We Speak Actors

Naomi Jane Talks New Song, Film and Television Appearances, and More

Published

2 years ago

June 12, 2024

Rising Teen Pop phenomenon Naomi Jane, renowned for her captivating vocals and heartfelt lyrics, continues to captivate audiences with her relatable themes and emotional resonance. With a growing fan base and a passion for empowering others through her music, Naomi Jane continues to make waves in the music industry. Poised to ignite the industry in 2024 with a cascade of new releases, her latest singles have already amassed more than half a million streams. Naomi Jane has over tens of thousands of dedicated TikTok followers, and her song, “Little Miss,” won the 2023 International Songwriting Competition, teen category.

From New York to California, Naomi Jane has graced off-Broadway, regional theaters, and iconic music venues. Committed to philanthropy, she made her Broadway benefit directorial debut with a concert against gun violence. Recently performing as Kathy in the musical, “Singing in the Rain,” Naomi gained international attention for her gender-bending portrayal of Jack Kelly in “Newsies.” Her versatility extends to television and film, including appearances on PBS Kids and “Assisted Living.” Known as the “piano poet,” she masterfully incorporates powerful lyrics into her music, showcasing virtuosity across multiple instruments. Critics commend her vocal range, likening her to luminaries such as Sarah McLachlan, Alanis Morissette, and Joni Mitchell.

With her single, “Little Miss,” out now, we took some time to hear more from Naomi Jane. Read below to learn more about Naomi Jane, the story behind her single, and what’s to come.

Hi Naomi Jane! Let’s start with how did you get your artist name?

My artist name is my birth name minus my last name. I am named after my great grandmothers – Naomi on my mom’s side and Jane on my dad’s. I dropped the “Voigt” and that caused mixed reactions, mostly positive and some negative, but hey, ‘Naomi Jane’ is simpler and it suits me.

What city are you from and where are you based now?

I was born in New York City, and I have moved back and forth from coast to coast like five times – right now, I live in Santa Barbara, California, just north of Los Angeles.

At what point in your life did you decide to pursue a career in music? How did you get started?

I was lucky enough to be born knowing exactly what I wanted to do. I always wanted to be singing. I started singing and performing when I was very little. For my fourth birthday party, we had a kid’s rock band play, and of course, I stole the mic. The group was ‘Monkey Monkey Music,’ and after the party, they invited me to be in their music videos filmed for PBS television. The rest is history. From there, I went on to do musical theater, television, and film.

Has your upbringing played a role in shaping who you are and defining your sound today? If so, how?

My upbringing has really played a role in shaping who I am and defining my sound today. I am a classically trained singer from the age of seven. My voice teacher is from Juilliard. I have grown up loving and going to Broadway shows and the opera. My aunt, Deborah Voigt, is an opera star. I also have a huge part of my family that is in and from Oklahoma. So, I am country influenced as well. Oklahoma has a rich Country music history – Zach Bryan my favorite. So, I think all of these influences add to my unique sound.

How would you describe your sound to readers who may not be familiar with you?

My sound is vast – I think. I have a strong and dramatic voice. I am told that I have a unique tone. I go from timbre to whistle, and my voice covers three octaves.

Do you have any hobbies outside of music? What do you do to stay creative?

Music and writing are certainly my main focuses, but I have recently gotten into sketching. I am surprised that I am pretty good at it, and it uses my creativity in a different way while it also relaxes me. I also enjoy playing softball, working out, running, and being at the beach. I try to keep a pretty normal high school life because that is what fuels my creativity.

Who are some of your main musical influences?

