Opinion: Why Are We So Quick To Judge Who Gets To Be Jenna?

Last week, the much-awaited lead cast of the Australian tour of Waitress was announced. Across social media, disheartened fans have thrown shade on the decision to cast celeb Natalie Bassingthwaighte in the captivating lead role of Jenna.

Concerns of Bassingthwaighte’s age, paired with accusations of her inability to do justice to the role vocally, appear to be the main cries. Many fans have been asking why younger theatre talent couldn’t be selected, as was celebrated online after the recent Heathers cast announcement.

While casting decisions have always been highly subjective and polarising, is there a reason we, as theatregoers, tend to focus on the perceived negatives of casting choices over the positives?  

The masterpiece that is Waitress, based on the 2007 film of the same name, was released to Broadway audiences in 2016. The show made theatrical history as the first musical on Broadway in which the top four creatives – book writer (Jessie Neson), composer/lyricist (Sara Bareilles), director (Diane Paulus), and choreographer (Lorin Latarro) – were women.

This celebration of powerful, creative, and artistic women didn’t stop there. Across its numerous seasons, Waitress has welcomed the nuanced and contrasting talents of Jessie Mueller, Desi Oakley, Katharine McPhee, and Lucie Jones in the title role.

Sara Bareilles herself ended her stint in the role at age 41. Each casting choice has tended to bring new perspectives and previously unexplored emotional depths to the role. 

So why is it that we are so quick to discount another unique, powerhouse female talent from doing justice to the role of Jenna?

Natalie Bassingthwaighte may, indeed, seem like a left-of-centre choice for Jenna. I, myself didn’t see it coming. But this Neighbours-bred, three-time-Logie-nominated songstress with lead role experience clearly knows what hard work and tenacity look like.

From her work with the Rogue Traders, to co-authoring a book with her sister. From lead roles in Jagged Little Pill, Chess, and Chicago, to hosting So You Think You Can Dance. From judging and mentoring on The X Factor, to her role as mother, Nat Bass appears to have all of the ingredients to be an interesting, insightful, and innovative Jenna. 

Throughout the worldwide runs of Waitress, creative teams have celebrated the fact that any and every woman could be Jenna and that this bittersweet story could be anybody’s story. Is it too difficult, then, to entertain that this could be the story of a 50-year-old woman?

Perhaps instead of discounting Bassingthwaighte, we need to trust that she will bring her own fascinating perspectives and approaches to the role, adding individualised nuances and vocal techniques that perhaps haven’t appeared before.

Her choices may not be to your taste – but isn’t that okay? Perhaps instead of expecting the worst, let’s set our sights on the fact that Bassingthwaighte might just bring a little bit of her own sugar, butter, and flour to this recipe.

Perhaps we can have faith that Bassingthwaighte understands the gift of Jenna and that she will undoubtedly work to do justice to this stunning role. As fans, we’ve seen Jennas from different places and different walks of life. Why not Nat Bass, our Waitress from Wollongong?

WAITRESS premieres in Melbourne from 1 May 2026 at Her Majesty’s Theatre. 219 Exhibition Street Melbourne Vic 3000.

It runs in Sydney from 1 August 2026.

Get tickets for Melbourne here and tickets for Sydney here.

Website: https://waitressthemusical.com.au/

Socials: https://www.instagram.com/waitressau/

Hero image: Canadian production of WAITRESS. Photo by Marie-Andrée