER_01]: Bye.