I’d Do Anything: Meet the Nancies

Amy Booth-Steel, 24

Amy is a graduate of the Birmingham School of Acting. She was a CDS Spotlight prize nominee in 2007, BBC Carleton Hobbs Radio Bursary nominee (2007) and Laurence Olivier Bursary nominee (2006). Recente stage work includes the Scooby Doo UK Tour as Velma, and played the Genie of the Lamp at the Sawn Theatre, Worcester. TV appearances include Doctors and MI High. In June last year, she was a guest advisor in The Stage’s weekly advice column, Dear John, helping to answer the question: How do I make the most of my graduate showcase?

 Ashley J Russell, 24

A former student at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, Ashley is currently working as a freelance drama teacher in London. Appeared in several productions at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh. Stage roles include Naomi in The Waiting Room at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Ida in Stiles and Drewe’s Honk! The Musical and principal vocalist in A Tribute to Richard Rogers at the RSNO Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

Cleopatra Royer, 21

Cleopatra studied dance at the BRIT School for the Performing Arts, and is one of 20 ‘exceptionally creative’ young people to receive financial and mentoring awards unde Ignite! Future’s Creative Sparks scheme.

Francesca Jackson, 24

Probably the most experienced of the twelve Nancy finalists, Francesca recently finished a run in Rent as Joanne, playing opposite I’d Do Anything judge Denise Van Outen. She is also a former flatmate of How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? winner Connie Fisher. Another Mountview graduate, Francesca also appeared in Whistle Down the Wind and Bugsy Malone for the National Youth Music Theatre, and played Bet (Nancy’s younger sister) in Cameron Mackintosh’s 1997 version of Oliver!.

Jessie Buckley, 18

Irish Jessie had, according to previous I’d Do Anything programmes, been turned down by two drama schools prior to getting through to the IDA live shows. She has been performing since the age of 7 (like many of us, I suspect, her first musical role was in a school production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat).

Jodie Prenger, 28

After winning Living TV’s The Biggest Loser weight loss reality show, Jodie has been working as a dieting expert, complete with official website. On the musical side, Jodie was working as a resort club singer prior to auditioning for I’d Do Anything, and has also worked as a singing teacher.

 Keisha Amponsa-Banson, 23

Student Keisha has had singing lessons, and sang for independent film Jingle Blues Jingle Bells.

Niamh Perry, 17

Currently studying A-level Drama, Niamh is (accroding to the BBC) clasically voiced trained. A native of Bangor, Co. Down, she sang a solo at the opening of the Grand Opera House in Belfast. She has also performed with Northern Ireland’s MT4Uth, including a production of Oliver! in 2005 and Joseph in 2007.

Rachel Tucker, 26

Belfast-born Rachel trained at the Royal Academy of Music. Currently working for ‘a company which employs out-of-work actors’ (I don’t know which one, but loads advertise in our Recruitment section if you’re currently resting). Has played Mary in Tonight’s the Night - The Rod Stewart Musical and was recently Dorothy in the Lyric Theatre, Belfast’s production of The Wizard of Oz, which The Stage’s Jane Coyle described as “looking and sounding uncannily like the legendary Garland”.

Samantha Barks, 17

Currently studying at the Arts Education Schools, London, Sam Barks has been dancing since the age of three. Prior to moving to London, she attended Dancers Barre, Stagecoach, Theatrix and Manx Ballet Company schools in her native Isle of Man. As a singer, she has supported Sugababes and Matt Willis, and had a singing role in ITV TV movie The Final Quest, directed by and starring David Jason.

She represented the Isle of Man at the Malta International TV Song Festival, where she won the main prize of €2000 and the title of Best Foreign Singer.

Sarah Lark, 25

Cardiff-born Sarah is another graduate of the Royal Academy of Music. Prior to that, though, her stage credits date back to 1993, and include appearances in Whistle Down the Wind for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group, and in 2001’s The Witches of Eastwick for Cameron Mackintosh. She has also played Lucy in Snoopy - The Musical.

Tara Bethan, 24

Trained at Redroofs Theatre School, Tara (real name Tara Williams) has just finished a nine month contract as a series regular, Nikki, on S4C soap Rownd A Rownd (Round and Round). Her 2006/7 panto performance as the title character in Rhyl’s Dick Whittington prompted The Stage reviewer Victor Hallett to say, “Tara Bethan proves herself to be a superb Principal Boy in the great tradition. She has a strong stage presence, acts well, possesses lovely comic timing and sings beautifully.” Her Spotlight CV includes numerous TV roles, including an appearance in Footballers’ Wives, and a musical career that goes back to the National Youth Music Theatre production of Bugsy Malone (the same production that featured Francesca, above, it seems).

If any of the information in this post is inaccurate or incomplete, please do let us know at tvtoday@thestage.co.uk.