Last year, Gracie Cochrane began playing Jemima Potts on the National Tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, which has recently concluded its run, and whilst in the cast, she has worked alongside Adam Garcia, Ore Oduba, Callum Train and Liam Fox. In 2022, Gracie played Young Éponine in Les Misérables in Milton Keynes, and she is represented by Sylvia Young Agency for her acting career. On screen, Gracie was part of the choir in last year’s release of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, where she met Tim Burton and Jenna Ortega, and she worked on Steve McQueen’s feature film Blitz. Gracie answered our questions about playing Jemima Potts for the National Tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, working with a cast including Adam Garcia and Liam Fox and what it was like as part of the choir in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

Since April 2024, you have been starring as Jemima Potts on the National Tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, how have you found the experience touring for the first time?

It’s been an amazing experience travelling to all different cities around the country and staying in hotels, wow, I found out I love hash browns! It’s amazing how quickly you adapt to a different routine and I’ve been lucky enough to make some incredible friends with my fellow Jeremies and Jemimas.

Had you seen the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang film before auditioning and how did you feel finding out you’d booked the role of Jemima?

I’ve seen the film so many times and love it, it’s a firm family fave. It’s very unusual for both my parents to pick me up from school as one is normally working, so when they both met me, I knew something had happened! I was so excited to get the news I’d landed the Jemima role, right there and then on the walk home!

What do you remember most from your first performance in the role?

Getting a round of applause and a standing ovation from such a big crowd was fantasmagorical! Although we had practised flying in the car during rehearsals, hearing everybody’s gasps of amazement just made the experience so much more special.

What is Jemima like to play and how is it performing the music and choreography?

I love playing Jemima, I think her character is quite like mine. One of my favourite numbers is Toot Sweets, I get to wear a gorgeous cherry red dress coat while performing that song. A major highlight is I get to waltz with my on-stage dad (Adam Garcia, Ore Oduba, Callum Train) and we also do a move at the end called the Chitty Chitty cancan.

The song You Two is always a fun challenge as we have to sing while laying a table in time to the music, plus my on-stage dad picks me up and spins me around the stage!

What is Chitty Chitty Bang Bang like to perform in and what is it like working with your fellow cast members?

Performing in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is like nothing else I’ll ever experience, it’s like performing with my second family because we spend so much time together. Adam Stafford, who plays Boris The Spy, is nicknamed “The Headmaster” as everyday he asks the kids in the show to give him a fact, always fun trying to tell him something he doesn’t already know! Everyone in the show is always laughing and joking backstage and it’s great the adult actors have always have had time for jokes with us kids!

Is there anything you think you will miss most about playing Jemima?

There’s too many things I’ll miss to name just one. Flying in the car, obviously! I mean, who wouldn’t miss that? Performing Posh! with Grandad (Liam Fox) because I get to dress up as a queen with a crown and sceptre. I love the Bombi Samba, even though I don’t perform in that scene, I always dance it in the wings with the chaperones. In the penultimate scene, Jeremy and I are trapped in cages and Chitty comes to rescue us, that always gets a massive cheer! I could say so many more things but we’d run out of space.

Do you have any favourite highlights from your time touring with Chitty Chitty Bang Bang that you can tell us about?

This might sound crazy, but during rehearsals, my dad and I found a brilliant playground on the way to the rehearsal studios, we went every day and I have such fond memories of the fun we had. We often saw other members of the cast on their way into rehearsals too, who would laugh at my dad doing his best trying to stay on a rope swing.

At Christmas time I performed in Blackpool and we got invited to dance in the famous Blackpool Tower and when we were in Eastbourne we actually went to the real Beachy Head!

What was it like taking on the role of Young Éponine in the UK Tour of Les Misérables at Milton Keynes in 2022?

It was my first real experience of a big stage, it was a small part and just the one venue, but it gave me the motivation to try out for a major part if it came my way in the future.

On screen, you were in the choir for last year’s release of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, what was it like being involved with a Tim Burton-directed film?

I actually met Tim Burton on the filming day and Jenna Ortega, who is one of my idols. It was so cool to be part of a sequel to such an iconic, original film like Beetlejuice.

How was it filming for Steve McQueen’s feature film Blitz?

Working on my scene for Blitz was fab, my scene partner was a Border Collie called Panda and there were lots of cuddles. It was a rainy day so we had to keep pausing when the rain came, and people would come and shelter me with loads of umbrellas, it was a fun experience to be kept that dry by so many people!

Where does your love of acting come from and how did you get started?

Right back in early years at school, I was the lead role for the nativity, I LOVED it. For as long as I can remember, I attended a Saturday drama club and when I was seven my parents took me to see FROZEN the Musical at Theatre Royal Drury Lane Theatre and I was mesmerised. I wanted to be up on that stage!

What are some of your favourite films, TV and theatre shows to watch, and are there any theatre shows you’d like to see that you haven’t done so as yet?

My favourite film is Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, I’ve read all the books loads of times, but Goblet introduces some new characters. I don’t actually watch much TV, but I adore Strictly Come Dancing, I kick my dad out of bed on Saturday nights during Strictly season and me and Mum watch it in bed together. My fave judge is Anton (Du Beke), he’s so flamboyant. FROZEN is my favourite theatre show so far, I’d really like to see Mary Poppins when the tour comes to Milton Keynes in October.

How you like to spend your free time?

I spend tons of time on my trampoline, bang on some tunes and practice tricks, Theo UK Rose (Chitty ensemble) inspired me to learn how to do an aerial. I like to keep moving, dancing and stretching!

Now that you have finished your run as Jemima Potts, what are you hoping this year brings for you and do you have any projects coming up that you can talk about?

I’m waiting to see what exciting opportunities hopefully come my way now I’ve finished up with Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!

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