Jak Malone on being a Tony nominee for his Broadway debut in 'Operation Mincemeat'

The actor previously won an Olivier Award for his performance as secretary Hester Leggett in the London production of the Best Musical-nominated comedy.

“I am overwhelmed,” Jak Malone said about his Tony Award nomination for playing Hester Leggett, a secretary pulled into a covert WWII plot, in Operation Mincemeat. “I’m so grateful because coming to Broadway was always a lifelong dream. To come here and for it to be all it's cracked up to be, and then to be given this moment, it's too huge to talk about – which I know isn't ideal for an interview.”

Arriving on Broadway following its West End run in London, where Malone won an Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actor, the show is based on an actual British World War II secret mission devised to mislead the Nazis. It involved forged documents and a dead body. Yes, all that really happened.

New York Theatre Guide’s review hailed the Broadway first-timer’s performance, especially when Hester sings about her private pain. “Malone’s song 'Dear Bill' catches the audience’s hearts off guard.” The tune has always been a moment, said Malone.

In London, he said that the audiences were reserved and near-silent. “They don't know whether they ought to break the moment. But American audiences, who are much more vocal and much more willing to be involved, the song ends with sort of a little sigh. The whole audience does a sigh, sort of inwardly to themselves. But when 800 people do that, it's actually quite loud. It's sort of added a new little button on the end of the number that I really love.”

Malone is over the moon about being up for a Tony, an honor he said is very meaningful. “It just deepens my love for this show even more, if that's at all possible,” he said. “I put my entire heart into this show. I've been with it since its original run in 2019 and I've just had the most fabulous time. And the show just continues to bring me untold joy. I'm just so grateful and so delighted.”

Asked what he wants theatregoers to know about Operation Mincemeat, Malone shared an open secret. “I’d like them to know the show is hilarious, but also has so much heart,” he said. “It’s the ideal night out if you just want to go and smile and have a wonderful time.”

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Photo credit: Jak Malone and Zoe Roberts in Operation Mincemeat. (Photo by Julieta Cervantes)