Georgina Castle aka the iconic Mean Girl Regina George sits down with ReVamp Magazine as our latest cover star to discuss her experience working on this phenomenal musical production of MEAN GIRLS, her favourite track of the musical, if she ever encountered a Regina George-like-personality in real life, her acting ritual and much more in this immensely fetch interview! 

Hi there Georgina. Thank you for joining us on ReVamp! How are you doing? 

I’m doing really well, thank you! Mean Girls has taken over my life while we get the show up and running and I’m totally ok with it!! 

Starting this interview, I have to congratulate you on your massively exciting involvement in the Mean Girls Musical. So first of all, huge congratulations! 

Thank you! It still feels very surreal…and very pink! 

Talk to me more about your experience with the rehearsals as well as the initial audition process you went through whilst trying to garner this role.

When I found out auditions were happening I got straight onto the phone to my agent. My first instinct was that I was more suited to the role of ‘Karen’ but the casting team (and close friends of mine) were insistent that I was a Regina which I’m not sure I should take as a compliment or not haha!

I’m always drawn to comedic roles but while getting my teeth stuck into the audition material I realised just how funny Regina is. 

Her unpredictability and masterfully veiled ruthlessness means that you’re never comfortable with or around her but you’re not quite sure why until she really unleashes the beast in Act 2. This type of truth-based character comedy really appealed to me. 

I, unusually, LOVED the audition process. It’s exciting when you can go into a room and you feel comfortable with the character and get to show them your version. For the 10 or 20 minutes you’re in there you get to play the part. 

The team were open to new ideas and super responsive which was lovely. I’d listen to the opening of ‘Meet the Plastics’ to get into the zone and would sing ‘My name is Georgina George’ instead of ‘Regina’ to try and bring myself and the character closer together. I’m thrilled it seemed to work!! 

Rehearsals have been exactly the same. The entire creative team (Tina Fey, Casey Nicholaw, Jeff Richmond and Nell Benjamin) have all been keen to evolve the show and work it around our personalities and the new energy that is coming in. 

It's genuinely collaborative which is refreshing and means we’ve been able to put our own stamp on things. 

How do you think this musical production strays from the original movie? Is the production mostly based on the original script of Mean Girls or are some novel elements added to it as well?

The essence of the show is very much the same and I think it evokes all of the same feelings but ultimately with it being a musical they’ve adapted parts of the story to make it work better for the stage as a live production. It’s ’leaner and meaner’ as Tina Fey said. 

Casey’s use of video screens to convey quick scene changes has been very clever and gives the show a cinematic feel. 

It also keeps the story barrelling along at a rate of knots which serves Tina’s writing best. There will be much-loved moments from the original movie alongside songs that make you want to dance and even more laugh out loud moments. 

I know there are some new collections of songs incorporated within this musical. How was your personal reception to these tracks considering they weren't part of the Mean Girls world until then? 

Jeff Richmond’s score is impossibly toe-tappy and brilliant. I loved them all straight away. My favourite track changes constantly. Each number is a total ear worm but where his brilliance comes in is that he writes so differently for each character. 

Damien has big Broadway showtunes while Janis has more rock elements tied in, Cady is our Disney princess hero and Regina gets bond-like villainess pop songs. Every person has their own distinctive voice and style. 

Regina George is showcased to be the classic popular high-school girl who everyone fawns over. 

But besides the egoistic and narcissistic behaviour, Regina also has some intricate sides to her. And some appreciable elements too such as killer confidence, spectacular fashion sense and an impeccable sense of leadership. 

How do you think you are similar to and different from your character Regina?  

I love that this is being recognised because what makes Tina’s writing so clever is that no one is wholly one thing. You can’t put any of them into a box and lump them with a label. 

They are all fully fleshed out, complicated people with flaws and attributes just like real human beings. 

Karen is dim-witted but comes out with some very profound moments, Cady is kind but easily influenced and loses her way, Gretchen is a gossip but hugely sensitive and Regina is vindictive and ruthless but also insecure and terrified of being bottom of the pecking order. 

I think in terms of similarities we share a love of fashion, shopping and make-up. My parents tell me that unfortunately I had a small Regina streak in me at Primary School. I led the ‘Kiss Chase Gang’ and would boss the girls around telling them who would kiss who! 

I’m mortified hearing this now but perhaps it’s been helpful for me to connect to the character! Ha! I think sadly we are all capable of ‘meanness’ but I don’t have Regina’s cut-throat attitude, spite and unquenchable thirst for power and standing.  Having said that…you have to admire her bravery and ability to be unashamedly herself. I’d like a little bit more of that. 

While experiencing your high-school, do you remember any such "plastics/mean girls" group that you encountered in real life? 

Oh yes!! There was definitely a ‘cool girl’ group but the viciousness wasn’t on Regina George level. However, I think sometimes the real power comes from charisma and knowing how to get people to like you so you can wind them around your little finger. 

The popular girls were genuinely popular…is that more scary? 

If Regina George was a real person, do you think there might be any questions you'd like to personally ask her and get advice from/ her thoughts on directly? 

I’d want to know the why. She’s been such a fun character to try to understand but has invoked more questions than answers so far. 

Why does she behave like this? Does she get pleasure from people’s pain? Is it for attention? Does she like herself? I’m sure she’d be a fascinating person to have a conversation with but I’m not sure you’d get honest answers!! 

What has your rehearsal process been like? Do you remember how you felt initially when you embodied her costume for the first time? 

It’s been amazing! We’ve been super lucky getting to work directly with our costume designer Katrina Lindsay who is bringing a fresh, modern flavour to the wardrobe of the North Shore High students! 

We spoke in depth about how we felt Regina would dress to make sure she feels powerful and sexy at all times. She’s not shy and is a trend-setter so anything goes with her. Nothing is off-limits which is very exciting as a performer. 

We have some costumes that are more severe and showcase her darker side but, much like her shifting personality, we’ve also played around with softer textures and more ‘girly’ items like bows and sparkles to showcase that side of her. She’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing and she knows it. 

There is one costume in Act 1 which is my favourite. I feel like an alien, avatar ice queen lady but in the best way! 

Who can forget the iconic "Stop trying to make 'Fetch' happen" and as seen in the recent teaser 'Chuffed'. But I'm very curious to know if you had the opportunity to make one phrase or word 'happen', which one will it be and why?

Hundy pee (100%)! I just love it! It rolls off the tongue and is really fun to say. I’m not sure I can get on board with all the abbreviations I’m hearing at the moment though…or as someone recently said to my amusement and horror…"abbreves!!!” 

Is there any particular sequence that you're really looking forward to showing the audience and the fans of this iconic world? Any memorable behind-the-scenes that you'd like to share with us? 

World burn. It’s such a pleasure to scream my lungs off every night doing that number. It’s when Regina takes her revenge and decides to wreak as much havoc as possible. There’s a fight sequence, evil up-lighting, a lift, bits of paper flying around, leather trousers, a photocopier, screaming, singing, the video screens turn to flames and a burn book….FUN! 

(Thank you for joining us, Georgina. Wishing you lots of luck on this production!)  

Lastly, what can you tell us about this novel musical iteration of 'Mean Girls' and is there anything you'd like to convey to your supporters currently reading this interview?

I think if you are looking for something to make you laugh come and see this show. We were belly-laughing all through rehearsals at Tina Fey’s writing and some of the hilarious performances. It’s truly a super entertaining night out so get your tickets biatch!

Tickets for Mean Girls (Based on the book by Tina Fey/Directed by Casey Nicholaw/Producers- Lorne Michaels, Sonia Friedman Productions, and Crossroads Live) can be found here.