Phillipa Soo (Actress & Singer) | Renegades
Screen, stage, and sound, Phillipa Soo is making her mark
Welcome to Renegades, a series spotlighting Asian Pacific leaders and creatives who are carving their own paths and defying stereotypes along the way. This week, we speak with Broadway legend, Tony and Emmy-nominated actress, and 2-time Grammy-award-winning singer Phillipa Soo. Soo recently provided her voice to Lily Chu’s The Takedown, now available exclusively on Audible, and her children’s book, Piper Chen Sings, in collaboration with Maris Pasquale Doran, is set to release in 2024.
What did you want to be when you were growing up, and how does that compare to what you do today?
I wanted to be an actor. To make art, to make a living, and make an impact in the world. I never thought it would not only be my profession, but a way of life. I pinch myself everyday. And I’m eternally grateful for the opportunities I have had.
Your role as Eliza Schuyler in Hamilton has made an indelible mark on Broadway history and culture. How has that experience shaped your career, and what lessons did you take away from being part of such a groundbreaking production?
I learned very quickly the practice of being present. To be surrounded by such high caliber talent and work ethic was a dream come true. Simultaneously, I understood early on I was a part of something special, and it was my duty to rise to the occasion.
Having earned a nomination for the 2016 Tony Award and a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, how do you approach the intersection of singing and acting, and how has your training at Juilliard contributed to your versatile skill set?
I really felt like I something clicked when I walked into my second year singing class, taught by the incredible Deb Lapidus. I always had a deep emotional connection to music. I started taking piano and dance lessons when I was very young, which eventually led me to acting. I learned how to approach singing through story and how to connect your emotional life with your physical life.
Growing up yourself in the northern suburb of Chicago, your mother from Southern Illinois, is quite different from the settings in some of Lily Chu's stories. How does your personal background influence your interpretation of characters and settings, especially considering your mixed Asian heritage?
I really appreciated Lily’s writing because she built a world and a set of characters that feel very specific. I find in storytelling, the more specificity, the more clarity—which makes my job as the interpreter/narrator, very easy. Everything I need to know is on the page.
How did your childhood experience, as mentioned in the empowering picture book "Piper Chen Sings," influence your perspective on overcoming performance jitters and finding confidence. What inspired you to share this particular story?
I have often been asked, “What would you tell your younger self?” And “what do you do about nerves/stage fright?” This book is an effort to examine those questions. But ultimately, what Maris and I found when writing was that this was a book about feelings, and how to hold many feelings at once. I hope Piper Chen Sings can give children and adults alike a way to understand and examine their feelings.
As both an accomplished actress and now an author, what unique challenges or joys did you encounter in the process of co-writing "Piper Chen Sings" with Maris Pasquale Doran, and how is the creative process for writing a picture book similar to your experiences in acting?
I loved writing this book with Maris because I love the collaboration process. It inspires me. When two or more people come together to create something bigger than themselves there is true magic there! It has only reaffirmed that I love being a story teller and I love working with others.
Your collaboration with Lily Chu has resulted in multiple successful projects. What draws you to her storytelling, and how do you find resonance with the characters she creates, both in The Takedown and your previous collaborations?
I’m really drawn to Lily’s sense of humor and style. She floats between a rom-com and romantic genre, all with bright, unique women at the center of her stories.
In portraying Dee Kwan, a character facing family challenges and professional hurdles, how did you approach bringing depth and authenticity to her story?
My job is made easy because it’s all in the writing. I relate to the things she is going through. I think that’s what makes so Lily’s central characters so endearing—they are incredibly relatable, witty, and intelligent.
What are you currently working on that’s exciting you the most?
I’m so excited for Piper Chen Sings to be released into the world! It’s been a long time that we’ve been working on it. It gives me great pride to see something physical that I can hold in my hand and say, “We made that!” When I think about parents, family, or teachers reading this book out loud to young children, it warms my heart and overwhelms me with joy.
Lightning Round
Daily habit: I don’t sleep with my phone by my bed. I leave it charging in the living room. No phones in the bedroom!
Most used emoji: 🙏 or 😳
Most productive time of the day: Mornings
Fun fact: I love to cook.
Role Model: Jonathan Groff