Five Questions With: Grace Hodgett Young

GRACE HODGETT YOUNG is currently making her professional stage debut as Betty Schaefer in Jamie Lloyd’s acclaimed reimagining of Sunset Boulevard at London’s Savoy Theatre.

It has also just been announced that Grace will play Eurydice in the West End production of Hadestown, previewing at the Lyric Theatre from 10 February 2024.

Credits while training include: The Little Mermaid, Bare, Made in Dagenham (Mountview) and Sister Act (Nottingham Playhouse).

Here Grace continues Musical Theatre Review’s interview series: Five Questions With…

Can you talk us through how you got the role of Betty Schaefer? Can you identify with the character in any way? 

I did about six rounds over the space of three to four weeks for the ensemble and then in my final round, there were only five of us. We all went in one by one to sing our songs after we’d finished the dance call. Jamie [Lloyd, the director] gave me a scene and asked me to do it on the spot. It was a Betty and Joe scene. I was under the impression all principles had been cast and they were on the lookout for covers!

After I did the scene Jamie asked me to look at another one and then another one and then another one! I was asked to learn a song as well. I didn’t know Sunset before auditioning for it so all of this was new material for me. I was probably in there for about an hour and a half. Once I’d finished, Jamie asked if I was free the next day. I actually had a shift in the bar I was working at but of course, I said yes, to which he replied: “Good, because we want to see you for the part of Betty, not the cover, the part.”

I kept my cool and then practically screamed once I left the room. I did a few scenes and songs with Tom [Francis, playing Joe Gillis] and about three weeks later, on my way home from finishing a 12-hour shift, I got the call from my agent saying I’d got the part!! It was a massive surprise but I was so excited. I’d had a gut feeling about being in this show from the moment I went to the wrong venue for my first audition and turned up late!

Grace Hodgett Young with Nicole Scherzinger and Tom Francis in Sunset Boulevard at the Savoy Theatre, London. Picture: Marc Brenner

I can identify with Betty a lot in some ways and not so much in others. For example, Betty grew up in the business and there was pressure for her to stay in it, but when I said to my parents I wanted to work in the arts there was nothing but support. But we’re both strong, determined women and I’ve enjoyed sprinkling myself into this role and making her my own.

How would you describe your experience in rehearsals with the rest of the cast and crew? 

The rehearsal period was amazing. Everyone is so lovely, there was a real sense of family in the room and it was such a safe space. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to be doing my first professional job with. It’s also so amazing to have such a diverse and inclusive cast and crew.

How does it feel making your professional debut working alongside such high-profile theatrical figures as Jamie Lloyd, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Nicole Scherzinger, Rachel Tucker and David Thaxton? 

I feel like the luckiest person in the world to be making my professional debut with the people that I am. I still can’t believe it. I think I’m due a happy cry very very soon! I feel so blessed and I pinch myself multiple times a day. To have met such amazing names in the industry and to have formed true friendships with them is something I’ll treasure forever. They’re all a pleasure to work with and I feel very blessed to be in a company with them.

What inspired you the most to enter the theatre profession?

This is a pretty simple question for me. I honestly can’t do anything else! Not good enough for it to be a job anyways. I hated school, I was good at English but that’s about it and I always felt less than in a classroom but when I was on stage, as cringey as it sounds, I felt like I belonged. I’ve honestly never felt more comfortable than when I’m on stage. It’s my happy place and has been since I was nine years old. It brings me happiness and joy that nothing else can. The fact that I can call this my job is mind boggling to me. How lucky are we to have such a wonderful profession!

What sets Jamie Lloyd’s interpretation of Sunset Boulevard apart from previous productions? 

I think I would advise the audience to expect the unexpected. This is like nothing you know of the OG Sunset Boulevard. You can expect real and raw connections to the text and amazing detail in all aspects of the production.

Questions compiled by Joseph Flaherty