Lin-Manuel Miranda
The Hamilton creator talks His Dark Materials, the viral pizza rat and being extra AF
Who’s your favourite character you’ve ever played?
Lee Scoresby (His Dark Materials) is pretty fun, especially getting to do stunts in a hot-air balloon. Although my answer to that question does always tend to be whichever character I played last…
You have a daemon in His Dark Materials. What would yours be in real life?
The New York City pizza rat [that went viral in 2015]. It dragged that piece of pizza down the steps of the subway. There’s something scrappy and resourceful [about it] I would want in myself.
How would your teachers have described you as a kid?
Intense. I’ve mellowed a lot since, but I was a caricature theatre kid. Just so, so extra.
What’s your favourite moment from your new film, In The Heights?
It’s a blink-and-you-miss-it moment with Anthony Ramos where his dream is very close to coming true and he just yells, “Let’s go!” It’s a very true moment.
Tell us your last impulse purchase?
Chocolate croissants. I was out of ideas for breakfast for my kids.
What’s your most overused phrase?
I’m pretty bad with “Does that make sense?” When I feel like I’ve spoken for too long, I hit ‘em with one of those. It’s a conversational crutch I’m not proud of.
What’s the worst lie you’ve ever told?
I faked a spinal injury to get out of summer camp as a child. I hated summer camp – I didn’t like being away from home, and not having electricity or TV. The drawback was having to hold the lie all summer.
What advice would you give your 21year-old self now?
Life’s longer than you think. Just take your time – things come back around.
Lin-Manuel Miranda stars in In The Heights, out 25th June