Former Oompa Loompa Actress Opens Up About Her Challenging Performance
Kirsty Paterson, the actress who portrayed the iconic Oompa Loompa character at a Willy Wonka event in Glasgow, reveals the struggles she faced during the gig. Sharing her firsthand account on TikTok, she sheds light on the challenges and experiences behind the viral role.
A photo of an Oompa Loompa from the Glasgow Willy Wonka event went viral after the event. Now, actress Kirsty Paterson has shared her side of the story.
The prequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, called Wonka, was the most popular film during the Christmas season. It made over $600 million globally and remained at the top of the box office charts for months.
The recent movie inspired a new interactive experience in Glasgow, where guests were promised a unique chocolate fantasy for £35 ($44). Unfortunately, many attendees were left disappointed by the event held in a sparsely decorated warehouse with only a few candy-themed props, plastic backgrounds, and a small jumping castle.
Following the event, some of the performers have shared their thoughts on social media. One of them, Kirsty Paterson, who gained attention as an Oompa Loompa in a viral photo, took to TikTok to express her disappointment, labeling the experience as "the worst gig ever."
Actress who played an Oompa Loompa in viral video shares her Willy Wonka experience
In her debut video, Kirsty expressed: "I believe it's important for me to share my perspective on what happened because I feel entitled to do so."
"I find the humor in this situation quite amusing. My friends and family find it funny too. I even joke with other actors about how strange things have gotten. Honestly, I don't see any resemblance to the picture at all. Being labeled a 50-year-old meth head is definitely not the best compliment."
Kirsty's Experience in Children's Entertainment
Speaking to Vulture, Kirsty, who works in children’s entertainment, shares how she found a job opportunity. She came across the listing on Indeed and initially felt a bit skeptical since it wasn't through an agency. The offer was £500 for two days of work, but she decided to give it a try.
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After one of her videos became popular on TikTok, receiving over 1.5 million views within 24 hours, she decided to create a series where she shared more detailed stories about her experiences.
"I arrived on Friday and noticed that the set design appeared to be incomplete," she mentioned. She described seeing a random mushroom in one corner of the room, along with scattered candy statues.
She thought, "Maybe they're working through the night, maybe this will be better." At this stage, she and the other actors had already signed their contracts, so they felt trapped.
When they finally received their scripts, she was taken aback. The lines they were supposed to say were bizarre and made no sense to her. Furthermore, she was surprised to see the cheap-looking costumes they were given, especially after the organizers had invested so much in hiring special makeup artists for the event.
“Never in my life have I encountered anything like this, right?” she said. “They handed it over to us and I just kinda laughed.
“The whole thing was just, if you didn’t laugh, you’d cry. I’m even at the stage right now where if I don’t laugh, I’ll cry.
Oompa Loompa actress talks about viral photo of her
Kirsty talked about how the event started the next day. She mentioned that she tried her best as an Oompa Loompa, but felt like it wasn't enough. She shared that the first run she did was with Willy Wonka, and they both gave their best effort.
She explained that the experience, from start to finish, was estimated to take 45 minutes per group, but that they’d finished theirs in just 10 minutes.
Kirsty was surprised at what she accomplished with the resources she had. She also mentioned that the person in charge of organizing the production seemed clueless about how to run it effectively. She felt that he prioritized selling tickets over following the script, which left everyone confused about how to proceed.
She then showed the viral picture of herself dressed as an Oompa Loompa. She explained that the timing was unfortunate and that she had spent most of the time happily interacting with the children. However, she suspected that the photo was taken before she left the set.
Despite the upsetting incident, Kirsty mentioned that most parents were understanding and reassured her that it wasn't her fault. This support continued in the comments on TikTok.
One person wrote: “You can totally see that you absolutely tried your best for the kids.”
“Oompa loompa doo pa dee dault, nobody believes this is your fault,” a second person said.
A third user wrote: “You guys staying to try and salvage something for the kids is just so sweet. and you have given us something to laugh about in all the doom and gloom.”
Editor's P/S:
The viral photo of an Oompa Loompa from the Glasgow Willy Wonka event has brought to light the disappointing experience many attendees had. Actress Kirsty Paterson, who played the Oompa Loompa in the photo, has shared her side of the story, revealing the lack of preparation, bizarre scripts, and cheap costumes that made the event a far cry from the chocolate fantasy it promised.
Paterson's account highlights the importance of transparency in event planning. Guests should be made aware of any potential issues that may affect their experience, and organizers should prioritize the quality of the event over profit. It is unfortunate that the Glasgow Willy Wonka event did not meet expectations, but Paterson's willingness to share her story serves as a reminder that accountability and honesty are crucial in the entertainment industry.
