Tanika Anderson

{{Infobox person

| name = Tanika Anderson

| image =

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = Headshot

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1994|1|8}}

| birth_place = Bangkok, Thailand{{Cn|date=November 2024}}

| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|Actress|Performer}}

| spouse = {{marriage|Stevie Nicholson|2019}}

| children = 1

| years_active = 2014–present

}}

Tanika Mei Anderson (born 8 January 1994{{cn|date=November 2024}}) is an Australian actress and performer, best known as a former member of Australian children's musical group Hi-5 from 2014 to 2016.

She has also starred in the Australian stage productions of Frozen and Beauty and the Beast, as well as a guest role in the television series Fisk.

Early life

Anderson's mother is Chinese Singaporean and her father is Australian with a Scottish heritage. Anderson attended Model Farms High School, Baulkham Hills in New South Wales, until Year 10, when she departed to study at the Newtown High School of the Performing Arts.{{Cite news|url = https://hillstohawkesbury.com.au/frozens-hills-link/ |title = Frozen{{'}}s Hills Link | last = Jordan| first = Bev |date = 2021 |newspaper = Hills to Hawkesbury Community News |access-date = 20 February 2023|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230220110859/https://hillstohawkesbury.com.au/frozens-hills-link/ | archive-date=20 February 2023|url-status=live}} Anderson is also a graduate of the Brent Street Studios. Anderson began teaching at her own dance studio, 360 Dance, at the age of 17.

Career

Anderson performed for a year as a singer and dancer at Universal Studios Singapore.

In June 2014, Anderson joined the Australian children's musical group Hi-5, replacing Lauren Brant. She had already worked with the group as an understudy and puppeteer for the previous nine months.{{cite news|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/the-hills/tanika-anderson-joins-hi5-replacing-lauren-brant/news-story/d3b25cfdaa51d83e803ab88a24cce19a|last=Ranke|first=Angela|date=24 June 2014|title=Tanika Anderson joins Hi-5, replacing Lauren Brant |newspaper= The Daily Telegraph |access-date= 24 February 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201206024512/https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/the-hills/tanika-anderson-joins-hi5-replacing-lauren-brant/news-story/d3b25cfdaa51d83e803ab88a24cce19a?nk=f177bdc33cd07652e23cb24c7943cf2e-1607222711 | archive-date=6 December 2020|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url = http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/former-puppeteer-tanika-anderson-lands-dream-job/story-fni0cvc9-1226955097811|title = Former puppeteer Tanika Anderson lands dream job | last = Sams | first = Christine |date = 16 June 2014|newspaper = The Daily Telegraph|access-date = 24 February 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160712020638/http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/former-puppeteer-tanika-anderson-lands-dream-job/story-fni0cvc9-1226955097811 | archive-date=12 July 2016|url-status=dead}} Anderson departed the group at the end of 2016.{{Cite tweet |author=Hi-5 |user=hi5officialtv |date=4 December 2016 |title=SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!! 💕✨ Our beautiful friends Dayen, Mary and Tanika will be leaving Hi-5 at the end of this |url=https://twitter.com/hi5officialtv/status/805236974684688384 |number=805236974684688384|url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201209212539/https://twitter.com/hi5officialtv/status/805236974684688384?s=21 |archive-date=9 December 2020 |access-date=9 December 2020}} During a promotional tour to Myanmar in 2015, Anderson experienced young women living and working in poverty, which led her to found her own ethical fashion business, You & Mei.{{cite news|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/tanika-anderson-fashions-business-selling-dresses-handmade-by-young-women-in-myanmar/news-story/b6a56e56df282cafa66e7adc6550c38f|last=Moran|first=Jonathon |date=6 May 2017|title=Tanika Anderson fashions business selling dresses handmade by young women in Myanmar |newspaper= The Daily Telegraph |access-date= 20 February 2023|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230220111025/https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/tanika-anderson-fashions-business-selling-dresses-handmade-by-young-women-in-myanmar/news-story/b6a56e56df282cafa66e7adc6550c38f | archive-date=20 February 2023|url-status=live}} She returned to the group as a guest performer in December 2018 and November 2019.

Anderson was cast in her first musical production, Frozen, in March 2020, as Queen Iduna. The production was due to premiere in Sydney in July 2020, but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The production debuted at the Capitol Theatre, Sydney in December 2020.

