Skip to main content
Young Hollywood
TV/FilmUp Close

Matilda the Musical Star Reveals Most Challenging Scene To Film

7:41·By Gemma G
Share

About this video

Taking on an iconic role like Matilda Wormwood would be a daunting task for any actress, let alone a 13-year-old! But Alisha Weir has just the right amount of magic to pull it off! Netflix has adapted the Tony Award-winning musical 'Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical' for the big little screen and found an absolute gem in its titular star Alisha Weir. Young Hollywood joins Alisha via Zoom to find out all about this amazing once-in-a-lifetime (so far!) experience, including her audition process, her most challenging scene to film, and the big red carpet premiere. She also tells us what she likes to do when she's not filming and reveals her own real-life Miss Honeys, plus we play a game of "This or That" to find out her preferences between sleeping in and getting up early, reading and watching television, and much more! 'Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical' is now streaming on Netflix.

Chapters (7)

Show ↓

Key Moments (5)

Show ↓

Full Transcript

Show ↓
Young Hollywood

You're so good. In which other? Thank you. Always your maid. Okay. I went to watch. I'm in l a So I went in that Flix got to watch it on the big screen, and I'm literally my job was dropped the entire time you killed it.

Guest

Thank you.

Young Hollywood

Have you seen all the way through?

Guest

Yeah. And yes, I've seen it six times.

Young Hollywood

Six. You have got to give it our new slow, But every single time I'm not like I noticed something different each time on I just want to Yeah, I could watch it all day if I thought going back to when you found out you got the part. How When did you audition? And then when did you find out?

Guest

S o. I auditioned when I was 10 on Do I go to Stage Gopal Talented kids and they sent me in to see if I want to do a self tape. So I sent off the self type because I was like, Yes, definitely. I'd love t o self take for it. And then I was meant to fly over, but because of covert, I couldn't. So I did over that whole year kind of cover its load kind of everything down. So I did the mob zoom on. Then when covered, it died down. I got asked to fly over and they do it in person. And then two weeks later, on my mom's birthday, I was meant, like another zoom. I think on it was like Matthew wants to talk to you and I was like, I didn't really know what to think because it could have been. No. Yes, like Simpson Civil could have been yes or no's. I don't want to get too excited in case it was a no. So when he said I got the part, I just My whole family was there, my sisters and my dad and my mole on my dogs. So we're all just shocked and we couldn't believe it. And I just burst into tears because I was so happy I was with him. The timeline. So it was like a lot built up, you know, crazy.

Young Hollywood

Have you always wanted to be in movies and in TV shows and stuff, have you always been like a kid on camera?

Guest

And my I've got two older sisters, Katie and Emma Jane on they kind of They did it before me. So when I was born, I just kind of brew into it. And I'd sort of them around in the car, you know, dropping them and picking them up. And I was just waiting until I was old enough. So when I could get in there and start, so I think I just kind of grow into it. And it was something that I always wanted to do.

Young Hollywood

What did your sister save you? Do you remember when they found out that you got the park is Obviously they've been doing it and then you book this massive role.

Guest

I think they were just really proud of me. And they were like, we just all couldn't believe it. We were shocked. We didn't I didn't know how. I knew there was, like, thousands of incredible kids that most of auditioned, so I don't know how. What? I was really right for that. It did happen.

Young Hollywood

And you are You two used to talk, and I sort of already asked. Okay, so it's social media. Obviously, when Netflix films comes out, people tend to blow up on social media. So are you kind of waiting for the storm of everything to come in. Or are you just kind of excited for everybody to see?

Guest

A. I'm just really sided for everyone to see it. And because it's been over such a long period of time, I can't wait for it to finally come out when that everyone can see it on dure. I'm just really excited.

Young Hollywood

And you did about carbon already. So how did you feel walking on carpet?

Guest

It was very, very surreal. Like people were like, How does it feel? I was like, I just can't believe it. Like, it just doesn't feel really at the moment, I don't know if it will ever sink in. What? What has just happened, But it was just really surreal.

