Actress says being cast as Regina George is 'monumental'

Stepping into an iconic role is a huge moment for any actress, but Vivian Panka says her latest casting is "monumental".

The 29-year-old is the first black actress to play Regina George full-time in the UK stage production of Mean Girls, according to the musical's production team.

She's been starring in the adaptation of the beloved film on its current UK and Ireland tour, taking up the stage role previously filled by actresses including Reneé Rapp.

"I always wanted to play Regina, but I didn't expect it to happen the way it did, and I'm feeling very lucky that it did happen," says Panka.

BBC Newsbeat met the 29-year-old during her most recent run of shows at Cardiffs' Wales Millennium Centre, where she shared Regina's bright pink (duh) wardrobe, showed us the infamous burn book and discussed bringing one of the most famous fictional school cliques to life on-stage.

"I'm having so much fun," she says.

"It's one of my favourite shows in the world anyway, and one of my dream roles, being able to play [Regina George] is a dream come true."

Vivian was born in Holland and moved to London four years ago to pursue musical theatre.

Her first show in the UK was 9 to 5 The Musical, followed by Heathers the Musical and Dear Evan Hansen.

"I just love being able to completely immerse myself in a different story and go from reality. I grew up in Holland and always dreamed of being in Hollywood," she says.

"I would watch Disney Channel movies, I would just escape, and I still think it is a big part of what I like to do and be that for other people."

Panka was a schoolchild when Mean Girls was first released in 2004, but the cult teen movie has become an enduring pop culture phenomenon.

It has inspired millions of quotes, memes and a successful musical adaptation which has run on Broadway and the West End.

Written by Saturday Night Live star Tina Fey, it follows home-schooled Cady Heron, who grew up in Africa, as she navigates the jungle of her new US high school.

But the standout character is "queen bee" Regina, head of the Plastics clique and the meanest of the mean girls.

Panka describes her as an "amazing" character to play - and one she didn't expect to get when she entered the competitive audition process.

"At every turn, I was like, this is going way too well," she recalls.

It will not be lost on audiences that Panka and Rachel McAdams, who portrayed Regina in the original movie, are from different ethnic backgrounds, and many fans will have a strong image of the character in their minds.

"I feel like we all remember that 2004 movie so well, all the quotes, so I just know how iconic Regina is," says Panka.

"Obviously I give my own spin on things, I am always really inspired by Regina and Rachel McAdams' version of Regina, I just think she is extremely iconic and hilarious."

But the significance of Panka's casting, and what it represents to other aspiring actors, is not lost on her.

"I would love to live in a world where this moment wouldn't be monumental, but that's not the case," she says.

"It's important that we do note when wonderful things happen and shed a light on these things as a positive thing so that I can inspire other people to maybe feel more creative when casting."

Panka says she has even had messages from parents saying how much it means for their children to see her on stage.

But she hopes that casting the right person for the role, irrespective of their background, will become more normalised.

"I got the part because they liked me and I was right for the part and I think that is what the future of musical theatre should look like more," she says.

"It's already happening and I'm definitely not the only person doing things like this.

"But every time something like this happens it means a lot to me and I know it means a lot to a lot of people who look like me."

The 29-year-old says her next dream role would be playing Eliza Hamilton from the popular US musical – but she is open to how her future might look.

"I like being a Mean Girl," she says.

"I enjoy doing that, but it's also nice to play someone heartwarming and just a really good person overall, so I just enjoy being able to do both."

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