For many performers, there are certain moments that quietly divide a career into a before and after.

For Greek Australian musical theatre performer Phoebe Panaretos, being cast in the West End premiere of Sinatra The Musical feels unmistakably like one of them.

This June, at London’s historic Aldwych Theatre, Panaretos will originate the role of Nancy Sinatra, the first wife of Frank Sinatra, in what is already shaping up to be one of the year’s major theatre openings.

The production traces the rise of one of entertainment’s most iconic figures, but beneath the glamour, celebrity and music lies a more intimate emotional landscape regarding the complexity of relationships, identity and the pressures fame. At the centre of that emotional world sits Nancy Sinatra.

For Panaretos, stepping into the role carries both personal and professional significance.

“It honestly felt surreal,” she says.

“Nancy Sinatra was such a incredible woman, but beyond that, she represents such an emotional heartbeat within the story. I think when you work towards something for a long time, especially through development stages, you almost don’t let yourself fully believe it until it’s official. So when it finally happened, there was a huge sense of gratitude, excitement, and also responsibility. It felt like one of those full-circle moments in my career.”

Industry observers see Sinatra The Musical as a significant step in Panaretos’ career, placing her on one of the world’s leading commercial theatre stages in a role closely tied to the Sinatra family itself. Photos: Supplied

The casting itself has drawn international attention, particularly because Panaretos was personally selected for the role by Frank Sinatra’s daughter, Tina Sinatra.

In an industry where legacy productions are often carefully guarded by families and estates, that level of trust carries enormous weight.

“That meant an enormous amount to me, both professionally and personally,” Panaretos says.

“To be trusted by the Sinatra family with telling part of their story is incredibly humbling. Tina has such care and protectiveness over her father’s legacy and over Nancy as well, so knowing she connected with what I brought to the role was deeply meaningful.”

“Professionally, it’s obviously a huge honour, but personally it gave me confidence and reassurance that authenticity and heart can have weight in these decisions.”

The role has not emerged overnight. Panaretos has already spent years helping shape the production through its developmental stages, including workshops at Birmingham Rep and a recent Broadway presentation.

That extended creative process has allowed her understanding of Nancy Sinatra to evolve far beyond surface impressions.

“I think in the beginning I was very focused on the external aspects of Nancy like her elegance, her composure, the public image people associate with the Sinatra name,” she explains.

“But over time, I’ve become much more connected to her humanity and emotional complexity. She’s incredibly strong, but there’s also vulnerability, loyalty, and sensitivity there.”

“As the show evolved, I think my understanding of her deepened, and I’ve tried to bring more nuance and emotional truth into the performance.”

That emotional depth appears to sit at the core of both the production and Panaretos’ own approach to performance.

While Sinatra The Musical carries the scale and expectation attached to one of the world’s most recognisable cultural figures, Panaretos continually returns to the quieter human elements beneath the mythology.

“I connect deeply with her resilience and her compassion,” she says of Nancy Sinatra.

“She exists within this enormous legacy and public world, but at the centre of it she’s still a wife and mother navigating love, family, expectation, and identity.”

“I think many people can relate to trying to honour where you come from while also finding your own voice. There’s a quiet strength in her that I really admire.”

Phoebe Panaretos, believes she inherited her resilience from her Greek ancestors. Photos: Supplied

There is, inevitably, pressure attached to a production like this.

Frank Sinatra’s music, image and cultural legacy remain deeply embedded across generations, and audiences often arrive carrying their own emotional relationship to him long before the curtain rises.

But Panaretos views that weight as part of the privilege of the work itself.

“Definitely both,” she says when asked whether the role brings more pressure or excitement.

“There’s naturally pressure because Frank Sinatra means so much to so many people around the world, and audiences come with a strong emotional connection already. But I also think that’s what makes it exciting.”

“Theatre is about human connection, and when you’re telling a story attached to such legendary music and cultural history, there’s an incredible energy around it.”

“I try not to focus too much on pressure and instead stay present in the storytelling and the relationships within the piece.”

For many Australian audiences, Panaretos first became widely recognised nearly a decade ago, when acclaimed director Baz Luhrmann personally selected her to originate the lead role in the Australian stage adaptation of Strictly Ballroom.

The breakthrough performance established her as one of Australia’s rising musical theatre talents and opened the door to a string of productions including American Idiot, Lazarus, Zorro and Silence! The Musical.

Looking back now, from the West End stage, Panaretos reflects on the years between those milestones with honesty rather than romanticism.

“It’s quite emotional to reflect on, actually,” she says.

“Being chosen by Baz all those years ago was a major turning point for me and opened my eyes to what was possible creatively.”

“Since then, there have been incredible highs, challenges, periods of growth, and moments that required a lot of resilience.”

“Moving from Australia to working internationally and now performing in the West End has been a journey I’m incredibly grateful for. I think it’s taught me patience and trust in timing.”

That resilience, she believes, is deeply connected to her Greek Australian upbringing.

In an industry often defined by instability, rejection and constant reinvention, Panaretos credits her cultural background with helping shape both her emotional grounding and work ethic.

“Absolutely,” she says.

“Greek culture is deeply emotional, expressive, passionate, and family-oriented, and I think all of that naturally feeds into the way I approach storytelling.”

“There’s also a strong sense of perseverance and work ethic that I grew up around. As an actor, resilience and endurance are essential, and I do think my upbringing shaped my ability to keep going, stay grounded, and lead with heart even in a very unpredictable industry.”

Working internationally has also brought its own complexities balancing creative growth with distance from home, adapting constantly to new environments and learning to navigate unfamiliar spaces.

“The biggest challenge is probably the constant adaptability required, new countries, new teams, different creative processes, and often being far away from home and family,” she says.

“But the reward is equally huge. You grow so much, not only as a performer but as a person.”

“You meet extraordinary artists from all over the world, and there’s something very special about storytelling transcending culture and geography.”

As opening night approaches in London, Panaretos hopes audiences leave with more than nostalgia for Sinatra’s music or fascination with celebrity mythology.

At its heart, she says, the production is about humanity.

“I hope audiences leave feeling emotionally moved and reminded of the humanity behind these iconic figures,” she says.

“Of course there’s the glamour and the incredible music, but at its core it’s a story about relationships, legacy, love, ambition, and vulnerability.”

“I hope people feel transported, but also emotionally connected.”

For younger performers watching from Australia particularly those from migrant backgrounds trying to imagine themselves on international stages Panaretos’ journey also carries the message that success rarely arrives instantly.

Instead, it is often built quietly over years of persistence, uncertainty and belief.

“I would say to focus on longevity rather than immediacy,” she says.

“It’s very easy to compare yourself to others or feel pressure to have everything happen quickly, but every artist’s path is different.”

“Keep training, stay curious, protect your individuality, and don’t lose the reason you fell in love with performing in the first place.”

“Talent matters, but resilience, kindness, and authenticity matter just as much.”