Moms To Know: Emily Carragher, Cirque du Soleil Drawn To Life performer

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If you’ve already seen Cirque du Soleil’s Drawn To Life than you likely already know who Emily Carragher is. The New York native plays Miss Hesitation, one of the most prominent roles in the show (and not to mention the main antagonist!).

When she’s not entertaining crowds with her comedic yet villainous antics, at home Carragher is playing her biggest part to date: A first-time mom.

Orlando Parenting Magazine caught up with Carragher about her journey as both a performer and a parent:

Orlando Parenting Magazine: Tell me when you decided to pursue a career as a performer

Emily Carragher: As a kid, I was always interested in theatre and performing and then I saw Cirque du Soleil and I decided I wanted to become a clown. I went to a clown program and I loved it. I actually couldn’t afford to go to the second half of it, but they let me come back anyway and even helped me get my first contract at Ringling Brothers. So, my biggest takeaway was probably the connections I made there with the industry professionals that taught me. It was also the first time that I really got to explore my own clown character, which is just me times a thousand!

OPM: What was it like performing at Ringling Brothers?

Emily Carragher: Performing for Ringling was tough. It was my first time being on the road, away from home, and I was so homesick and depressed. But making people laugh is somehow easier when you’re sad, so I just immersed myself in the work and tried to learn as much as I could about the circus world.

The most important thing I learned at Ringling was that I didn’t want to be there. Ringling is an American circus and has a traditional three-ring set-up, and I really wanted to work in a European-styled, one-ring circus. So, I started all over again at the bottom as a laborer at the Big Apple Circus back home in New York and worked my way up as a technician to the Ring Crew, finally getting to work in the show. And I’m eternally grateful for my time there because it was very educational to work on the other side of things backstage. Every performer should work as a technician.  

OPM: How did you get involved with Cirque du Soleil? What was that transition like?

Emily Carragher:I saw Cirque du Soleil when I was a kid, and it changed me forever. In my early 20’s, I received an invitation to audition for them in New York City, and when I passed, it was the biggest feeling of validation that I’ve ever felt. Like all my hard work and dreaming had finally paid off! Then, while I was in their casting pool for the next few years, I kept on working and studying until I got a call for an opening in their touring show, Varekai, which I joined at the end of 2014. I toured with Varekai for three years through North America, Europe, Russia, and the Middle East until it closed in 2017.  

OPM: Tell me about your role as Miss Hesitation. I know you’ve played her for some time now—have you felt like your experience being her has changed over time? 

Emily Carragher: In 2019, we started creation on Drawn to Life, and I originated the character Miss Hesitation. I’ve played her for almost 5 years now! She’s the villain of our story, which is really fun because she gets to be mean and cruel, but then she gets redemption at the end, which not every villain gets.  

The role has definitely changed for me over the years. When we first opened, she wasn’t as defined as she is now. The audience has really helped me shape her, made her clearer, funnier, and without them, I wouldn’t know what works and what doesn’t!  

OPM: Miss Hesitation’s makeup is amazing! What’s it like transforming into her each evening? 

Emily Carragher: Thank you! The Miss Hesitation make-up is probably the most complicated in the entire show. It takes me about an hour and a half to do it each night, fifty minutes if I’m in a rush, but I really enjoy transforming myself into her. I feel like she’s pretty vain, as most evil queens are, so she takes a lot of pride in her appearance. I like to make her edges sharp enough to cut yourself on!

OPM: I heard you’re a new mom—congrats! How has motherhood changed your experience being a performer?

Emily Carragher:I’m definitely a different performer now that I’m a mom. I feel like I’ve slowed down a lot. Not just literally. I feel like my rhythm on-stage has changed to allow for more patience and listening. Our story is about a little girl, so when I came back from maternity leave, the show felt even more close to home. I understood it better. And now, whenever I see children in the audience, I try to see my own daughter in them, imagining what it will be like for her to watch the show one day.

OPM: What’s been the biggest surprise becoming a mom?

Emily Carragher: The biggest surprise? Probably that I haven’t forgotten her at the supermarket yet. I don’t know. I’m very surprised by how easy it all felt, honestly. I felt like a mom so quickly. It all felt so … natural. I remember that first time I was driving her to the babysitters by myself, and I looked back at her in the rearview mirror and thought, ‘Gee, I used to be the one sitting in the backseat!’—and now I’m the one in the driver’s seat. It really is awesome being a mom. It’s tough, but that smile makes it all worth it.

OPM: Any advice for fellow new moms trying to juggle motherhood and their careers? 

Emily Carragher: My advice to moms is DON’T FORGET YOURSELF! When people ask you, ‘Who are the most important people in your life?’ don’t forget to list yourself first. No, it’s not selfish. You can’t pour from an empty cup. You owe it to your kid to be at your best for them, so take care of yourself. It’s ok to take that time.

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