Many different genres influence my music as well as different individuals. Adele, the way she uses her dynamics and her phrasing to get an emotion across to her audience is an inspiration to me. As I’ve grown older and have been exposed more to the music industry, I also found my love for storytellers such as Joni Mitchell and Zach Bryan. It takes a good songwriter to create a setting; however, it takes a great one to put the listeners into that setting. That’s what they do. They’re both a masterclass in songwriting and storytelling. They encourage me to explore outside of my comfort zone and create stories through songs with the most specific (and maybe even dumb) details. Comparing my music now to when I was younger, I can see a growth in the craftsmanship of the setting/story. Lastly, I want to mention an artist who inspires me to be my genuine, unique self, Renee Rapp. That girl doesn’t give a you know what about anybody’s judgement or negative opinions towards her art. She thrives on her originality, which many artists do not do. She is a leader, not a follower, which is exactly the kind of artist I aspire to be.

What are some of your future music career goals?

My future music goals are to continue to write, record, and eventually tour. I am recording five additional final tracks in the coming weeks. These songs will be on my EP coming out in early September 2024. My first! Super hyped about that. I am also shooting five music videos this summer. I am in the process of planning live events and ultimately look forward to being able to tour.

Now onto your release, ‘Little Miss.’ What inspired this song?

I used to live in a posh town on the East Coast. It was, let’s say, a competitive place. Both kids and adults put each other down to make themselves feel imperious or overall better. Through their common share of jealousy and greed, other people’s success was a threat to their own ego. I especially struggled with that. I had several guy friends – I always related to the boys easier than the girls. So, at one point, two guys had crushes on me, and even though it was completely out of my control that they liked me, some girls painted me as this ‘man-stealing’ villain. They called me derogatory terms to basically shame me for just existing. Thus…’Little Miss,’ and at the time, it really hurt me – this song is about overcoming that.

What is ‘Little Miss’ about in your own words?

‘Little Miss’ is about reclaiming your self-worth. It’s about self-acceptance and empowerment. I want to inspire fans to take control of their own stories and assert their worth. Don’t accept the stories that others tell about you! ‘Little Miss’ is the second song in my ‘Letterman Trilogy.’

See, in each of my music videos, I use a vintage letterman’s jacket as symbolism of a boy, any boy really.

In ‘Pretty Boys,’ the first of the series, the girl is the victim. She losses the boy that she thought he was – it’s about coming to terms and raging about a love that wasn’t real. From being a victim in that song, we move on to ‘Little Miss’ – in this song, she steals the boy, she gets the jacket, she asserts and claims her self-worth. The final song in the trilogy is ‘Grown Ups’ – you get to see how the story ends. ‘Grown Ups’ releases on July 5th.

What is your favorite lyric in ‘Little Miss’ and why?

Say it to my face, say it to my face 
Cause I ain’t gonna change,
I ain’t gonna change 
Cause I’m happy to be 
Little miss steal you man 
Little miss

These are my favorite lyrics because this is when ‘Little Miss’ self-accepts and asserts herself against the catty stereotypes.

What message do you hope fans take away from your music and from ‘Little Miss?’

You know what I really hope, I hope girls take away that we should be building each other up and not tearing each other down. But, I also get that that’s likely unrealistic. I hope fans can relate to ‘Little Miss,’ and I hope that they feel validated. I hope ‘Little Miss’ encourages young women to assert themselves and not give into peer pressure.

What’s one of the proudest moments of your music career so far?

One of my proudest moments so far is ‘Little Miss’ winning the International Songwriting Competition in the teen category. It was selected out of 14,000 entrants from 120 countries. It truly validated that I was on the right path and that what I was making was good.

What would you say are the greatest lessons that you’ve learned so far?

The greatest lesson that I have learned so far is to surround yourself with great people. Work with positive people that have the same values and share your vision. I am super specific about everything that I do, and I am young, so I make sure that I only work with people who will hear me and do not try to change me.

What’s next for you? Are you working on any upcoming projects, or do you have any upcoming shows that we should be on the lookout for?

With the release of the single, ‘Grown Ups’ (July 5, 2024) followed by its video (July 12, 2024), I conclude my ‘Letterman Trilogy,’ bringing the compelling narrative of youthful love and self-discovery to a close. But, the journey doesn’t end here – fans can look forward to an exciting new chapter with my upcoming EP, set to debut in early September 2024. This new storyline promises a captivating adventure filled with fresh themes and unforgettable melodies! Stay tuned for what’s next as I promise to enchant and inspire with more storytelling and musical prowess.

