Later this year, Meesha Garbett will be appearing as a leading character in a highly-anticipated upcoming film and she has previously been in the cast of the CATS film adaptation alongside a cast including Rebel Wilson and Jason Derulo, and she attended the red carpet premiere in New York. Other screen work for Meesha has included Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey and the 2019 release of Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw. As a dancer, Meesha has filmed music videos for both George Ezra and Lady Leshurr, and she performed at Hyde Park alongside Justin Bieber. Meesha has appeared at the Royal Albert Hall in the Royal Ballet’s Nutcracker, has won many championships as a dancer and is part of the dance group IMD Legion. We found out from Meesha about working on the upcoming film release, attending the red carpet premiere for CATS and her dance career so far.

What can you tell us about your time on set as a leading character in an upcoming film due to be released later this year and how did you feel finding out you’d booked the role?

Time on set, filming this upcoming film, was so fun! Everyone was so nice and it was just a great atmosphere to be around. It was my first time being one of the leading characters in a film, so it was really exciting. I got to make some really good friends, as there were a lot of children being a part of this film and I’d love to do it all over again. When I found out that I had got the role, I was so relieved and excited, because there were so many rounds of auditions and so many amazing, talented kids that could’ve got chosen and I was so grateful that I was the one.

How was it working with the rest of the cast and what are you most looking forward to for the film to be released?

Working with the rest of the cast was incredible, everyone was really humble and welcoming. Some of the kids were a few years younger than me (nine to eleven years old). I found it so inspiring that kids that young are able to take direction so well and have so much talent. Everyone was so sweet and we all had a great time! When the film gets released, I’m excited to see how all the bits we filmed get put together, the camera angles they chose, the take they chose etc. I think it will be amazing!

What are some of your favourite memories from working on Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey?

My favourite memory from filming Jingle Jangle was the dress fitting. As the film was set decades ago, all of our costumes were really cool! The women wore corsets underneath their big dresses, but luckily I didn’t have to wear one under mine! I loved seeing all the different pieces of clothing, because it’s nothing like what we would wear now, in 2022.

You played Mouse Sister in the film adaptation of CATS, what was this like to do and can you tell us about working alongside a cast including Rebel Wilson and Jason Derulo?

Being a mouse in CATS was a once-in-a-lifetime experience! I absolutely loved every second of it. The sets were all incredible. As we were humans playing animals, they had to make the sets on a bigger scale to make it look like we were smaller. I remember, one day, when we had some free time, one of the assistant directors gave us a little tour of some of the sets and we got to jump on a bed that was about ten times bigger and softer than any normal bed! It was so fun. Our costumes were so crazy! We had to wear these leotard type things with orange spots all over them and we had white face paint with dots on that as well. This was so that in the editing stage, they could add furr onto us and do any details they wanted to make us look more like animals. When I met Rebel Wilson for the first time in rehearsals, I just remember thinking ‘wow, she is really that funny in real life as well’. She brought light to the long days of rehearsing and always made sure that everyone was having a good time. She was great.

How was the experience attending the film’s red carpet premiere in New York?

Attending the CATS red carpet in New York was unreal, it literally felt like a dream. First of all, just being in NYC was amazing, but then getting to meet all these people, like Jason Derulo, Taylor Swift, James Corden and many more, that I have grown up aspiring to be like was just incredible.

In the 2019 film Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw, you played Young Hattie (Vanessa Kirby), how was this and can you tell us about your time on set?

Playing Young Hattie in Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw was so fun. We did this scene, where we had to blow up a safe and it was so cool! We jumped onto crash mats and they actually set a mini explosion off, and then the magic of editing brought it all together. In the end, that scene looked fantastic!

What was your episode of We Hunt Together like to do?

Filming We Hunt Together was so fun. I was a kid in a school and I was dressed up as a witch, I looked so crazy! They painted my nails a very dark green, made my hair all crazy, I had this really cool face paint and a long witch fancy dress (just like Halloween). Everyone was so nice to work with and made sure I had everything I needed, I loved it.

You’ve been involved with music videos for George Ezra and Lady Leshurr, can you say more about these?

I love filming music videos because all the music videos I’ve been in so far, I’ve been dancing, and I absolutely love dancing. It all just comes naturally to me and whilst they are filming, I just get to let go and show off my moves. I also love how it’s so relaxed and free. The artists that I worked with were super cool and friendly too!

How did you find the experience as a dancer at Hyde Park for Justin Bieber’s World Tour?

Oh my goodness, being a dancer for JUSTIN BIEBER on stage, at his tour! I can’t even put it into words. When I stepped on that stage, I just remember thinking: “Wow, I actually can’t see the end of the people!”. There were 70,000 people watching me and most of all, Justin Bieber gave me a hug and asked my name. I mean, you can’t get any better than that!

Can you tell us about performing at the Royal Albert Hall in Royal Ballet’s Nutcracker?

Performing at the Royal Albert Hall in Royal Ballet’s Nutcracker was so inspiring, to think that so many incredible dancers and singers have performed on the same stage as me is mind-blowing. I’m so glad that I got the opportunity to do this.

As a dancer, you have won many championships, what are some of your stand-out highlights from your career so far?

As a dancer, some of my best highlights so far have been: dancing on stage with Justin Bieber, going to Arizona to compete in the World Hip Hop Championships and meeting lots of incredible people!

You are also part of IMD Legion, how did you get involved and can you tell us about performing with them?

I first found out about IMD Legion when they went on Britain’s Got Talent in 2015. After that, I started following them on social media and then when I got old enough, I auditioned and got in. Performing with IMD is not like any other crew, we are all so supportive of each other. Everyone is so helpful, welcoming and there is a lot of healthy competition inside the crew. It is amazing.

Where does your love of dance and acting come from and how did you start?

When I was younger, my mom and dad said that I had wayyyy too much energy and I wouldn’t sleep at night, so they decided to put me into some ballet classes. I was three when I started. I really loved it, so I carried on and started doing different styles like tap, modern, jazz etc. Then, my dancing led me onto my acting. I got into some music videos and then got an agency. From there, I just carried on practising and auditioning and that got me to where I am today.

What is your favourite dance style to perform and which styles are you skilled in?

My favourite dance styles are probably afro beats, popping, choreography and contemporary. I train in a lot of different styles including locking, breaking, popping, wacking, afro, contemporary, jazz, tap, ballet and lots more.

How do you like to spend your time away from your career and what are you hoping 2022 brings for you?

When I have my free days, this may sound weird but, I love to rearrange my whole bedroom. It’s just so fun to have a change now and then! I also love to have nice relaxing baths and spend time with my mom, dad, brother and dog. I hope that 2022 brings me lots of good luck, opportunities to meet new amazing people like the past few years and growth in my career.

Meesha Garbett is represented by Sylvia Young Agency

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