S6, Ep6 – In conversation with Talia Palamathanan
28 March 2025
For our Life & Smile season six final we are thrilled to have whisked the musical theatre star Talia Palamathanan from the West End to Harley Street to join Dr Reena in conversation in our recording studio.
You may recognise Talia from her winning the award as the Best Newcomer at the 2024 Asian Media Awards and she is currently playing the iconic Jennifer Parker in the hit show Back to the Future.
Covering everything from her career journey to the media landscape and how Talia makes it work on a daily basis, get ready for an incredibly inspiring, fun and motivational episode to end this current season.
Conversation Show Notes – The Recap
Talia’s family were always big fans of musicals, growing up with the classics. She started classes with her sister, amounting up to 17 per week, starting out as a hobby. Then, she got the lead roles in school plays, and she started out with a child agency, gaining experience of being on set.
Musical theatre was always on her radar, and it was after an audition for Matilda that her path became a game-changing journey to the West End. She then joined the Brit School, which was ideal for giving exposure to the 360-degree world of performing arts.
Her journey to the West End has been led by taking chances on multiple opportunities, building relationships, and knowing when to say yes, with her parents supporting her with the mentality of “you can always go back to school but you can’t go back to this.” Talia credits her parents for their full support, citing them as very, very driven people who have worked very hard to get to where they are.
The journey of starting out in the industry takes a lot of stamina and can also be socially challenging, as you are not always surrounded by your peers, so there is minimal time to bond.
When it comes to a typical week, Talia talks through her standard routine – performers usually do eight shows a week and have one day off a week, which she likes to prioritise for rest as much as she can, having a background of being on tour where there was not the opportunity to rest.
In terms of next steps, branching out into TV or film, radio, or presenting is the focus, and doing as many projects as she can. Long-term, she would like to continue and focus on inspiring change and diversity and helping others within the industry.
Crystals, photos, and sunglasses are her three day-to-day essentials – the ultimate dressing room additions.
Episode Key Takeaways – The Best ideas
The right path will often be a natural progression – know when to take an opportunity and say yes.
Experience and work will ensure you grow up very fast.
Stamina is key – know how to refuel.
Friendships for the long term are key.
When you are doing something you love, it’s much easier despite a challenging schedule.
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