Elle India – July 2019

ELLE.IN 73 JULY

Meet Manali Datar,

who plays the fiery Rose

Granger- Weasley in

the Australian rendition

of Harry Potter And The

Cursed Child

T

wenty-one-year-old Manali

Datar is living the Gen Z

dream. The BFA Music

Theatre graduate from

Victorian College of the Arts

(VCA), who was born in Pune and

spent her childhood there before

moving to Australia, is currently

essaying the role of Rose Granger-

Weasley in the Australian stage

version of the most exciting theatrical

spectacle of the decade—Harry

Potter And The Cursed Child. After

London and New York, Melbourne

is only the third city where fans can

catch the show. And ever since it

opened this past February, muggles

have thronged the Princess Theatre

to watch the two-part

extravaganza that

features mesmerising,

live on-stage magic that

ranges from recreating

the Hogwarts Express

to depicting a jaw-

dropping scene in the

Great Lake, all before

your eyes. After being

among a lucky few to

watch the play, ELLE

spoke with Datar

about her stereotype-

busting role and her

undying love for the

performing arts:

ELLE: Give us a glimpse into

your childhood.

Manali Datar: My parents encouraged

my love for music, art and acting.

I was always singing and dancing,

copying accents and dialogue off TV

shows and movies, and performing

anywhere I could find an audience.

Getting into VCA, however, was the

catalyst that pushed me to see my

passions as a real career.

ELLE: How did you land the role?

MD: I auditioned in 2017 and was

called back four times to read scenes

for Rose, only to finally learn that

I got the part the day before my

twentieth birthday.

ELLE: What do you love about Rose?

MD: She’s feisty, ambitious, and

witty—so much like Hermione

was as a young woman. In her, I

see myself and every other young

woman of colour who is venturing

out into life, attempting to trust in

her curiosity, her knowledge, and

her strength to change the world.

ELLE: Casting non-white actors as

Hermione and Rose in the stage versions

created a stir, despite JK Rowling

tweeting that she never technically

said Hermione was white. What’s your

advice for POC actors?

MD: Your voice is your most powerful

asset. You deserve to tell stories

and have your story told. You bring

a unique, lived experience to the

table. Don’t shy away from your

identity and never forget where you

came from.

ELLE: What’s your

favourite spell?

MD: “Accio!” I’m always

hungry. Imagine being

able to summon snacks.

I’m mad with power at

the very thought.

ELLE: Pick a Deathly

Hallow.

MD: The Invisibility

Cloak for when I want

to people-watch or read

in peace.

— NEVILLE BHANDARA

Harry Potter And

The Cursed Child is

running through

March 2020.

Harrypottertheplay.

com/au/

GETTING THERE:

Singapore Airlines

flies from Mumbai

to Melbourne

via Singapore.

Singaporeair.com

Take the

STAGE

ATRE

Manali Datar

Photographs: Damian Bennett (Manali Datar), Matt Murphy

From left: Sean Rees-Wemyss (Albus Potter),
Manali Datar (Rose Granger-Weasley) and
William McKenna (Scorpius Malfoy)

RADAR THEATRE