For West End star Hannah Lowther, there really is no business like show business. Born in Basingstoke, Hampshire, in the autumn of 1997, the young starlet knew the stage was her calling when she was just six. Hannah auditioned for Basingstoke's local production of Annie and bagged the role of the youngest orphan, Molly - and there was no turning back.
She started trying out for West End theatre productions and found some success, and, heavily inspired by her older castmates - Hannah decided then and there to make performing her full-time job.
Now at 28, with several West End shows under her belt and a 1.2 million following on TikTok - it's safe to say Hannah Lowther has made it.
So, how important is it for a performer to have supportive parents when they are younger? Hannah tells me: "For parents, I would always say to be your kids' biggest cheerleaders. No matter what the size of the project, cheering them on and showing them how proud you are of them will always be key."
And for the young kids that dream of a life on stage? Hannah feels the best piece of advice she can give them is to keep learning, even when it feels like you've mastered something. "Continue learning and listening to what is going on around you and soaking everything in - that's my best tip; always be a sponge."
Hannah also believes it's important to find other things in life that bring you joy. "Often as performers, we put all of our focus into just one goal, and sometimes it's good to remember that that's not the only goal to have."
When quizzed about what the one thing was she hadn't known about life on the West End before she actually started performing professionally, Hannah was as real as it gets: "One thing that did really surprise me was how time consuming it actually is. It can get a bit exhausting at times - that wasn't something that I quite expected until I started.
"Even though there are some days where I might not be called to the theatre until 6pm, it really does involve your whole world - in the best way."
Her advice for those contemplating a life on stage? "You have to make sure that you actively focus on taking time to look after yourself, and set aside time with family and friends.
"Things definitely go wrong all the time; I feel like I'm okay with that now, especially as I've worked as a cover and an understudy. Us performers are often in situations where we have to go on stage quite last minute, or we might play multiple tracks on different days. The best thing to do is to try and let go of the perfectionist inside of you and just enjoy it."
Aspiring theatre stars can also take a leaf out of her book when it comes to feeling ready for the stage. Hannah's little pre-show ritual right before stepping in the spotlight? "I always brush my teeth; there's something about brushing my teeth and feeling fresh that makes me feel like it's going to be a great show."
Surely juggling life as a multi-hyphenate can't be easy, I ask Hannah. So how does she do it all - theatre, social media, podcasts, and now even a book? "The juggling is real, but I love it. Being surrounded by other creative people and feeling inspired by those around me really helps in making my own creative content," she confesses.
For example, Hannah feels her social content really thrives when she's working in a show, since she has tons of exciting things to talk about to the people she's working with. "It inspires me to want to educate others on what the industry involves, and I feel like both work so well hand-in-hand with each other."
On the subject of her social content, what does she feel social media has brought to her life that the stage alone hasn't? The Heathers star answers: "I think the amount of people I'm able to reach will always amaze me. I might post a video that will reach up to 1 million views, and it's unlikely that I'd perform on stage to 1 million people in one go. There isn't a distinct difference for me, other than the fact I get to connect with so many amazing people all around the world through social media, which I'm so lucky to experience."
Social media though, is always a double edged sword. In today's chronically-online world, it's hard to not let the chatter of the internet affect your mental health. How then, does a popular content creator and actor deal with the noise? "I like to make sure to take some time away from my phone where possible. I love social media and it's an incredible tool for me, but sometimes taking a quick break from the phone can give me a great re-set.
"In such a competitive industry, it's really easy to fall into habits of comparison or feeling like you're not good enough, so I think giving yourself grace is always the best thing to do. I always remind myself not to read too much into things.
"I always try my best to speak kindly to myself and about myself."
While it'll always be a bit of a learning curve for the Six! star, Hannah feels utterly thankful for her "incredible followers" who always support her, both online and in-person.
In fact, when it comes to support, Hannah feels she's got plenty - especially from other women in her industry. The West End star says: "There are so many incredibly supportive women in the industry who have left such a positive impact on me. It's easy to fall into a sense of competitiveness in this field, but we truly are so much stronger when we work together, look after one another and hype each other up."
And what is the best part of being a woman in a creative industry? For Hannah, it's having her own platform and creative outlet to be her own boss and do what she loves. "I'm so lucky that I get to express myself through my social media platforms and my podcast, as well as being on stage performing."
On the subject of her podcast, the content creator has just unveiled the second season of How Very Hannah and has been touring with it all autumn with shows in London, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Manchester, and one coming up in Brighton on November 7.
And if being a successful West End star, famous content creator, and podcaster wasn't enough - Hannah has just released her debut book, Les Quizérables, a musical theatre quick-book which hit bookstands on October 16.
Before letting her go, there's one last burning question I must ask Hannah - which West End production is her current-fave that she thinks the world is sleeping on?
"My current must-see West End shows have to be Titanique - where I was left on the floor laughing, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - where I was left on the floor crying. Both opposite ends of the spectrum, but both absolutely brilliant shows."
Tickets for How Very Hannah can be purchased here and you can buy Les Quizérables from this link.
