BWW Blog: Emma VanDeVelde - Broadway Stars and Awkward Selfies: Interview With MISS SAIGON Star Eva Noblezada 

The summer after her junior year of high school, seventeen-year-old Eva Noblezada ventured to the big apple to compete in the National High School Musical Theater Awards (aka the Jimmy Awards). It was there that she would learn from industry professionals, and compete against the cream of the crop in high school theater from around the country. Little did she know that this competition would catapult her into a series of auditions and eventually land her the lead role in Miss Saigon on London's West End.

I knew Eva in high school. We had mutual friends and often crossed paths due to different theater related activities. I was thrilled when she agreed to do this interview with me in the midst of the move from The West End to Broadway.

This Sunday I sat down with Eva and asked her some random questions about her favorite food and pastimes and also about what life is like as an actress in London. What I immediately admired about her is that she was so normal. She was dropped off at Panera and waited in line to order tomato soup. She wore glasses and jeans. It honestly felt like I was having coffee with an old friend. Throughout our meeting she remained professional but grounded, youthful but mature, and eloquent but goofy all at the same time-there must be something in that London water! Here are some questions that helped me get to know Eva better.

Me: What is your favorite type of food?

Eva: Italian

Me: Coffee or tea?

Eva: Coffee

Me: Favorite song to sing in the shower?

Eva: Beautiful Lies by Birdy

Me: What is the Broadway show that you are most excited to see this season?

Eva: Well, I wanted to see The Color Purple, but I'm not going to get the chance to. If they could just extend it a few weeks then I would go like every night.

Me: Favorite animated movie?

Eva: Mulan.

Me: Favorite author?

Eva: I am reading Outlander so right now Diana Gabaldon.

Me: Who was your childhood celebrity crush?

Eva: Ohh! Gerard Way from My Chemical Romance

Me: What is something that makes you angry?

Eva: Rude and ignorant people

Me: Favorite social media platform?

Eva: I really like Instagram.

Me: Favorite film actor or actress at the moment

Eva: I just watched Jane Eyre and I loved Michael Fassbender

Me: Salty or sweet?

Eva: Sweet.

Me: Morning or night?

Eva: All day.

Me: If you could eat any food all day every day and not gain weight what would it be?

Eva: Cake.

Me: What is one quality you need in a friend?

Eva: This is totally cheating but- an understanding, loyal, loving friend.

Me: When you were younger, did you ever want to be anything other than an actress?

Eva: No. Oh wait, I wanted to be an opera singer and then realized I can't do that so technically no.

Me: Where was your first date?

Eva: Like proper date? At a sushi restaurant. Oh it was so bad. It was a cringe date. He sang to me.

*So I asked Eva about this date later in the interview and she told me that this poor boy brought her into a field, took her hand and sang the entirety of "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You." She said that she was so mortified that she pretended like her mom texted her and told the boy she needed to be taken home. At the end of the night (where the goodnight kiss usually falls) she took his hand, said thanks, and went inside.

Me: Cats or dogs?

Eva: Dogs

Me: Beach or mountains?

Eva: Beach

Me: Were there habits that you broke in London?

Eva: Hmm is this filtered for students? I would say my "F** you/the world" attitude sort of went away when I got to London.

Me: Do you tend to be early or late?

Eva: I tend to be early.

Me: A dream role you haven't played yet.

Eva: Wednesday Addams

Me: If you could be any animal what would it be?

Eva: Well some people tell me that my spirit animal is like a tiger, but I think I'm more of a panda sometimes-just silly and stupid.

Me: This is sort of a weird question, but did you expect to book Miss Saigon?

Eva: Yes and no. I didn't want to tell myself that I got it, but I didn't want to tell myself that I could never get it. Because I work my ass off and I was going to continue to. I had a weird gut feeling though during the audition process.

Me: Do you like to go out or stay in?

Eva: I love staying in. I hate going to parties where people are just drinking to get drunk or acting stupid. I like going out if it's some place that I love going.

Me: Do you have any weird obsessions?

Me: Of like anything? I love penguins. It's slightly strange.

Me: What's the worst question you've ever gotten from an interview?

Eva: One person asked me how it felt living in Lea Solonga's shadow....

*One thing that I noticed from talking with Eva is that she is extremely secure in who she is-secure in both her successes and her struggles. She knows that she works really hard and owns that, but she isn't afraid to talk and answer questions about insecurities with body image or comparison. I really appreciated that.

Me: Favorite Christmas gift you got this year?

Eva: I know it sounds cheesy, but quality time with my family. I haven't spent Christmas with them in three years. But my favorite Christmas gift ever was last year. My boyfriend and I were having a very budgeted Christmas and he bought me two plush penguins. And I cried. I adore them,

Me: Something that makes you laugh out loud?

Eva: People who can laugh at themselves. Because as serious as I can be, I'm a total weird-ass, so I like people who are like that too.

Me: Have you had any really bad on stage fails?

Eva: Oh my god. All the time. I once forgot the words to "I still believe' so I sang the original lyrics and repeated a line almost four times.

Me: Do you have a favorite app?

Eva: I'm not really on my phone. I check emails more than twitter, but there's this weird game called Episode and you like choose your genre and follow a character through life. I always choose the romantic genre where she like chooses between two men. It's disgustingly fun.

Me: What is your workout of choice?

Eva: Anything. I love weights. I hate running. If running is a person she would be Regina George.

Me: Do you have any pet peeves?

Eva: Rude people. Slow walkers. People whose bark is worse than their bite.

Okay so next I asked Eva to fill in the blank of each statement.

1. Life is ___"crazy unexpected_______."
2. Salad is ____"meh."_____________.
3. Running is ____"the devil______________."
4. Living at home is ____"non existent_____________."
5. British accents are _____hot_______________.
6. 2017 is going to be ______"kick-ass________________."
7. Saying "Ya'll" is _____"not me________________."
8. I wish I was better at _______"patience_______."
9. Family is ________"everything______."
10. Mushrooms are _____"good when seasoned______."

Huge thank you to Eva for meeting me and sharing her life and her passion! Everyone make sure to see her in Miss Saigon if you are in the city anytime soon! Previews begin March 1st and the official opening date is March 23rd.