Anderson joined the cast of Beauty and the Beast in February 2023. The production debuted at the Capitol Theatre, Sydney, in June 2023.

Personal life

Anderson married fellow former Hi-5 member Stevie Nicholson in November 2019. She gave birth to their daughter, Wild Mei Nicholson, in November 2022.

Theatre credits

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Production ! Role ! Venue ! Dates ! class="unsortable" \| Notes ! {{Abbr\|Ref.\|Reference(s)}}
2020 – 2021 \| rowspan="5"\| Frozen \| rowspan="5"\| Queen Iduna, Ensemble \| Capitol Theatre, Sydney \| 1 December 2020 – 23 May 2021 \| rowspan="5"\|Original Australian cast{{refn\|Anderson did not appear in the Perth run.\|group=note}} \| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="5"\|{{Cite news\|url = https://www.aussietheatre.com.au/news/disney-announces-the-full-australian-frozen-cast \|title = Disney announces the full Australian Frozen cast \| last = Snee \| first = Peter J. \|date = 15 March 2020 \|newspaper = AussieTheatre.com\|access-date = 20 February 2023\|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230220103627/https://www.aussietheatre.com.au/news/disney-announces-the-full-australian-frozen-cast \| archive-date=20 February 2023\|url-status=live}}
2021 – 2022 \| Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne \| 14 July 2021 – 26 January 2022
rowspan="2"\| 2022 \| Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Brisbane \| 12 February 2022 – 8 May 2022
Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide \| 26 May 2022 – 7 August 2022
2023 \| Marina Bay Sands, Singapore \| 5 February 2023 – 19 March 2023
2023 – 2024 \| rowspan="5"\| Beauty and the Beast \| rowspan="5"\| Ensemble \| Capitol Theatre, Sydney \| 14 June 2023 – 28 January 2024 \| rowspan="5"\| 2023 Australian revival tour \| style="text-align:center;"\|{{Cite news\|url = https://www.aussietheatre.com.au/news/disney-announces-the-full-australian-cast-of-beauty-and-the-beast \|title = Disney announces the full Australian cast of Beauty and the Beast \| last = McLoughlin\| first = Sean \|date = 20 February 2023 \|newspaper = AussieTheatre.com\|access-date = 20 February 2023\|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230220103238/https://www.aussietheatre.com.au/news/disney-announces-the-full-australian-cast-of-beauty-and-the-beast \| archive-date=20 February 2023\|url-status=live}}
2024 \| Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Brisbane \| 15 February 2024 – 9 June 2024 \| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"\|{{Cite news\|url = https://www.aussietheatre.com.au/news/beauty-and-the-beast-to-open-in-brisbane-and-melbourne \|title = Beauty And The Beast to open in Brisbane and Melbourne! \| last = McLoughlin\| first = Sean \|date = 22 September 2023 \|newspaper = AussieTheatre.com\|access-date = 28 September 2023\|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230928035921/https://www.aussietheatre.com.au/news/beauty-and-the-beast-to-open-in-brisbane-and-melbourne \| archive-date=28 September 2023\|url-status=live}}
2024 – 2025 \| Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne \| 27 June 2024 – 16 January 2025
rowspan="2"\|2025 \| Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide \| May 2025 \| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"\|{{Cite news\|url = https://www.aussietheatre.com.au/news/disneys-beauty-and-the-beast-the-musical-announces-adelaide-and-perth-seasons \|title = Disney's Beauty and the Beast the Musical announces Adelaide and Perth seasons \|date = 22 October 2024 \|newspaper = AussieTheatre.com\|access-date = 3 November 2024}}
Crown Theatre, Perth \| July 2025

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Production

! Role

! Venue

! Dates

! class="unsortable" | Notes

! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}}

2020 – 2021

| rowspan="5"| Frozen

| rowspan="5"| Queen Iduna, Ensemble

| Capitol Theatre, Sydney

| 1 December 2020 – 23 May 2021

| rowspan="5"|Original Australian cast{{refn|Anderson did not appear in the Perth run.|group=note}}

| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="5"|{{Cite news|url = https://www.aussietheatre.com.au/news/disney-announces-the-full-australian-frozen-cast |title = Disney announces the full Australian Frozen cast | last = Snee | first = Peter J. |date = 15 March 2020 |newspaper = AussieTheatre.com|access-date = 20 February 2023|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230220103627/https://www.aussietheatre.com.au/news/disney-announces-the-full-australian-frozen-cast | archive-date=20 February 2023|url-status=live}}