Where can we follow you on social media?

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@naomijaneofficial

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naomijane_official/

Website: https://naomivoigt.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NaomiJaneOfficial/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@naomijane_official/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NaomiJaneOffic

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/24e3hF9IcHsGYNWMqwjIZv

Thank you for the great interview; wish you much continued success!

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Despina Mirou Could Be Exactly What Saturday Night Live Needs: A Fearless Comedian Who Can Become Anyone

Published

4 days ago

October 29, 2026

Jimmy Star

With more than 50 celebrity impersonations, a background in stand-up comedy, acting and original sketch writing, Despina Mirou has the versatility, imagination and larger-than-life personality to become a standout addition to the legendary SNL cast.

Every great comedy show needs someone who can surprise an audience. Someone who can walk onto a stage as one character, disappear into another moments later, and somehow make both completely believable.

For more than five decades, Saturday Night Live has built its reputation on performers with that rare ability. From outrageous celebrity impersonations to unforgettable original characters, the show’s greatest talents have always possessed something beyond the ability to deliver a punchline.

They have the ability to transform.

And that is precisely why actress, comedian, writer and master impressionist Despina Mirou deserves serious consideration for a place in Studio 8H.

Mirou isn’t simply another comedian hoping for a television breakthrough. She’s a performer who has spent years developing the very skills that make Saturday Night Live work: improvisation, physical comedy, celebrity impersonation, original character creation and the confidence to perform live.

Her career has taken her through film, television, theater and comedy clubs, including The Comedy Store, The Laugh Factory and the New York Comedy Club. Along the way, she has developed a remarkable repertoire of more than 50 celebrity impersonations, according to her professional biography.

One Woman, More Than 50 Personalities

Imagine a Saturday Night Live sketch featuring Lucille Ball, Lady Gaga, Judge Judy, Kim Kardashian and Ozzy Osbourne.

Now imagine one actress playing every character.

That’s the kind of creative possibility Despina Mirou brings to the table.

Her impersonation repertoire stretches across generations of entertainment, encompassing Hollywood legends, music superstars, television personalities and pop culture icons.

She has portrayed Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Crawford, Sophia Loren, Freddie Mercury, Elton John, David Bowie, Eminem, Sofía Vergara, Penélope Cruz, Al Pacino and numerous others.

But Mirou’s greatest strength isn’t simply her ability to resemble a famous personality.

It’s her willingness to find the humor within that personality.

Her Lucille Ball-inspired monologue, Lucy at Halloween, performed at the New York Comedy Club, demonstrated her affection for classic physical comedy. Her Joan Crawford-inspired Kisses From Joan, performed at The Laugh Factory, showed another side of her comedic imagination. BIO+1

Those performances demonstrate something important: Mirou doesn’t just impersonate celebrities. She develops comedy around them.

And that’s exactly what a successful SNL cast member needs to do.

More Than an Impressionist

Celebrity impressions might get Mirou through the door, but her other talents could make her particularly valuable to an ensemble.

She’s an actress with experience in both comedy and drama. She’s a stand-up performer accustomed to working in front of live audiences. She’s also a writer who creates original comedic material rather than relying exclusively on existing scripts.

Her background includes classical theater, with performances in works by Anton Chekhov, Neil Simon and Aeschylus.

That range matters.

Saturday Night Live isn’t simply a showcase for celebrity impersonators. It’s a weekly creative marathon requiring performers to understand character, collaborate with writers, adapt quickly and make even the most ridiculous situations feel entertaining.

Mirou’s experience across multiple performance disciplines could give her a useful advantage.

She understands how to build a character from the ground up, from vocal delivery and facial expressions to physical movement, costume and personality.

And she isn’t afraid to make herself look ridiculous to get a laugh.

That’s a quality worth celebrating.

Imagine Despina Mirou on SNL

The possibilities are almost endless.

Picture Mirou playing an increasingly furious Judge Judy presiding over a courtroom filled with social media influencers.