Young Hollywood

How wanted to take you to get running our maybe half an hour? You love doing glam like you like getting your hair done, making sure your nails are done or you kind of took a boy.

Guest

No, I like getting my head on a mine hailstorm.

Young Hollywood

And are you okay? So when you're not doing the whole acting thing, what is What do you love to d'oh!

Guest

Well, just kind of hang out with my friends on See my friends at school on when I was in primary school, there was like a Gaelic football team. So I played that with some of my friends because my friends were doing it on just kind of seeing my friends. And I know you know,

Young Hollywood

What would you say was the hardest scene to film?

Guest

I'm so probably the hardest. But my favourite maybe to film was when I got it. It was a bit in naughty where I had to go upside down on saying it was probably hard because I had, like, ah, lot of different things to think about because, like when I have to go out there to make sure like I was in the correct position, I wasn't going to fall. And then I also had t o like single there on Listen out for the music and all. But I was definitely one of my favourites because it was so much fun as well.

Young Hollywood

So did you ever think you'd sing upside down on a Netflix movie? I know about that in the film until that has to lean on Miss Honey a lot like she confides in her for advice and obviously guided and stuff like that. Who would you say in your real life? Do you confide in and go to for the most advice?

Guest

Well, I think my family and my friends, my mom and my dad and my two older sisters and also my grandparent's on my dog. But all my family and my friends have always been there for me. So that's how I felt, too.

Young Hollywood

Okay, quick game. Until we have two rabbits this or that, there's two scenarios and your pick. Okay, okay. Candy or ice cream?

Guest

Sweet like candy.

Young Hollywood

Get sleep in or get up early.

Guest

Sleeping sleeper,

Young Hollywood

Water park or amusement park.

Guest

Water, part

Young Hollywood

singing or dancing. They have a preference of, what, one of the other?

Guest

No.

Young Hollywood

So we'll go fly or be invisible. What superpower would you want?

Guest

Invisible.

Young Hollywood

This will live in the sky or live under the sea.

Guest

I live in the sky.

Young Hollywood

Goodman till the moment when you're up there and I haven't read or watch TV.

Guest

Well, my turn, I would say read definitely what we should say. Maybe it does. Hands on what I'm feeling.

Young Hollywood

Okay. It's a mood thing.

Guest

Yeah, it's a

Young Hollywood

last one. Give advice or else for advice?

Guest

Maybe. I mean, if you give advice, surely you know, like you don't need to ask for advice because you know what's going on yourself. So you don't need to ask advice if you are giving advice so they give give advice.

Young Hollywood

Yeah. Love the training that you're amazing congratulated them. Matilda and I can't wait for the world to see this.

Timestamps are approximate — click one to jump the player.

PEOPLE MENTIONED

  • Alisha Weir

    Star of "Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical" and interviewee

  • Matilda Wormwood

    The iconic role played by Alisha Weir

  • Matthew

    The person who told Alisha she got the part

  • Katie

    Alisha Weir's older sister

  • Emma Jane

    Alisha Weir's older sister

  • Miss Honey

    Character from Matilda, discussed in relation to Alisha's real-life confidantes

FAQ

Who plays Matilda in 'Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical' on Netflix?+
Alisha Weir plays the titular role of Matilda Wormwood in the Netflix adaptation of 'Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical'.
How old was Alisha Weir when she auditioned for Matilda?+
Alisha Weir was 10 years old when she first auditioned for the role of Matilda Wormwood.
What was the most challenging scene for Alisha Weir to film in Matilda the Musical?+
Alisha Weir stated that the most challenging, but also her favorite, scene to film was 'Naughty,' where she had to sing upside down.
Who does Alisha Weir confide in for advice in real life?+
Alisha Weir confides in her family, including her mom, dad, two older sisters (Katie and Emma Jane), grandparents, and friends.
Where can you watch 'Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical'?+
'Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical' is streaming on Netflix.

Related in Up Close

View all →

MORE FROM YH AT HOME

Series page →