The Big Interview: Her.ie Meets Emi Wokoma

She was born in Nigeria but moved to Britain as a child. She then attended Guilford School of Acting before eventually becoming a fitness instructor. But now she is stepping into the shoes of one of music’s biggest stars.

She is Emi Wokoma and she is playing Tina Turner in the stage show Soul Sister which opens in the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre next Monday night. We caught up with her to find out how she’s finding the role and the critical acclaim she has received for her performances so far.

So Emi, congratulations on getting the part. Tell us, what made you audition for the role?

Initially I wasn’t sure about auditioning because I didn’t think I would get the part because I knew that loads of ladies would be up for it. So eventually I got convinced to go along and that was it really. I didn’t think anything of it because I was working as a fitness instructor, on shift, at the time. I went to the audition and then I went back to my job and I didn’t think anything of it. A few of weeks later, after the recall, I got the job and that was it. The rest is history.

Emi had to do a lot of preparation for the more energetic routines.

And what did it feel like when you got the role?

I thought it was a joke. I thought they were going to ring me up after the weekend and were going to say actually we don’t want Emi, we want somebody else, but it felt really amazing. I knew straight that it was going to be hard work physically and vocally because everybody recognises Tina and everybody knows what I’d be trying to portray on stage so I knew I had to get it right from the off.

Speaking of the hard work, what has been the most challenging part of your preparation?

The hardest part is building up my physical and vocal stamina both at the same time so lots of cardio and muscular endurance training. I knew that I’d have to do that. Maintaining that stamina and also just maintaining my discipline to do the shows.

Everybody knows Tina Turner so are you feeling the pressure of playing a musical icon?

There is pressure naturally but I try not to think about it. I just try to focus more on having fun on stage because I think if you start to think about all that and what people might think, there might be a tendency to get nervous. If I do what I can do to the best of my physical ability, then I’m okay with that. You can’t please everyone as well.

As well as her musical career, the play also looks at Tina Turner's personal life.

Not that we think you’ll have a problem with that considering the rave reviews you have been receiving. Did you expect that sort of critical response?

I stay away from the reviews to the best of my ability and people always want to tell me that. I feel like they’re talking about a different person. It really does because I just see myself as little old me and sometimes I just think that somebody is going to come into my dressing room and say Emi you’re the wrong person. Even now I still think it’s another girl out there playing but I feel really blessed to be in this position.

Tina is known for being a bit of a diva. Is it fun to play that on the stage?

(Laughs) Yea it is. She is a diva in that she delivers her work on stage so really she’s a diva in the positive sense of the word. In my real life I’m anything but, I’m a geek. It’s nice to play something strong that commands the stage. It’s fun.

You have worked in television before on the likes of Casualty and Eastenders. Do you prefer being onscreen or onstage?

Both of them are different and I like both of them for different things. Being on stage however, the audience changes every night, the environment changes, anything can affect the elements of the show. So that spontaneity, I really really enjoy and it keeps me on my toes and I always need to be mentally engaged. I think the spontaneity of live theatre is good for me.

Already the actress has received high praise for her performance.

And last but not least, what is your favourite Tina Turner song?

Definitely River Deep Mountain High because in the show, the scene that goes into it is very emotive, it’s quite emotionally demanding. It’s always been my favourite Tina Turner song. I used to sing it all the time at auditions when they said we need a big dance number.  So that’s my favourite favourite song and it’s great to be able to sing it every night on stage.

Soul Sister opens next Monday, October 15th, in the Bord Gáis Theatre in Dublin and is running all week until October 20th.