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Nov 16, 2022 · For eight shows a week, Ong plays Eponine in Les Misérables, the longest-running musical on the West End in London. Ragged but feisty, independent but selfless, Eponine is arguably one of musical theatre’s most beloved characters—and for female performers, one of the most coveted roles.
- Prologue
- Act 1
- Intermission
- Act 2
- Finale
Ong found her love for singing with her father when she was young. To her, he had the most beautiful voice. Her earliest memory of her father singing was in a church choir, where he sang an old Christian hymn. That was where she got her exposure, and it grew from there. In 2004, Ong performed at a Total Defence Day celebration, singing "Home" befor...
Studying in LASALLE before heading to the U.K.
While the ultimate goal was to pursue acting overseas, Ong could not get a spot in a drama school in the U.K. and decided to pursue a degree in Acting at LASALLE College of the Arts. At that time, Ong had scraped any hopes of going to the U.K. to continue acting until one of the leading drama schools in the U.K. announced it was holding auditions in Singapore. Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts is home to numerous artists and, with Dame Judi Dench as the president of the school. With a bit of...
Her father was her first singing teacher
Ong's parents were nothing less than supportive of her decision to move to London to pursue acting. In fact, Ong's father was her biggest singing inspiration, as he was her first singing teacher. While Ong's father ruled over singing lessons with "an iron fist" with his meticulousness, when she told her parents that she got into Mountview and she wanted to go to the U.K., they were "thrilled" for her. As for the end goal of ending up on the West End, it was not a dream at that time as Ong did...
Some may wonder where or what the West End is, and Ong kindly broke it down. It is an area in London where all the big commercial theatres are, and there is a criterion to be considered a West End theatre. However, it is where all the big commercial musicals and plays reside. Popular shows like Wicked, The Phantom of the Opera, and Mary Poppins are...
Making her West End debut
Ong made her professional debut on West End in a musical titled "Be More Chill", taking over the role of Jenna Rolan for a limited run of five weeks. However, before she secured the role of Eponine on the U.K./Ireland tour of "Les Miserables", she had to go through numerous rounds of auditions. She auditioned for the West End production of "Les Miserables", and after doing three rounds of auditions, she was cut as the role went to a close friend. "I feel like in this industry, you just have t...
Being compared to Lea Salonga
After her performance at BBC's Big Night of Musical in 2023, while many in the comments section praised Ong for her rendition of "On My Own", some began to compare her to Lea Salonga. "Honestly, sometimes it's a little bit of a downer when you catch that comparison comment, and one of the biggest comparisons I get is [to] Lea Salonga... It's not a bad thing, because I think she's amazing. So I feel really flattered, but also equally, it's quite difficult," Ong shared. However, Ong's rendition...
Homecoming
After taking West End by storm with her portrayal of Eponine, Ong is scheduled to return to Singapore in October 2023 to perform in Pangdemonium's production of Sondheim's "Into the Woods". As this would be her first professional performance on home soil, Ong shared that she feels really excited and nervous at the same time, but she cannot wait to perform in Singapore. She is also excited to see her family and return to Singapore.
Little advice for theatre folks
Ong shared that the theatre industry is tough, but aspiring actors must keep their faith and keep going. "If it's something you are passionate about, never stop growing," said Ong. Having played Eponine for nearly two years, Ong shared that she constantly finds new things about her role that keep her learning. "The more you explore, the more that you challenge yourself, the more rewarding it's going to feel for you."
What the future has in store
When asked if she would come back to perform in Singapore beyond her stint in October, Ong replied without hesitation that she would love to come back to Singapore and perform as long as she has work to return to. However, what Ong would love is a break. With nothing lined up after "Into the Woods", Ong craves a break as working six days a week on stage can be tiring. Ong shared that she wants to take a break and travel around the world. She might do a concert in Singapore in the future, but...
Nathania Ong (born 1998) is a Singaporean musical actress currently based in the United Kingdom. She is best known for her role as Eponine in Les Miserables, having starred in the musical’s UK & Ireland tour and later reprising it in the actual West End production.
Jun 7, 2016 · Set in the 19th century against the backdrop of the French Revolution, the story follows Jean Valjean, an ex-convict who tries to start a new life, and features classic numbers such as 'Castle on a...
Nov 27, 2022 · But the 24-year-old is now playing the streetwise yet tragic Eponine in the famed musical Les Miserables (1985 to present), the first Singaporean to do so in the West End stage production.
May 28, 2016 · Up-close and Personal With The Cast of Les Miserables. Simon Gleeson as Jean Valjean. We had an amazing evening enjoying the show, and the next day, even got to meet with some of the key cast members from this production of Les Miserables, first of whom is none other than Simon Gleeson who plays the iconic role of Jean Valjean in Les Miserables.
Mar 20, 2024 · Nathania Ong is the first Singaporean in history to play Eponine in Les Misérables on the West End stage. (Images: Nathania Ong/@nattyong on Instagram)
