> At a Glance
> – Meg Donnelly began playing Satine in Moulin Rouge! The Musical on Nov. 11
> – She will headline the Tony-winning show through March 1, 2026
> – Why it matters: The 25-year-old shares how tough the transition from screen to eight-shows-a-week stage can be on mental health
Stepping into her first Broadway role, Meg Donnelly tells News Of Los Angeles the hardest part isn’t the high notes-it’s the mental grind.
Broadway Reality Check
Donnelly calls the constant self-critique “a mental game” she didn’t expect.
> “You’re always just hard on yourself and you think you can do better,” she says.
The Zombies star says live performance heightens that pressure because every move and note happens in real time.
Schedule Shock
Switching from TV shoots to eight weekly shows felt “a bit harder than I thought.”
Key adjustments:
- Two-show days immediately follow opening night
- Each performance offers room to “do something different”
- Physical stamina rivals vocal demands
Coping Strategy
Despite industry advice, Donnelly leans on her non-creative parents for perspective.
> “As long as you’re having fun,” her parents remind her.
She still gets “shaking like a leaf” nervous, but focuses on child-like joy to stay present.
Key Takeaways
- Broadway’s toughest hurdle can be internal, not technical
- Eight-show weeks demand new stamina for screen actors
- Simple advice-remembering to have fun-keeps Donnelly grounded
Her run as Satine continues at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre through March 1, 2026.
