Willy Wonka’s Unknown Lands a New Appearing Gig in London

On one chilly night in March, after the solar had set and when most school-aged kids had been begrudgingly beginning their homework, Felicia Dawkins, 16, enthusiastically hopped on the cellphone from Scotland to share that her life had modified — for the higher.

She launched herself with the type of bubbly vitality and giddiness that solely a young person can radiate. It’s the identical vitality that drew tens of millions of viewers to her TikTok account, the place she unveiled herself as a key participant in a Willy Wonka-themed occasion that had gone so poorly that its memes briefly took over massive parts of the web and worldwide information protection went on for days.

That occasion, in Glasgow in late February, didn’t create the dazzling expertise it promised. The fallout — in true web vogue — was swift and brutal. Organizers shortly shut down the occasion and promised full refunds to disgruntled households.

Within the aftermath, the web latched on to one of many occasion’s extra inexplicable characters, identified solely as “The Unknown,” performed by Felicia. Footage of her efficiency as an evil chocolate maker who lives within the partitions of the manufacturing unit, which included rising from behind a mirror to the cries of kids, unfold extensively on-line, kicking off {the teenager}’s quarter-hour of fame.

She’s capitalizing now, taking her scaring skills south for a visitor look on the London Dungeon, a theatrical thrill attraction within the shadow of town’s London Eye, this weekend. The corporate reached out to Felicia shortly after her viral second to supply her a possibility to coach with the efficiency crew and seem within the attraction.

Felicia’s mom, Janet Dawkins, stated she had combined feelings in regards to the Wonka occasion failing so miserably, and so publicly. “The whole lot led to her getting all of this, all these alternatives,” Ms. Dawkins stated. “So, I can’t actually say that I’m mad about something that went down, if I’m sincere.”

Ms. Dawkins stated she was “very, very proud” of Felicia and that her household had been intently concerned in serving to the younger actress discover her footing amid all the eye.

Felicia spoke with The Occasions about her transient time at Willy’s Chocolate Expertise, her love of all issues scary and her appearing ambitions. The next is an edited and condensed model of that dialog.

What was your life like earlier than Willy’s Chocolate Expertise?

I used to be simply attending college as regular. I used to be getting ready for my highers at college, which is principally simply exams. And my favourite topic in class — I actually love drama, which could be very cliché. I like P.E., as properly. I’m fairly bodily. I’m a Scout as properly, in my free time.

What sorts of issues do you do in Scouts? I wish to see if it’s comparable or totally different to the Scouts in the US.

Some weeks we’ll simply do video games, some weeks we’ll find out about badges, after which we go on camps very often as properly, which is absolutely enjoyable. I really received chosen to go to Norway this 12 months from Scouts, which is why I took the Willy Wonka Expertise job as properly, to pay for that.

How did you land the chance to take part within the Willy Wonka expertise?

Principally, simply somebody from Home of Illuminati [the organizer of the Wonka event] was speaking to a household good friend about this large Wonka expertise. After which my identify got here up in dialog that I might make an excellent Wonka as a result of I like appearing in actual life. And so they’ve seen me earlier than, as a result of I’m going to theater college right here as properly.

Had been you paid for the Wonka expertise?

I used to be paid, yeah. I wasn’t paid the complete quantity, however I received paid 250 kilos [about $315].

And the way a lot had been you promised?

£500 [about $630].

Take us again to the day of the occasion. What was going by your thoughts, and did you assume the occasion was going properly or did you assume it was disastrous?

After I first received there and I seen the set, I believed, “Oh, that is going to be a catastrophe.” However when folks began to come back in — like the primary, I’d say, 45 minutes went comparatively properly — like, folks appeared to be having fun with it. However then after that, it simply misplaced all of the group, after which it simply went fully downhill from there. And I simply thought, “Oh my gosh!”

As an actor, if you’re in that scenario and also you’re given a script that it’s a must to be taught straight away, what types of feelings come up?

I used to be so, so nervous about it as a result of I’ve performed, like, exhibits earlier than. I’m fairly good at studying strains. However seeing that, I used to be like, there’s no method I can be taught this in, like, an evening. And since the script was A.I. generated, most of it didn’t even make sense. So it was more durable for me to be taught, so I simply needed to improvise it.

Why did you resolve to disclose your self on TikTok after the expertise shut down?

No person knew, actually, that I used to be The Unknown. I advised a few my shut mates, however when folks on TikTok began to come back ahead and say that they had been The Unknown, I used to be like, “No you’re not, as a result of I’m The Unknown.” And increasingly folks began doing it, and so they had been getting a great deal of the likes, and a great deal of clout, and a great deal of cash from it. So I used to be like, I simply have to come back out and present that I used to be the 16-year-old woman that did that.

A few of your TikTok movies have obtained tens of millions of views. How are you dealing with your newfound fame?

It’s a whole wild one, however I’ve to say my household — they’ve been so supportive throughout this. They’ve been serving to me by all of that. They’ve been managing my TikTok, like, searching for new alternatives for me to do. I’ve to say, it’s like my household, they’re serving to me by all of it.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by it, or are you having fun with the limelight?

I’m undoubtedly overwhelmed by it, however I nonetheless prefer it as a result of I put a smile on folks’s faces. Like, I make folks giggle. That makes me actually pleased.

What have been a few of the highlights?

I’ve been getting despatched a great deal of fan artwork and a great deal of merch. That must be just like the primary factor — that individuals are taking day out of their day to make stuff for me and sending it to me.

I’ve learn that you just wish to be a full-time actress. Inform me extra about that purpose, and what could be your dream job?

After I did “Elf” the musical [a production she starred in a few years ago and played the lead character, Buddy], I stated to my mother, like, “I actually wish to take this additional.” And she or he received me into an appearing college. In order that helped me get into a lot extra, like, productions and stuff. So I believe simply making an attempt to get extra alternatives. That may be one of the best factor for me as a result of it’s simply a lot enjoyable.

You’re heading to London to be a visitor performer on the London Dungeon on April 7. For those who can inform me, are you aware what your position can be?

Yeah! I’m so, so excited. I believe I’m simply going to be The Unknown on the occasion. I’m not fairly positive, although, however I believe that’s who I’m.

How are you getting ready for it?

Watching numerous horror motion pictures.

Which of them are you watching?

“The Grudge.”

Are you simply scared? I assume you’ll be able to’t be for those who’re into horror, proper?

I was scared after I was youthful. However now that, like, I find it irresistible, I’m not likely scared anymore.

Would it not be correct to say you get pleasure from haunting and scaring folks?

I like giving folks very robust feelings. Like in class and final 12 months, we had, like, this Halloween occasion and also you had been appearing and my character was, like, a deranged physician and scaring all of the little S1 and S2s, which is like 12 and 13 12 months olds. And that was actually, actually enjoyable.

The place do you see your self in 10 years?

Hopefully, on the stage in the future.