About Us
Angie Davidson Interviews Elaine Paige
I asked Elaine how she got started in the theatre. "My first singing role was as Susanna in a school production in a shortened form of Mozart's THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO. I loved to sing and I was given lots of encouragement by a wonderful music teacher Mrs Ann Hill and by my parents who suggested I go to drama school. Whilst there I started auditioning. My first professional role was in a tour of the Anthony Newley/Leslie Bricusse musical, THE ROAR OF THE GREASEPAINT, THE SMELL OF THE CROWD playing a Chinese urchin! It was enormous fun and was a great experience for starting out". Having played so many diverse roles does Elaine have a favourite? "I have been fortunate to play some fantastic roles in musicals and I find it difficult to say which is my favourite. It's generally whichever I am playing at the time. However playing Eva Peron in EVITA will always be particularly special to me. Being chosen to originate the role in the premiere of a much sought after and what became a ground-breaking, award-winning musical which launched my career was a great challenge and it gave me the opportunity to play more great roles in the future.
Circumstances prevented me from performing on Broadway until 1996 when I made my debut there in the role of Norma Desmond in SUNSET BOULEVARD. It felt like a long-awaited arrival for both me and the audience. I received the most fantastic welcome to the Broadway Theatre community. I walked on stage to tremendous applause and a long standing ovation, wondering when I was ever going to be able to say my first line! One was never taught how to begin at drama school. But all it required was one intake of breath".
As with any celebrity, Elaine must have had embarrassing moments, I asked her what was her worst. "My first West End role was in the musical HAIR in London. One of the main scenes was 'the nude scene' (this was London in the late 60's) - though it wasn't compulsory everyone took part, except me. Taking ones clothes off on stage was highly embarrassing . I was teased by my contemporaries for being a wimp so eventually there was nothing else for it but to join the happy band. Eventually with the help of a tall dark handsome man in the company who held my hand for moral support I truly became one of the tribe. A full cast, present, correct and naked".
Elaine is a Patron of the Trust so I asked her how she became involved with us. "I met Dr. Graham Hughes in 1989 whilst I was performing in ANYTHING GOES at the Prince Edward Theatre. When no one else could help me a colleague put me in touch with Graham at a difficult time when I was also performing in a very physical show. I was really keen to help Graham in return and it was a year or so later when the St. Thomas' Lupus Trust was founded that he asked me to be a Patron. I have been extremely pleased to support the Trust's work in the Lupus Unit ever since. Personal experience also motivated me to become involved to help raise the awareness of the disease and hopefully thereby improve the speed of diagnosis".
