By REBECCA BILLS
IT’S every young girl’s dream to be a Disney heroine.
And for Mount Evelyn resident Stephanie Wagner this is her reality.
After graduating from Monash University with a performing arts degree, Stephanie started work for Disney at the Tokyo Disney Resort in 2010.
“At first, I was just so excited to have a full-time acting job – it’s very uncommon for any performer,” she said.
“Once I began, I started to learn about the inspiring history of the company and Walt Disney himself.
“The slogan at Tokyo Disney Resort is ‘Where Dreams Come True’ and it’s no lie – every day we perform for around 20,000 to 30,000 people and meet so many beautiful children and adults who love Disney, too.”
Then the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake struck.
“I was performing on stage when the earthquake occurred,” she said.
“As scary as it was, Disneyland was one of the safest places to be as the park was built to withstand earthquakes as they are so common in Japan.”
Stephanie said she had no water, plumbing or gas because there were rolling blackouts to try to conserve energy.
Many people left Japan because they didn’t feel safe with the continued aftershocks and the situation with the nuclear power plant in Fukushima.
“I chose to stay in the hope that we could get back to work and resume normal life as quickly as possible,” she said.
“We thought the best way we could contribute was providing a place where people could escape for a day and rediscover some happiness and joy however the Disney Parks remained closed for a prolonged period of time and I was sent home to Australia.”
The 26-year-old said three years on the country is looking more beautiful than ever.
Stephanie said she finds travelling between Mount Evelyn and Japan can be a bit of a culture shock for her.
“I live in a small studio apartment by Tokyo Bay in the same building as all the other foreign performers,” she said.
“Tokyo is a busy city, the people are incredibly polite and friendly and its one of the safest places in the world.
“However, I am always being stared at because I look so different to everyone else.
“When I arrive back in Australia, I’m constantly reminding myself not to bow at people and to say thank-you instead of arigato.”
Stephanie grew up in Ringwood and her parents moved to Mount Evelyn a few years ago.
“The first thing I do when I get home from the airport is go to the Mount Evelyn Bakery and get a meat pie – small things like that make me feel at home,” she said.
“As I’m usually home for short amounts of time, it’s a chance to spend time with family and friends just to relax.
“I’m always sending my friends overseas picture of the bush and Kangaroos when I walk the Lilydale to Warburton Trail because they can’t believe this is what Australia actually looks like.”
Now Stephanie is focusing all her energy on obtaining a O1 Entertainers Visa so she can peruse her acting dream in Hollywood later this year.
“I’ve spent the last few months collating every piece of evidence I have on my training, jobs, and all the people I have worked with to prove to the US Government that I am what they call an ‘artist of extraordinary ability’,” she said.
“It’s a difficult process, but the end result will make it all worth the effort.
“Once I settle in I’ll look for an agent and manager and start auditioning for everything I can – I’ll also resume classes at my favourite acting school, The Acting Centre LA.”
