My Favorite Eponine portrayals
As lots of you may know, Eponine Thenadier is one of my absolute favorite characters in musical theatre history. Her love for Marius, her strength, her courage, and her naivete may have gotten the best of her, but she is truly an amazing character and just wants to love and be loved. She didn’t choose her situation, it was thrown upon her, but she has proven that she was way ahead of her time. In honor of this sad yet powerful seventeen-year-old, here are my favorite portrayals of Victor Hugo’s character. Now, this list is not in any particular order, it’s more to showcase what makes every woman who portrays ‘Ponine unique and what she adds to the character.
*NOTE: THIS IS MY OPINION. IT’S OKAY TO DISAGREE, BUT PLEASE DON’T ATTACK ME.
**NOTE NOTE: THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF EPONINES AND I COULD WRITE UP SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE BUT I CAN’T SO PLEASE, DO NOT BE UPSET IF YOUR FAVE ISN’T ON HERE
#1 Samantha Barks
Whether you know her from film version or seen her on stage, there is no doubt that she is some kind of wonderful. Sam’s Eponine has the aura of a grown woman but the naivete of a child. She brings a sense of longing for love and struggles to bring herself to help Marius find Cosette. When she finds herself on the barricade, she is not too far from Marius’s reach. Sam’s singing is beyond incredible, emoting the heartbroken young lady the Eponine is. I do know for a fact that I bawled my eyes out at her version of A Little Fall of Rain, bringing a performance that was unique and memorable. She was the first Eponine I ever saw (film, obviously) and she definitely has a special place in my heart. And how can you not forget her sacrificing herself for Marius on the barricades? At least Sam showed us all that truly, a little fall of rain can hardly hurt Eponine now.
#2) Frances Ruffelle
That’s right, the OG Eponine (not counting the original French concept Eponine). Where do I even start? Well, how about that she brings Eponine to life, giving her le miserable (get it?) persona of a young girl living on the streets of Paris with almost nothing to look forward to until she meets Marius. Whether you like her singing or not, Frances brings the lonely child that Eponine is, so when Eponine dies, she is happy to die in Marius’s arms because she is no longer alone. Plus her On My Own? Magnifique!
#3) Lydia Fairen
The Eponine from the production in Spain, Lydia is probably one of my favorite non-English Eponines. She puts her heart and soul into each performance and encompasses many personality traits to make Eponine much more fleshed out as a character. She teases, she breaks down, she smiles, she shows Eponine as both a young lady with experience on the streets as well as a young lover. And her chemistry with the Spanish Marius is impeccably perfect. You can see it in her expressions how much love she has for him. Lydia is definitely in my top 11 Eponines and here are some gifs to prove it (credit to elzabethpoldark).
#4) Diana Kaarina
Probably one of the strongest voiced Eponines that seem to go unnoticed, Diana brings the aspect of a girl who is in love and will do whatever it takes to protect him. Her emotions through On My Own are just hauntingly beautiful as she tells her thoughts to the audience. Did I mention that she can sangg? Cause, she can. I wish she had gotten more attention, but she is one of those hidden gems that you need to hear to believe.
#5) Lea Salonga
Do I really need to explain? It’s Lea Salonga. I think everyone can agree she’s an amazing Eponine. That is all.
#6) Carrie Hope Fletcher
Strength. Courage. Love. Sacrifice. That is how you can describe Carrie’ s portrayal of Eponine. Never a dull moment on stage, Carrie presents us with a memorable Eponine who focuses more on Eponine’s strength and heartbreak, showing her to be more grown up. She’s a fantastic Eponine and it’s no wonder she gets so much recognition for it!
#7) Eva Nobeldaza
Eva (who I believe was about the same age as Eponine at the time of her portrayal) brings the spunkiness of a teenage girl who is hopelessly in love with a man who sees her as only a friend. She carries a lot of similar qualities as Lea does, but it’s her spunkiness that wins in the end.
Honorable Mentions:
Kerrie Anne Greenland
Phoenix Best
Emily Bautista
Sutton Foster
Kerry Butler
Danielle Hope
Than you all for coming to my Ted Talk, now you may go on with your business.
