The Audience Stars Elizabeth Teeter & Sadie Sink on Being Queens For the Day & Holding Court with Helen Mirren

When Oscar winner Helen Mirren isn’t ruling England as Queen Elizabeth II in Broadway’s The Audience, she’s having heart-to-hearts with her younger self, revealing a softer side of the no-nonsense monarch. The role of Young Elizabeth is split by 13-year-olds Sadie Sink and Elizabeth Teeter, who share the thrilling task of taking the stage with Mirren in the bio-play by Peter Morgan. Broadway.com spent the afternoon hanging out with these theater pros to talk riding the subway, acing British history and of course, chicken and waffles.



Q: Did you guys know each other before sharing this role?

ELIZABETH: We did a workshop of Ever After together, so we met doing that, and then when we found out we were doing this show, we were so excited. We’d made lots of videos together—

SADIE: Oh yeah, we made a bunch of music videos and then we became really good friends and kept in touch.

Q: Where are these music videos? Can I see them?

ELIZABETH: No! [Laughs.]

Q: How much did you know about British history before starring in this show?

SADIE: Um, nothing!

ELIZABETH: I was like, what's a prime minister again? [Laughs.]

SADIE: Because they show all of the Queen's prime ministers in The Audience, I used to think, "Why does she have like, 12 prime ministers at once? I thought she was only supposed to have one."

ELIZABETH: I think people underestimate the job of ruling a country. They think, oh, the Queen just wears pretty dresses and gets a lot of money, but it’s really a lot harder than that. It would be hard for me, at least.

SADIE: Yeah, I always thought that the Queen had this glamorous life and she got everything she wanted but no, it’s a lot of hard work.

Q: So you guys are real British history experts these days.

SADIE: If I could take a test on British history right now, I would like, ace it.



Q: If you were queen for the day, what would you want to do?

ELIZABETH: I’d want to explore the palace. There’s 700-something rooms. It’d be kinda lonely though, because it’s so huge.

SADIE: It would! It’s so big!

ELIZABETH: It’s like a museum.

Q: So maybe your first order of queenly business would be to invite your friends over for a party?

ELIZABETH: I don’t trust most of my friends at the palace. They'd break something. [Laughs.]

Q: What would you want to order for breakfast if you were the queen?

SADIE: Chicken and waffles! I’m obsessed with those.

ELIZABETH: Definitely ice cream.



Q: Sadie, you were in Annie and Elizabeth, you were in Mary Poppins—do you feel like old Broadway pros now?

ELIZABETH: We’re still learning so much, especially because this is my first play. Just watching these actors rehearse is such a learning experience.

Q: You’re on stage with Helen Mirren, one of the biggest celebrities on the planet! Was that scary at first?

SADIE: Our first rehearsal with her, I was like, “OK, I gotta get this right!” But it wasn't scary after that. She’s such a nice person and I don’t really get nervous around her.

ELIZABETH: The first day of rehearsal she came right up and introduced herself—

SADIE: Yeah, we were the first people she talked to.

ELIZABETH: I’m always worried when I meet someone famous that they’re not gonna be nice, but she’s even more inspiring when you meet her.



Q: Did Helen Mirren ever mess up her lines in rehearsal?

SADIE: Yes!

ELIZABETH: And, um, the Brits like to swear [laughs].

Q: What is the coolest thing about being on Broadway?

SADIE: I love learning new things from the other actors.

ELIZABETH: I love that the cast is like a family. And it’s such a learning experience. Everyone thinks it’s super glamorous, but it’s really a lot of hard work, you know?

Q: What about getting to sign autographs and ride around in fancy cars?

ELIZABETH: It's fun to sign autographs, but it’s really different from what the stage door is like at a musical.

SADIE: Yeah, in musicals, everyone is screaming.

ELIZABETH: The stage door fans at The Audience are much more respectful. And I don’t get a car service or anything—I just take the subway.

SADIE: And so does Helen! [Laughs.]



See Elizabeth Teeter and Sadie Sink in The Audience at the Schoenfeld Theatre.