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Elaine Paige, renowned as an actress, recording artist, producer, and broadcaster, has significantly shaped modern musical theatre, securing her own distinguished place in entertainment and earning the title "The First Lady of Musical Theatre."
She has led numerous West End and Broadway productions and performed internationally in concerts, gaining fame through her award-winning portrayal of Eva Peron in "Evita." Soon after, she originated the role of Grizabella in the original "Cats" production, with the iconic song "Memory" becoming one of her many hit recordings.
Her theatre credits include: "Hair," "Jesus Christ Superstar," "Grease," "Billy," "Chess" (featuring the record-breaking number one hit "I Know Him So Well" with Barbara Dickson), "Anything Goes," "Piaf," "Sunset Boulevard" in London and Broadway, "The King and I," and "Sweeney Todd" (New York City Opera). She collaborated twice with Sir Peter Hall’s Theatre Company in "The Misanthrope" and Feydeau’s "Where There's A Will."
Elaine has performed worldwide, from The White House to The Great Hall of the People in Beijing, and venues such as the Bolshoi and Sydney Opera House. Her television appearances include her own specials and Royal Variety Shows. She has released 18 solo albums—four multi-platinum and nine consecutive gold—and seven cast albums. Her accolades include the Society of West End Theatre Award for Best Actress in a Musical, Variety Club Awards for Show Business Personality of the Year (1978), Musical Artiste (1986), and Best Actress (1995); the Gold Badge of Merit from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (1994); HMV Lifetime Achievement Award (1996); Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (1999); Order of the British Empire for services to Musical Theatre (1995); Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Musical (2004); and Variety Club Special Presentation for 40 Years on Stage (2009). In September 2012, she received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of East Anglia and Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London.
Elaine dedicates time to supporting charities close to her heart, including The Dan Maskell Tennis Trust, The Children's Trust Tadworth, EveryChild, Breast Cancer Campaign, Noah's Ark Hospice, The Lady Taverners, St Thomas' Lupus Trust, and most recently, The Terence Higgins Trust.
2014 marked the 10th anniversary of her highly successful weekly BBC Radio 2 show "Elaine Paige on Sunday," dedicated to musical theatre and film music, attracting over 2.3 million weekly listeners.
Her television roles include appearing as herself in BBC’s comedy "Beautiful People," portraying Dora Bunner in Agatha Christie's "Ms. Marple: A Murder is Announced" for Granada/WGBH, and a guest role in "Where The Heart Is" for Granada Television.
In 2005, she completed a triumphant concert tour of Australia, New Zealand, and the Far East. In 2006, she released "Essential Musicals," an album of stage songs, followed by a sold-out tour of Scandinavia and the UK before taking her show to China. In March 2007, she performed at the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Centre.
Elaine returned to the West End in 2007 to critical acclaim starring in the title role of "The Drowsy Chaperone" at the Novello Theatre, earning a Best Supporting Actress in a Musical nomination at the What's On Stage Awards. She also performed concerts across Europe and the USA and recorded a track with Secret Garden, "The Things You Are You To Me," on their quadruple-platinum album.
September 2008 marked the 40th anniversary of her West End debut, celebrated with the book "Memories" and a sold-out international concert tour spanning Scandinavia, China, the UK, and Ireland, resulting in the live CD "Elaine Paige Live - Celebrating A Life On Stage." The tour continued in October 2009 across Australia and New Zealand, with the Sydney concert filmed for the DVD "Elaine Paige Celebrating A Life On Stage," released in March 2010.
Upon returning to the UK, Elaine performed "I Know Him So Well" with Susan Boyle on Boyle’s TV special "I Dreamed a Dream: The Susan Boyle Story." She also appeared at the 2010 Cheltenham Jazz Festival debuting a new jazz set.
In November 2010, Elaine released "Elaine Paige & Friends," a studio album recorded in New York and produced by Phil Ramone for Rhino/Warner Bros Records. Featuring duets with 14 notable musical artists, the album reached the UK Top 20 and earned a gold disc for sales exceeding 100,000 by year’s end.
Elaine resumed concert performances in February 2011 before starring as Carlotta Campion in Stephen Sondheim’s "Follies" at the Kennedy Centre in Washington DC, receiving widespread critical acclaim.
Following an intimate Chichester Cathedral concert for the 2011 festivities, she reprised her role in "Follies" on Broadway at the Marquis Theatre starting September 12, earning unanimous praise and a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical.
In early 2012, Elaine debuted concert performances at New York's Lincoln Center, with the New York Daily News praising her rendition of "Don't Cry for Me Argentina." Later, "Follies" played a six-week sold-out run at Los Angeles' Ahmanson Theatre.
The year concluded with concert appearances in New Zealand, Australia, the Far East, and two UK specials—one at Raymond Blanc's La Manoir in Oxford and another for The Prince's Trust at Central Hall Westminster, London.
In 2013, Elaine won the 2012 BroadwayWorld Los Angeles Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Touring). The original cast recording of "Follies," featuring Elaine, was nominated for Best Musical Theater Album at the 55th Grammy Awards. After a Scandinavian tour, she completed her first US concert tour to sold-out audiences and rave reviews.
2014 began with "The Elaine Paige Show" on Sky Arts TV, offering an insightful look into musical theatre with performances and interviews. Concurrently, Warner released "The Ultimate Collection," celebrating her 50 years in the industry with hits, rare tracks, and a new remix of "Be On Your Own" from "Nine" by Almighty Records.
The year ended with a sold-out UK tour, highlighted by a spectacular night at London’s Royal Albert Hall with the BBC Concert Orchestra. The concert was broadcast on BBC Radio 2, screened in cinemas worldwide, and later released as the live DVD/CD "I'm Still Here."
In 2015, Elaine continued her 50th Anniversary tour, performed live at the V.E. Day 70 Concert at London's Horse Guards Parade, headlined several UK summer festivals, and undertook two contrasting acting roles: starring in the indie thriller film "Speed Love," centered on a speed dating event and set for 2016 release, and portraying Mistress Quince in Russell T. Davies' BBC1 adaptation of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night’s Dream," aired May 30, 2016.
Early 2016 saw Elaine announce "Stripped Back," a series of weekend concerts featuring her favorite songs from contemporary songwriters, accompanied by a small group of musicians, performed in some of the UK’s most beautiful venues.
With these recent projects, her ongoing success on BBC Radio 2’s "Elaine Paige On Sunday," and more ventures on the horizon, the title of her latest cinema and DVD release, "I'm Still Here," perfectly reflects her enduring presence.
