It was announced today that Suzie Mathers will return to the main stage as Miranda Hillard in the Australian premiere tour of Mrs. Doubtfire, the hit musical based on the beloved Robin Williams film.
For Mathers, this return marks a new chapter, in a career that has taken her from Australia to the West End and beyond. Mathers is now stepping into the role of a mother while being a mother herself, bringing a very different perspective to Miranda than she had during her days playing Glinda in Wicked.
The Scoop caught up with Suzie shortly after the announcement to talk about taking on an iconic role, the enduring heart of Mrs. Doubtfire, and why this joyous musical is all about having fun. Read the full interview below.
Firstly, congratulations on your exciting casting news! What was your reaction when you found out you’d be playing Miranda Hillard in the Australian premiere of Mrs Doubtfire?
Absolutely thrilled. I think it’s one of those things; no matter how long you’re in this industry, it still is insanely exciting when your agent calls you and says that you’ve landed a big job like this. I’m really looking forward to sinking my teeth in and getting started playing Miranda Hillard.
Miranda is a character audiences may already feel they know through Sally Field’s iconic film performance. What drew you to the role, and what are you hoping to bring to Miranda in this new musical interpretation?
The great thing about bringing a movie to the stage is that we get to elevate it in a way that doesn’t happen in the movies. We get to add music. We get to add choreography and sing, all these kinds of new elements.
But for me, I suppose the thing that drew me to this role is a little bit of life imitating art or art imitating life. I’m now a mum, and being able to take on this new chapter is really cool. I’m just looking forward to visiting some of those iconic lines that Sally Field has put into our psyche.
Miranda is at the centre of a story about a family navigating separation, co-parenting and the desire to stay connected. Has becoming a mum changed the way you look at Miranda or the story she is part of?
Your experience really does inform the way that you look at roles. Being a mum and knowing how important it is to do everything for your kids, knowing how much you love them and wanting to make sure that they are happy and safe. And just leading with love. It’s a very different version of me coming into this show than it was when I was playing with bubbles in Wicked all those years ago.
The original film is remembered for its outrageous comedy, but underneath the chaos is a story about a family trying to find its way through a difficult transition. What do you think makes that emotional core so enduring?
I think the message of love is so strong, particularly in this story. Daniel will do anything to be with his kids and spend time with them. That is the most important thing for him. And then there’s the transformation he has by the end. Realising that he has to grow up as well and be there for his children. The themes are so universal, and audiences will really connect with that.
But then at the same time, it’s such a joyful night out. Being able to lean into that comedy and go on that journey with the Hillard family will be really great for audiences.
You’ve performed extensively in Australia, Asia and the UK, including playing Glinda in Wicked’s 10th Anniversary West End cast. What have those international experiences taught you about stepping into a role that already carries such strong audience expectations?
I think you have to trust yourself and really sit in the role as your own. For Glinda in Wicked, especially, by the time I got to the West End, there had been eight women before me who had taken on the role. And here in Australia, there was myself and the lovely Lucy Durack, and now Courtney Monsma. People do have that expectation of what Glinda is going to be like. But I think you have to go in and bring your own heart and your own interpretation and really trust that.
It’s sort of the same with Mrs. Doubtfire, with people having expectations of Sally Field and knowing her interpretation so well. But it’s important to also trust the messaging and lean into the heart of the story and the parts that I can bring to that. It is something that I really believe in: having the vibe and the elements of the character but being able to put my own spin on it.
You originally trained in classical voice before moving into musical theatre at WAAPA. I am studying music theatre at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. For young performers like me who dream of following a similar path, what do you wish you’d known when you were starting out?
Ah, what I wish I had known. I mean, you are asking me to rewind 20 years now! Look, I think the thing I wish I’d known is you need to back yourself in the things that are in your lane and your strength. When you’re in drama school, you are encouraged to train in dance, and acting and singing. And then you come out into the real world, and you’re not always going to be able to get those dance roles if you are primarily a singer.
But also, when we were training, it was always about getting the leading roles and moving to the front and centre of the stage as soon as we could. And I really feel like there is merit in starting as a Swing. Going into the Ensemble. Covering, doing the hard work, and pulling yourself through the ranks. Seeing how everything works and dedicating yourself in that way.
I also think you can’t take yourself too seriously. You have to enjoy the work. You have to put in the hard yards but also have a lot of fun. Because it is an incredible industry to be a part of. It’s an incredible job to have, but we’re bringing joy.
A show like Mrs. Doubtfire is there to make audiences laugh, to experience something incredible for a few hours. We take them out of the woes of the world and on an adventure. And it’s not about anything more than that. It’s about having fun. So really, if you take yourself too seriously, it can be too much.
What are you most excited for Australian audiences to experience when they come to see Mrs Doubtfire?
Oh, I think it’s going to be absolutely thrilling to see how we move between the world of Mrs. Doubtfire and the Hillard family. It’s going to be so great. The show is big. It’s got big tap numbers, big, massive songs. Some of the scenes in the movie that I love the most, like when Robin Williams is in the seats changing or trying to find the look of Mrs. Doubtfire. In the show, you get to see that happen on stage up close in such a creative way. It’s a family-friendly comedy musical, a joyous night out. I think we just have to go and have some fun, and bring the audience with us.
Suzie Mathers will star in Mrs. Doubtfire, opening in Melbourne at the Princess Theatre from 25 November. It then runs in Sydney at the Capitol Theatre from March 2027.
Tickets for Melbourne are available here. Tickets for Sydney are available via the waitlist here.
Website: https://mrsdoubtfiremusical.com.au/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/mrsdoubtfiremusicalau/
Images supplied.
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