Katherine MacAlister speaks to Poppy Carter, star of Miracle on 34th Street, coming to the New Theatre

Everything is lovely in the world of Poppy Carter, the star of Miracle on 34th Street which is coming to Oxford’s New Theatre next week. The cast are “lovely,” the audience is “lovely”, the songs are, yes, you guessed it, “lovely,” and the show itself is “really lovely”.

Poppy is certainly embracing her Christmas incarnation as Susan, and if Miracle on 34th Street’s sell-out performances are anything to go by, she is wowing her audiences all around the country, regardless of her limited superlatives.

But then Poppy has a lot in common with her character Susan, a young girl who dreams of better things, because while Susan discovers that Father Christmas is real after all, Poppy has defied her critics to seize some of the biggest and best parts on stage and the big screen.

Recently seen treading the boards with the likes of Keira Knightley and Elisabeth Moss in The Children’s Hour in the West End, and with film parts such as St Trinian’s and Harry Potter under her belt, Poppy is certainly a name to watch.

Singing on stage, however, is something that has so far eluded her professionally, until now. “I started singing when I was a little girl so it’s lovely to be doing it again, although it’s a bit strange to have been singing about Christmas since October.”

A big challenge then? “I’m not worried, I’m a professional actress so can do musicals, although Miracle on 34th Street is more like a play with music because it’s got such a great story and script,” she tells me.

Used to playing a minor, Poppy doesn’t even flinch when you ask her about being cast consistently as a child. “I’m 22 now but I’ve always got away with it. And when people watch a show they want to believe that you are a child so are always surprised when they find out otherwise.”

Poppy has been landing big parts since she was in school. “I was cast in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and St Trinian’s, but managed to get through school quite normally, because Harry Potter makes sure you keep up to date with your education. And then I did The Children’s Hour in the West End when I left school, which was a very serious play, so this is my first stab at a family show.”

Poppy knows the transition is never easy: “I think there is always a point when you are too old to play children and too young to play adults, so I’m lucky to be here.”

With stars like Keira Knightley to show her the ropes, it’s no wonder Poppy has set her sights so high. “I’ve never seen anyone who works as hard as Keira does. You can see why she has got to where she has and she deserves all her success because Keira is a shining example of what you can achieve if you work that hard.”

Which is why Poppy is giving it her all every night on stage. “It’s an absolutely amazing Christmas show,” she says, “and such a great company to work for, because even when we have a three-show day everyone gets up early and has so much enthusiasm, and energy.”

But with such a busy schedule and tour, Poppy is having to look after her voice, because as the show is very close to the original film, it includes all the great classic songs like It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas. “It’s not hard because the songs are lovely,” she smiles.

As for her own future Poppy is determined to concentrate on just enjoying Miracle on 34th Street while it lasts. “We will see what comes up next, but you have to be realistic about it. There is no point wasting your energy worrying about ‘what-ifs. And who knows, by the time I’m 40 I may get to play 20-year-olds!” she laughs, before turning back to rehearsals, her childlike metamorphosis accelerating as she nears the stage.

Miracle on 34th Street

The New Theatre Oxford
December 9–11
For tickets, call 0844 871 3020 or visit atgtickets.com/oxford