- Megan Hilty reveals the beauty hack she uses before her Broadway show Death Becomes Her in a new video for Allure
- The Smash alum has been appearing in the musical since November 2024
- The musical is an adaptation of the 1992 film of the same name starring Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn
Megan Hilty is sharing her unexpected Broadway beauty hack.
The actress and singer, 44, is currently starring as Madeline Ashton in Death Becomes Her at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in New York City. In the musical adaptation of the 1992 film, Hilty steps into the role originally played by Meryl Streep. Jennifer Simard appears as Helen Sharp, played in the film by Goldie Hawn.
In a backstage video for Allure published on Thursday, April 17, Hilty says that the Broadway role requires “a lot of hair and makeup.”
She uses a smattering of beauty products to get the desired glam look, including eyeshadow palettes from Natasha Denona and Charlotte Tilbury and concealer by IT Cosmetics. In the clip, the Smash alum is applying her makeup when an alarm suddenly goes off.
“I remind myself to take a little pill,” she says before clarifying, “It’s not what you think it is.”
Hilty explains, “This actually helps my mouth produce more saliva. There is a lot of smoke and haze that dries me out during the show.”
She finishes off her look with what she says are “the most important” steps — blotting her bright red lipstick so it doesn’t transfer to her teeth, and spritzing her face with setting spray.
Hilty previously opened up to PEOPLE about the opportunity to play Madeline.
“Madeline Ashton is such a delightful part, and they’ve written such incredible songs for me to sing,” she said. “What I love is that in general, not just for my character, but for everything, they made such smart changes in adapting it to the stage. They didn’t just pluck it from the movie and set it on stage. It really is crafted for the theater, and there’s such wonderful Easter eggs in it for people who love the film.”
The star also said that she hadn’t heard from or reached out to Streep, 75, about the part.
“I don’t know her and I can’t imagine that she has any time to reach out to me,” Hilty shared. “But I’m sure that they’re aware that this is happening.”
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When asked how she would react if Streep were to reach out, the Tony nominee admitted, “I would fall to the floor. I don’t know if I’d be able to take it.”
For opening night of the show, though, in November, Streep did send flowers to Hilty, wishing her the best. Hilty shared a photo of the bouquet on Instagram, writing that she was “dead” after receiving the note the Oscar-winner had sent along with them.
Channeling Madeline herself, Streep wrote, “Break a leg, or I’ll break it for you. With dried and undying love and respect, Meryl.”
Directed and choreographed by Christopher Gattelli, with a book written by Marco Pennette featuring music and lyrics by Julia Mattison and Noel Carey, Death Becomes Her opened at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago in May 2024 and transferred to Broadway in October in previews before its opening night in November.
According to a synopsis of the musical, when Madeline steals Helen’s fiancé, Helen sets out for revenge, but “their world is suddenly turned upside down by Viola Van Horn, a mysterious woman with a secret that’s to die for — after one sip of Viola’s magical potion, Madeline and Helen begin a new era of life (and death) with their youth and beauty restored … and a grudge to last eternity.”
The tagline for the show is: “Life’s a bitch and then you die. Or not!”
