Ep348 - Sophie Carmen-Jones: Learning to Dance Without a Mirror

The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales

Sophie shares her journey from a passionate, young dancer in the UK to becoming a triple-threat performer gracing the stages of London's West End and New York's Broadway. She opens up about her early obsession with dance, recounting how she would ask her mom to book a local church hall for extra practice and record her rehearsals so she could critique herself. This early dedication set the stage for her successful career, which began in the West End and eventually led her to Broadway. She looks back on her audition process for “Moulin Rouge!” on a Zoom call during the pandemic, where she had to convince director Alex Timbers that she could bring a fresh, fierce energy to the role of Nini. She also touches on her transition into TV and film, celebrating her first non-musical acting role in the UK soap “Casualty” as a major milestone that showcased her versatility beyond dance and singing. Performing in a show like “Moulin Rouge!”, she finds joy in being part of a close-knit cast that becomes like a second family. She discusses the differences between working in the UK and the US, especially the accessibility and financial challenges performers face. With a deep love for performing, Sophie imparts a piece of advice to aspirants, encouraging them to stretch themselves in areas where they aren't as strong and to live a balanced life that includes fun and downtime.

Sophie Carmen-Jones has appeared in several West End productions and UK tours, including “Moulin Rouge!”, “Jersey Boys”, “Wicked”, “We Will Rock You”, and “Chicago”. Her film and TV credits include the live-action films of “The Little Mermaid”, “Cats”, “Aladdin”, and “Beauty and the Beast”, and she recently made her Broadway debut in the Broadway production of “Moulin Rouge!” as Nini.

Connect with Sophie:

• Instagram: @sophiecarmenjones

Connect with The Theatre Podcast:

• Support the podcast on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast
• YouTube: YouTube.com/TheTheatrePodcast
• Threads, Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast
• TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast
• Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast
• TheTheatrePodcast.com
• My personal Instagram: @alanseales

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices