THE FRIDAY SIX: Q&As with Your Favorite Broadway Stars- NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812's Amber Gray

Welcome to THE FRIDAY SIX: Q&As with your favorite Broadway stars. Want to know what hooked them to a career in the theater? Their dream roles? Their Broadway crushes? Read on!

In this week's edition, we caught up with Amber Gray, who is starring as 'Helene' in Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812- currently playing at Kazino (259 West 45th Street).

What is the first Broadway show you ever saw?

My first Broadway show was on a visit from Massachusetts. I wasn't quite a theatre nerd yet, I was a Latin nerd, so I chose the revival of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum with Nathan Lane. The whole event was pretty magical. I remember sitting in the nose bleeds which was an experience in and of itself. I brought for real opera glasses because I thought that was what you were supposed to do. The sheer beauty of the St. James, the size of the audience, the scale and spectacle of Forum, it was all thrilling and it gave me goosebumps.

What is your most unique pre-show ritual?

I have to be careful with those pre-show rituals because they quickly turn into pre-show neuroses for me. At the moment, I am attached to a routine of riding into Manhattan and up the West Side Highway Bike Path. It is a great meditation and warm-up. I can sing at the top of my lungs. If I get caught, I only have to sit in the embarrassment for a few seconds while I fly past. The last couple of weeks, I have had a daily bowl of pho from a little joint near the theatre. I am convinced the pho, with its many mystery spices, is keeping me free from contracting the plague that's going around.

Hard to pick my most memorable "show must go on" moment but my most recent was a couple of months ago when I jumped down from a catwalk and sprained my ankle. I mean it looked like that sucker had an apple's worth of swelling on top of what should just be my ankle. Luckily I was exiting, so I just dragged myself offstage with my arms. I got backstage, rolled around on my back in shock, and just screamed and screamed. There were only 20 minutes left, most of which I sit for, and I was asked if I wanted my understudy to finish the show at which point I got out a, "Noooo, I can do it!" I had about 5 minutes to change my mind, but once I calmed down, I asked the wardrobe mistress if I could put ice in my boot, she said yes, and off I went. I must say, it was horrible. Adrenaline kept me stupid and unaware of what damage I had done. I sort of never believe my injuries are real or will last very long. Let's just say, this one was humbling and I am still paying for it.

What is the one role you want to play before you die?

'Martha' of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf

Mark Rylance

Well, I'm a fairly experienced "online researcher," and I recommend including my middle name Renae for any stalking. The last time I checked the creepy Intelius, there were 98 Amber Gray's in the United States alone. Look for Amber Renae Gray on Facebook...or Intelius.