After making her Broadway debut as Wendy/Emily in the musical Finding Neverland, Emma Pfaeffle returns to Broadway's Lunt-Fontanne Theatre to star as the ultimate spoiled girl, Veruca Salt, in the hit musical adaptation Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
. This Veruca is a Russian heiress and a fierce ballet dancer who still wants it all right now. Scroll on as she talks to BroadwayBox about taking on the iconic bad girl, her craziest dancer story, and more.![Veruca Salt GIF- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory GIF- Emma Pfaeffle GIF](https://img.broadwaybox.com/photo/image/Veruca.gif)
1. My first introduction to the Willy Wonka property:
I read the book in elementary school.
2. The thing I wanted more than anything else when I was young:
To be a movie star!
3. Celebrity I would have died to meet as a kid:
Lucille Ball.
4. My favorite small moment with stage dad Ben Crawford:
Whenever we get into small "fights" on stage and bicker in thick Russian accents—it’s so fun being a bratty kid with him! We're great at improving with each other even when we're on the sidelines. I love my Papachika!
5. My most memorable audition:
I wore a long sleeved, white unitard to audition for Cats. I felt so confident with the movement and had so much fun making my friends laugh with my bold decision, it was one of the best auditions dance wise I feel I ever had. I ended up not even getting a call back because the feedback was that "they weren't into me"—I was myself, which is funny, gregarious and FULL OUT. I learned that not everyone is going to love you, but to stay true to yourself, because the next audition I had was for Charlie and I booked Veruca Salt, my first principal role! That audition taught me a wonderful lesson and I will never forget that!
6. The most intense experience I had in the dance world:
I once had to perform in Montreal with a torn anterior deltoid (my right shoulder) and the choreography was all sharp gestures. I let the adrenaline take over and delivered the performance even though I was in a lot of pain. Dancers are warriors!
7. When I’m dancing Veruca, I am serving you:
Ferocious ballerina lightning storm!!!
8. Moment I knew I wanted to dance and perform for the rest of my life:
I can't remember the specific moment because since I can remember I have known in my heart and soul that I was going to perform for the rest of my life. I've always known.
9. My favorite thing to do backstage:
Joke around with my cast-mates and make people laugh. I'm definitely a silly willy at the work place.
10. The movie I was truly obsessed with growing up:
The Wizard of Oz was my and my sister's favorite movie growing up. My mom told us that we used to watch it on repeat every day for years. I still love that movie to this day!
See Emma Pfaeffle as Veruca Salt NOW in 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' at Broadway's Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.