Tova Miller made her stage debut in the 2006 production of Jesus Christ Superstar in a supporting role. The Sunday Guardian recently caught up with the lead actress following yet another sold-out performance at the National Academy for Performing Arts (Napa), of the local production of the popular Yul Bryner/Deborah Kerr movie The King and I. The show has had a successful run in San Fernando at the Naparima Bowl with the slimly-built 26-year-old Miller playing the commanding character of the feisty English teacher/governess Anna Leonwens, alongside Conrad Parris as the King of Siam.
Another successful production in which Miller starred was The Sound of Music with another outstanding portrayal, this time bringing to life the spunky character of Maria, somewhat in the similar vein as Anna in The King and I. Interestingly, she travelled to India in 2008 to study Ayurveda, the traditional medicine of the Indian subcontinent. Her first love is singing, having spent many of her earlier years with the Bishop Anstey High School Choir and the Marionettes Chorale. She has sung in different languages—African, French, Italian, German, Spanish and of course English.
An avid traveller, she has also been to places such as Wales, London, United States, Barbados, Antigua, Brazil and Jamaica. In addition to acting, travelling and her job as an aesthetician (Tova’s Place), Miller loves to surf and kick box whenever time permits.
Q: When and how did you get into acting?
A: Since I was a child I have always been very creative. School projects, shows, all led back to either a play that I wrote or a song on the subject matter. In addition to singing I also wanted to dance and act and express myself. My first stage performance was a supporting role in 2005 in Jesus Christ Superstar, and that experience gave me the fire to realise my love for theatre. Various workshops led to my landing a role in Raymond Choo Kong’s Dat is man. There was no turning back after that.
Was it something you had to work hard at or did it come naturally?
‘Hard’ is not a word I would use. ‘Natural’ is my singing, but acting is something that pulls at your core and encourages you to use your good and bad to create. What is natural for me is not being afraid to show the real you. In everything you have your challenges but what I have realised is there is serendipity that occurs with the roles that I have been privileged to portray. There are similarities in my personal life experiences. Honestly, sometimes I feel naked because I can relate to what is happening in the role. I’m not sure if it’s fortunate or unfortunate.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Diego Martin. My Mom, my brother and I eventually settled in Santa Cruz. We enjoyed most the idea that it was close to Maracas.
Who were the people who have influenced you most in your career and in life in general and how did they?
Those would be Lorraine Granderson, Greta Taylor, June Nathaniel, Raymond Choo Kong and John Smith, people who recognised my potential and provided the opportunities I needed. Also, my family has always urged me with words of encouragement and enthusiasm, especially my grandmother.
At what schools/institutions did you receive your education?
I attended Sacred Heart Girls’ Primary School and Bishop Anstey High School. I was the girl who would shake like a leaf but Ms Lorraine Granderson believed that I could control these nerves of mine. She entered me in so many music festival categories, then life at school took on a different meaning. I’m sure you realise by now that I’m crossing my education with my singing, but I have to. I do not know life without singing, it is kinda like my food. Then I completed a diploma in psychology at SBCS. I was quite fascinated by cars and was convinced that I wanted to become a mechanic! My uncle owned a transmission shop and I asked him for a job. Let’s just say after getting my hands burnt and my hair caught in the rolling board under the car while searching for a leak, I realised that the oil and grease life was not my calling.
So one day I went to get my eyebrows waxed, which I was always in awe of and the lady was telling me about the beauty courses that they were offering. I was very intrigued by the idea of learning how to do facials and waxing, etc, so I brought the news to my mom of my interest to learn beauty therapy (if it’s one thing, my mom listens and supports me, and anything I bring to her that’s noteworthy, she will try her best to facilitate). I did courses in body care and beauty which propelled me in that particular direction. I got a job at a spa in Woodbrook which began my love for body treatments which took me to India for that area of my education!
Your travels to India: very interesting…how long was it? What cities/parts of India did you visit? What did you accomplish? Any reminders of Trini? Saw any doubles?
India—good question, what took me there? It may sound like a reason one might look past but when my spirit speaks, I listen. I may not understand at the time but I listen anyway. I have an enquiring mind, so I had a lot of questions on beauty treatments and about the body in general, so I did my research. This led me to the teachings of Ayurveda. I was very intrigued. I was actually planning to go to California to study. The thought of going to India to study Ayurveda did not even cross my mind. While lying on my bed I was chatting with God and the message came clear to me that I am going to India to study Ayurveda. That was it. Everything lined up perfectly for me to go for two months to Kerala, the home of the Ayurveda….science of life.
I cannot begin to describe to you how fearful I was in 2008. I was 21, left my job, and invested all of my savings on a trip to India. It was the first time I felt so alone. Let me tell you, culture shock is a real and frightening thing.
After two days of travelling and a four-hour drive to my school, I made it! After finding a roach in my food on the last bite of my long-awaited sandwich, I moved out pronto from the hotel. I found an apartment 20 minutes walk from the school, which I shared with a lovely family who also came to Kerala for the same purpose as me. India was a truly amazing experience. The knowledge, the people, the food—no doubles by the way—the combinations of taste and the language. A lot to absorb. When I returned I was shaking my head from side to side, you know how they do it! (Laughing loudly).
What daily motto/credo do you live by and in three words, your recipe for success?
To be happy, be healthy, be inspired and to always have purpose.
What are your most prized possessions: one tangible, one intangible?
My hands and my voice. With these two, I can be of service. I work with my hands every day doing spa services for my clients, helping them to feel good in mind and body. And my voice—the energy that I feel when I open my mouth to sing, humbly speaking, is one I don’t think I can really describe. It is what I thank God for every day.
If you had to perform for an audience who had never heard or seen you before and you had to perform one song which would you?
If I had to perform one song to people who have never heard me sing, hmmm, One Moment in Time by Whitney Houston. This song never fails to move me in a special way.
What goals and or ambitions do you still have?
I do not have a timeline as yet, but my goal is to grow my business. To continue what I started with Tova’s Place and to see it grow from strength to strength. This requires me to go back to the drawing board. This year I have been very occupied with doing the production of the King & I. What I do know is that there must be growth from here. With regard to performing, I would like to take this further, the “how” I do not know as yet, and that’s okay.
What is an interesting facet of your personality that most people do not know about you?
Most people do not know about my compassion for children. I am deeply spiritual and I also love taking excerpts from songs and making up my own. I also have a few original compositions up my sleeve. (Winks).
What is the best compliment you have every received?
The best compliment I have ever received came from primary school teacher Ms Ramroop. She has seen me at every show and followed my progress. Her words are few but her tears of joy and admiration are enough for me to feel full. This I will always cherish.
Describe yourself in words one beginning with T, the other with M, your initials.
M-Motherly, mysterious, motivated; T-Talented, Tough.
How can we find out more about you and keep up to date with your latest projects, etc, etc?
Ha ha ha, Facebook, of course! (Laughing out loud).