Meet Ariana DeBose, The 'Hamilton' Ensemble Member Who Is About to Have a Huge Year! (Exclusive Interview)

Ariana DeBose is a name you’ll be hearing a lot more of throughout the rest of the year!

The 29-year-old actress was featured in the ensemble of Hamilton‘s original Broadway cast and her performance can be seen in the new movie that was just released on Disney+.

After leaving the cast of Hamilton, Ariana earned a Tony nomination for her performance in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical. She is also starring in two more movie musicals being released this year.

Ariana will be playing the iconic role of Anita in Steven Spielberg‘s West Side Story, scheduled for release on December 18. She also is starring in Ryan Murphy‘s adaptation of the Broadway musical The Prom, which is expected to be released on Netflix this year.

Yep, Ariana is in all three of 2020′s biggest movie musicals! We caught up with her to learn more about her Hamilton memories, her hopes for change on Broadway, and her exciting future.

JJ: What’s your favorite memory of your time in “Hamilton”?

AD: WHOOO! Honestly, I have so many mind boggling memories that I don’t know that I could choose just one favorite. Performing the show for the Obamas, realizing I was staring at Meryl Streep in the audience, getting to meet so many humans I respect; but I will say that year’s Tonys was pretty spectacular! That was a night I’ll never forget- once in a lifetime energy right there!

JJ: Do you have plans to return to Broadway in the future? What are some changes you’d like to see when Broadway comes back in 2021?

AD: At this time I don’t have plans to return to Broadway in the future…TBH at this time I don’t have any plans. Period, lol. I’m very hopeful that the potential return of Broadway in 2021 will be the beginnings of a more inclusive and equitable work force on all sides of the industry. While that sounds like a lofty goal, one specific thing I’m hoping to see more of are creative teams made up of BIPOC’s bringing to life stories about BIPOC’s… Oh and I’m really hoping we create better deep cleaning protocols because those theaters are beautifully old.

Click inside for more from our interview with Ariana DeBose…

JJ: How does it feel to be starring in all three of the biggest movie musicals of 2020?

AD: It’s a wonderfully overwhelming feeling. I’m pinching myself. I thought nothing would ever compare to Hamilton and then along came arguably two of the greatest directors of our time who asked me to be a part of something they wanted to make. I count myself one of the luckiest ladies in the world to have had these opportunities & experiences and am proud that I was able to earn my seat at each table. I’m excited by the potential conversations that each work could spark. There’s so much to talk about in our world right now!! I’m also just thrilled to see more movie musicals in the world with diverse casts.

JJ: What was it like going from Broadway to doing big movie musicals?

AD: It felt natural, but I give a lot of credit for that smooth transition to the teams I was working with!

JJ: Do you have a lyric from Hamilton that still resonates with you today?

AD: There are a few, but this week I’ve been meditating on this part of Washington’s speech from “One Last Time.”

“Everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree. And no one shall make them afraid. They’ll be safe in the nation we’ve made.”

It’s what I feel we’re working towards as country and I hope we can meet each other half way. Billy Porter said something recently, that this moment we’re in is not about tolerance, or acceptance, it’s about respecting our mutual humanity. EVERYONE deserves to feel safe in their home, their town, their city, and their country.

_____________________________

You can watch Hamilton right now on Disney+!