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// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did Mei Mac say to her computer? You mac me happy.

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mei Mac
Born1992 (age 33–34)
Birmingham, England
EducationKing Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls
OccupationActress
Known forStarring as Mei in My Neighbour Totoro (2022)

Mei Mac (born 1992[1]) is a British actress and theatre maker. For her performance in the stage adaptation of My Neighbour Totoro, she was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award.

Early life

[edit]

Mac was born in Birmingham to a working-class Hong Kong immigrant family.[2] She was a pupil at King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls, where she has described to have “a thriving arts culture”.[3] She initially intended to study medicine at university.[4] At 16, she was inspired to pursue acting by artistic director Kumiko Mendl of the New Earth Theatre, of which Mac is now an associate.[5]

Career

[edit]

Stage

[edit]

Mac's first theatre role was in the role of San in Whole Hog Theatre's stage adaptation of Studio Ghibli's Princess Mononoke.[6] Studio Ghibli head and director of the original movie Hayao Miyazaki said of Mac's performance: "I've never imagined San as a real-life human being, but if she did exist, it would be you."[2]

In August 2022, it was announced Mac would play the lead role of Mei in the Royal Shakespeare Company's staging of another Studio Ghibli movie, My Neighbour Totoro.[7] The play opened at the Barbican to positive reviews.[8] Mac's performance earned her a WhatsOnStage Award nomination for Best Performer in a Play,[9] and an Olivier Awards nomination for Best Actress.[10]

In May 2023 Mac appeared as Juliet, alongside Ncuti Gatwa's Romeo, as part of the Coronation Concert[11] and starred in Kimber Lee's untitled f*ck m*ss s**gon play, in the Royal Exchange, Manchester and Young Vic in London.[12]

In 2025, Mac was announced as part of the cast of Dracula at Lyric Theatre (Hammersmith).[13]

Television

[edit]

Mac has appeared in the long-running BBC drama Call the Midwife,[14] and in the Comedy Central sketch show East Mode.[15]

In 2024 it was announced she would join the cast of the Doctor Who spin-off series, The War Between the Land and the Sea.[16]

Personal life

[edit]

Mac is openly queer.[17] During lockdown, she co-founded Rising Waves, a collective for British East and Southeast Asian (BESEA) artists.[18]

Filmography

[edit]

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Channel/Network Note/Refs
2021 Call the Midwife Susan Chu BBC One Series 11 - Christmas special
2025 Blue Lights Sammi Bei BBC One [19]
2025 The Witcher Burnita Netflix [20]
2025 The War Between the Land and the Sea Min Tso BBC One 2 episodes[21]

Audio drama

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Year Title Role Channel/Network Note/Refs
2024 Up in Smoke Kay McAllister BBC Sounds [22]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Category Work Result Refs
2023 Laurence Olivier Awards Best Actress My Neighbour Totoro Nominated
2023 WhatsOnStage Awards Best Performer in a Play My Neighbour Totoro Nominated [23]
2025 British Audio Awards Best Performance: New Voice Up in Smoke Nominated [24]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ Crompton, Sarah (19 November 2023). "Actor Mei Mac: 'I gave a piece of my soul to My Neighbour Totoro'". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Mei Mac Recreates Anime Magic On The Barbican Stage In 'My Neighbour Totoro'". British Vogue. 19 November 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  3. ↑ Norman, Libby. "Mei Mac on drama-filled school days in Birmingham". Absolutely Education UK. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
  4. ↑ Bosanquet, Theo (22 October 2022). "'My Neighbour Totoro' Star Mei Mac on How a Workshop Led to a Lead Role". Backstage. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  5. ↑ Lo, Zabrina (21 October 2022). "Hong Kong British Actress Champions Representation in 'My Neighbour Totoro'". Tatler Asia. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  6. ↑ Tanaka, Nobuko (19 April 2013). "U.K. stage group to rework 'Mononoke' magic". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  7. ↑ "Complete My Neighbour Totoro stage company announced ahead of world premiere | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com. 17 August 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  8. ↑ "Did the critics have an animated reaction to My Neighbour Totoro? | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com. 19 October 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  9. ↑ "Nominations in full: the 23rd Annual WhatsOnStage Awards | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com. 8 December 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  10. ↑ Marshall, Alex (28 February 2023). "'My Neighbour Totoro' Dominates Olivier Award Nominations". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  11. ↑ "Stars including Take That and Kermit the Frog put on a night to remember at spectacular Coronation Concert". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  12. ↑ "Mei Mac set to star in untitled f*ck m*ss s**gon play". WhatsOnStage.com. 9 May 2023.
  13. ↑ https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/dracula-cast-including-umi-myers-and-mei-mac-revealed-by-lyric-hammersmith-theatre_1685944/
  14. ↑ Wiegand, Chris (3 January 2023). "It's showtime! Stage sensations to watch out for in 2023". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  15. ↑ Bennett, Steve. "Comedy Central orders Nigel Ng sketch show : News 2022 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". Chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  16. ↑ Cormack, Morgan (10 October 2024). "Doctor Who spin-off casts Line of Duty and Gentleman Jack stars". RadioTimes. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  17. ↑ Iftikhar, Asyia (5 November 2022). "My Neighbour Totoro's Mei Mac on the queer magic of Studio Ghibli and her 'fight' for representation". Pink News. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  18. ↑ Mukhtar, Amel (19 November 2022). "Mei Mac Recreates Anime Magic On The Barbican Stage In My Neighbour Totoro". British Vogue. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  19. ↑ "BBC One - Blue Lights, Series 3, The Bird". BBC. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  20. ↑ "The Witcher season 4 episode 1 recap and review: "What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger"". Winter is Coming. 30 October 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  21. ↑ Griffin, Louise (17 December 2025). "Doctor Who spin-off War Between the Land and the Sea praised by Greenpeace | Radio Times". www.radiotimes.com. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  22. ↑ Richardson, Hollie; Verdier, Hannah; Kalia, Ammar (24 October 2024). "'Serial meets Twin Peaks' in a true crime tale from Adam Buxton". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  23. ↑ "The 23rd Annual WhatsOnStage Awards – full list of winners". 12 February 2023. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  24. ↑ "Speakies 2025: British Audio Awards Winners Announced". Listening Books. 25 November 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
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