Or imagine her interpretation of Lucille Ball suddenly finding herself trapped in the world of modern dating apps.

How about a sketch featuring a backstage argument between Lady Gaga, Joan Crawford and Ozzy Osbourne, with Mirou switching between the personalities?

Those are hypothetical sketches, of course, but they illustrate the range of material her abilities could support.

She could bring classic Hollywood characters to younger audiences while offering unexpected interpretations of contemporary celebrities.

And perhaps most importantly, she could introduce original characters that have nothing to do with famous people.

The most memorable Saturday Night Live performers aren’t remembered only for whom they impersonated.

They’re remembered for the characters they invented.

Mirou has spent years developing that creative muscle.

A Performer Who Understands Live Comedy

There’s another reason Mirou could be a natural fit for Saturday Night Live: she knows what it’s like to stand in front of an audience with nowhere to hide.

Live comedy is unforgiving.

A joke either works or it doesn’t. An impression either connects with the audience or falls flat. There are no second takes when you’re standing beneath the lights of a comedy club.

Mirou has embraced that challenge throughout her stand-up career.

In a 2019 interview with Full Access NYC, she discussed her enthusiasm for live performance and the importance of continually studying other comedians to improve her craft. Full Access NYC

That kind of commitment is essential to a show where timing, adaptability and confidence can determine whether a sketch becomes a classic or disappears after one broadcast.

Hollywood Experience Meets Comedic Imagination

Mirou’s professional background extends beyond the stand-up circuit.

Her published credits include appearances associated with television productions such as Show Me a Hero and On My Block, alongside independent film and theatrical work. Actress, writer and comedian

She has also explored directing and screenwriting, bringing a broader understanding of how comedy works both in front of and behind the camera.

Her professional biography lists numerous honors across acting, comedy and writing, reflecting a career built around multiple creative disciplines.

That versatility is especially relevant to Saturday Night Live, where cast members often contribute ideas, develop recurring characters and help shape sketches throughout the production process.

Mirou could potentially contribute on both sides of the creative equation: developing material and bringing it to life.

Why SNL Should Give Despina Mirou a Look

Saturday Night Live has launched or elevated the careers of some of the most recognizable names in American comedy.

What connects many of those performers isn’t a single comedic style. It’s originality.

The ability to bring something unexpected to an established format.

Despina Mirou offers an intriguing combination of old-school showmanship and modern comedic versatility.

She can channel the physical comedy of Hollywood’s golden age, impersonate contemporary pop culture personalities, create original characters and perform in front of a live audience.

She also brings an international perspective shaped by her Greek-American background and experience performing across different entertainment markets.

There is no guarantee that any successful stand-up comedian or impressionist will thrive in Saturday Night Live’s demanding ensemble environment. Chemistry, collaborative writing and the ability to produce fresh material week after week are essential.

But Mirou’s experience makes her an interesting candidate worth auditioning.

And sometimes, discovering the next memorable cast member begins with giving an unconventional performer an opportunity.

Lorne Michaels, Meet Despina Mirou

For decades, SNL creator Lorne Michaels has helped introduce audiences to comedians who would eventually become household names.

Despina Mirou could offer the show something distinctive: a performer whose ability to transform is matched by her enthusiasm for comedy and her willingness to take creative risks.

She isn’t limited to one voice, one character, one generation or one comedic style.

She can be glamorous, outrageous, sophisticated, ridiculous and completely unpredictable.

And in a television landscape where audiences are constantly searching for something fresh, unpredictability can be a tremendous asset.

Saturday Night Live doesn’t necessarily need another celebrity impersonator. It needs performers who can turn an impression into an unforgettable comedic moment.

Despina Mirou has spent years developing the skills to do exactly that.

Perhaps it’s time for Saturday Night Live to see what happens when she gets the opportunity.

Because if there’s one thing Mirou has demonstrated throughout her career, it’s that you never quite know who she’s going to become next.

And that could make Saturday nights a whole lot more interesting.