A NIGHT AT THE OPERA

Danielle Macdonald sits down with Harriet Sim to talk singing like everyone’s watching, working with Joanna Lumley and why she’s a secret Disney adult

- Harriet Sim

What resonated with you about the Falling for Figaro film script?

I missed romcoms! I missed fun, lighthearted movies where you want to root for the characters and enter a different world. That’s the kind of movie I love watching.

Your singing was dubbed in the film. What was that experience like?

You know, that should make you feel better, but the singing part was so terrifying for me. Hugh Skinner [Macdonald’s co-star] is an amazing singer, so that was really embarrassing when we were doing duets and he sounded like a professional ... I made them turn up the music really loud when I was singing!

How did working on your 2017 film Patti Cake$ and your 2018 film Dumplin’ prepare you for the role?

I did an episode of Glee, which was one of my first ever jobs, and then I had to learn how to rap for Patti Cake$. I’m not musical and these musical things keep following me around, but they clearly have a different plan for me. I recorded a single with Dolly Parton and Jennifer Aniston [for Dumplin’] and I think that prepared [me] for a lot in life, in the sense that it was truly one of the most terrifying things I have ever done. [Dolly] who is one of the nicest people I’ve ever met, jokingly told me to stick to acting!