Interview with Tom Xander, MEAN GIRLS THE MUSICAL

Congratulations on your recent Olivier Award nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical! How did you find out and what was your initial reaction?

I sat and watched the announcement—I was just curious since it was the first time I’d been eligible for something like this. My mum even asked me to send her the link because she wanted to watch it too! I was sitting on the sofa when they read my name out, and I just couldn’t believe it. To be honest, I even shed a joyful tear or two. It’s been an overwhelming experience because I never expected to receive this, especially so early in my career. I am incredibly grateful and deeply humbled.

Have you thought about the prospect of winning and how this will impact on you personally and in your career?

I feel like I’m always striving for the next goal, rarely taking a moment to appreciate what I’ve already accomplished. Receiving this recognition for my role as Damian in Mean Girls at this point in my career is incredible—and who knows what opportunities it might bring in the future? That’s out of my hands, but it has given me a chance to reflect, regroup, and remind myself that I am good enough. This nomination feels like a validation of my work. Like many actors, I have moments of self-doubt, so knowing I have this to look back on will be a great source of encouragement whenever I need it.

The nomination was for your current role in the West End production of Mean Girls. What drew you to the role of Damian in particular when you heard the show was heading to London last summer?

I think everyone who watched the original 2004 film fell in love with it—and with these characters—so when I heard it was coming to Broadway, my friends and I booked tickets immediately. When I saw the show, I fell even more in love—not just with the production, but with Damian himself.

Over the span of a couple of years, I saw the show four times on Broadway, and I knew that playing Damian was my next goal. So when the opportunity finally came and I was offered the role, it was an incredibly overwhelming experience.

Damian is such a beloved character in the film and has some of the most iconic lines. How have you crafted a role that is your own whilst staying true to the original?

During the audition process, I think the casting team may have noticed some similarities to past portrayals of Damian, but I was never consciously trying to include them. My goal was to create my own version of Damian while staying true to the storylines and his relationships with the other characters. I never felt pressured to merge past interpretations with my own, and I’m so grateful to Casey Nicholaw, Tina Fey, and everyone else who allowed me that creative freedom.

If there are any similarities, they’re likely just a natural coincidence, thanks to Tina’s brilliant writing. After all, it’s the same beloved storyline and the same character with those iconic lines.

Because you are part of the original West End I suppose you have nothing to compare it to..

Yeah, it’s incredibly liberating and something I’ve never had the chance to do before in a musical. It’s a wonderful experience to put my own mark on the role without feeling like I have to replicate what others have done before me.

When you step into a role in a long-running show, there’s often an expectation to follow what came before or at least pay homage to it. But with Mean Girls, it’s been amazing to have the freedom to make Damian my own—within reason, of course!

Mean Girls is a well known story so how do you interpret and see the story yourself?

The show ultimately ends with a simple yet powerful message: don’t be mean. It might seem obvious, given that the show is called Mean Girls, but at its core, the story is about so much more than that. It’s about friendships, personal struggles, and the journey of growing up—navigating the challenges of adolescence, learning from mistakes, and becoming a better version of yourself.

What makes Mean Girls so special is that it’s a story everyone can relate to in their own way. We’ve all experienced the ups and downs of school, the pressure to fit in, and the lessons that shape us into who we are. For me, Damian is a character I’ve connected with for a long time—his experiences in school mirrored a lot of my own, which makes playing him even more meaningful.

The show features an incredible soundtrack which audiences love. Do you have a favourite number in the show and why?

I think my favorite number in the show is probably Someone Gets Hurt, which is one of Regina George’s songs. While I love performing my own song, I still remember the first time I saw Mean Girls and watched this number—I was completely blown away. I thought, wow, they’ve written an absolutely incredible song for this iconic villainous character. It even has that dramatic, almost James Bond-like vibe to it (laughs).

One of the things that makes the music in Mean Girls so special is how well the songs reflect the characters. Every number is not just catchy but also helps to deepen the story and bring out different sides of the characters we know and love.

How does it feel to be a part of a show that has such a dedicated fan base and has this presented any challenges?

There’s always a challenge when bringing a show like Mean Girls to the West End because fans naturally compare it to what they already know and love. But we’ve been incredibly lucky with the reaction we’ve had from both longtime fans and new audiences.

There are a few changes from the Broadway version—some songs have been replaced or altered—so I think people who saw it in New York might have been a bit hesitant at first. But the response has been fantastic. Audiences have really embraced what we’re doing, and any initial concerns about the differences have quickly disappeared. In fact, we like to think that our West End version is the best one yet—ha ha!

If you could play any other character in Mean Girls, who would it be and why?

Hmm, it’s really difficult because there are so many roles I’d love to play—not necessarily because I connect with them more than others, but just because they’d be so much fun. If I had to choose, I’d love to play a villain. I mean, imagine playing Regina George! I think everyone who watches the show secretly thinks, even though she’s the villain, it would be so fun to step into her world for a day—to have that level of confidence and command over a room. It would be such a fun experience—not to mention getting to sing her incredible songs!

Is there anything you hope audiences will take away from watching Mean Girls..

There’s so much I could say about this. Mean Girls is a story that resonates with everyone in different ways, depending on their background and experiences. I think audiences see parts of themselves in the characters, whether it’s their struggles, their friendships, or the challenges of figuring out who they are.

For me, playing Damian is incredibly special because he is so unapologetically himself. He doesn’t answer to anyone, and he never apologizes for being camp, gay, flamboyant—just completely, confidently who he is. Those qualities mean a lot to me, and I truly believe everyone should feel free to live that way.

We have characters like Janis, who is openly lesbian and faces homophobic bullying and being outcast simply for being herself. There are so many important lessons within her story, and I think it’s something that really resonates with people.

I can’t speak for everyone, but I know there are a lot of people who see themselves in both Janis and Damian. Hopefully, they leave Mean Girls feeling uplifted—seeing that kind of representation on stage can be so powerful. If even one person walks away feeling seen, validated, or inspired, that’s really special.

Finally, what should people book a ticket to see Mean Girls in the West End?

We all know and love the original film. These characters and this story are so iconic, and the musical brings them to life in such an exciting way. The songs are incredible, and while the story remains the same, it’s been reimagined for a 2025 audience, making it feel fresh and relevant.

Everyone in this cast and crew works so hard to deliver two and a half hours of pure joy, and we just want people to come and have the best time. So grab your friends, come along, and get ready for one of the most fun nights out in London!

Mean Girls The Musical plays at the Savoy Theatre until 8 June 2025.