2021 – 2022

| Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne

| 14 July 2021 – 26 January 2022

rowspan="2"| 2022

| Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Brisbane

| 12 February 2022 – 8 May 2022

Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide

| 26 May 2022 – 7 August 2022

2023

| Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

| 5 February 2023 – 19 March 2023

2023 – 2024

| rowspan="5"| Beauty and the Beast

| rowspan="5"| Ensemble

| Capitol Theatre, Sydney

| 14 June 2023 – 28 January 2024

| rowspan="5"| 2023 Australian revival tour

| style="text-align:center;"|{{Cite news|url = https://www.aussietheatre.com.au/news/disney-announces-the-full-australian-cast-of-beauty-and-the-beast |title = Disney announces the full Australian cast of Beauty and the Beast | last = McLoughlin| first = Sean |date = 20 February 2023 |newspaper = AussieTheatre.com|access-date = 20 February 2023|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230220103238/https://www.aussietheatre.com.au/news/disney-announces-the-full-australian-cast-of-beauty-and-the-beast | archive-date=20 February 2023|url-status=live}}

2024

| Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Brisbane

| 15 February 2024 – 9 June 2024

| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"|{{Cite news|url = https://www.aussietheatre.com.au/news/beauty-and-the-beast-to-open-in-brisbane-and-melbourne |title = Beauty And The Beast to open in Brisbane and Melbourne! | last = McLoughlin| first = Sean |date = 22 September 2023 |newspaper = AussieTheatre.com|access-date = 28 September 2023|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230928035921/https://www.aussietheatre.com.au/news/beauty-and-the-beast-to-open-in-brisbane-and-melbourne | archive-date=28 September 2023|url-status=live}}

2024 – 2025

| Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne

| 27 June 2024 – 16 January 2025

rowspan="2"|2025

| Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide

| May 2025

| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"|{{Cite news|url = https://www.aussietheatre.com.au/news/disneys-beauty-and-the-beast-the-musical-announces-adelaide-and-perth-seasons |title = Disney's Beauty and the Beast the Musical announces Adelaide and Perth seasons |date = 22 October 2024 |newspaper = AussieTheatre.com|access-date = 3 November 2024}}

Crown Theatre, Perth

| July 2025

Filmography

class="wikitable sortable" \|+ Television roles
scope="col" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Title ! scope="col" \| Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \| Notes ! scope="col" \| {{Abbr\|Ref.\|Reference(s)}}
2014–2016 \| Hi-5 House \| Presenter \| Series 2 to 3 \|
2022 \| Fisk \| Jess Bunting \| Series 2, Episode 6 \| style="text-align:center;"\|{{Cite news\|url = https://www.mediaweek.com.au/abc-comedy-fisk-returns-for-a-new-season-in-october/ \|title = ABC comedy Fisk returns for a new season in October \|date = 21 September 2022 \|newspaper = Media Week\|access-date = 20 February 2023\|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220920234747/https://www.mediaweek.com.au/abc-comedy-fisk-returns-for-a-new-season-in-october/ \| archive-date=20 September 2022 \|url-status=live}}

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ Television roles

scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | Role

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes

! scope="col" | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}}

2014–2016

| Hi-5 House

| Presenter

| Series 2 to 3

2022

| Fisk

| Jess Bunting

| Series 2, Episode 6

| style="text-align:center;"|{{Cite news|url = https://www.mediaweek.com.au/abc-comedy-fisk-returns-for-a-new-season-in-october/ |title = ABC comedy Fisk returns for a new season in October |date = 21 September 2022 |newspaper = Media Week|access-date = 20 February 2023|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220920234747/https://www.mediaweek.com.au/abc-comedy-fisk-returns-for-a-new-season-in-october/ | archive-date=20 September 2022 |url-status=live}}

Notes

References

Category:Living people

Category:1994 births

Category:Australian children's musicians

Category:Australian people of Chinese descent

Category:Australian people of Scottish descent

Tanika Anderson