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Elaine Paige née Bickerstaff OBE (born on 5 March , 1948 in Barnet , Hertfordshire ) is an English Singer and Actress , primarily in Musicals . CAREER Theatre Paige's first professional appearance was in the UK tour of the Anthony Newley / Leslie Bricusse musical '' The Roar Of The Greasepaint—the Smell Of The Crowd ''. She made her West End debut in '' Hair '', and went on to featured roles in '' Jesus Christ Superstar '', '' Nuts '', '' Grease '', and '' Billy '' (a musical adaptation of the film '' Billy Liar ''.) In 1978, Hal Prince offered the still relatively unknown Paige the title role in Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber 's '' Evita '' after Julie Covington , who played the role on the album turned down the part. This proved to be the defining moment in her evolution to the self proclaimed title "First Lady of British Musical Theatre". For her performance, she won the Society Of West End Theatre Award for Best Actress and the Variety Club Award for Showbusiness Personality of the Year. Despite playing the title role, Paige was given second billing on the posters for the production, behind David Essex who was Che Guevara . Joss Ackland took on the role of Juan Peron and Siobhan McCarthy played his mistress. Paige has portrayed some of Lloyd Webber's most notable female characters, originating the role of Grizabella in '' Cats '' (a role she reprised for a video release). She took on the role late in rehearsal when the Actress Judi Dench had to pull out due to a torn Achilles Tendon . Her performance of the song '' Memory '' from that show is her signature piece. In 1994, Paige took over the role of Norma Desmond in Lloyd Webber's '' Sunset Boulevard '' when Betty Buckley was ill, before stepping into the part full time the following year. She transferred to the American production to make her Broadway debut in a performance that Lloyd Webber described as "musically terrific" in 1996 , staying with the show until it closed the following year. In 1998, Paige made a guest star appearance at the Andrew Lloyd Webber, fiftieth birthday celebration in the Royal Albert Hall . She sang '' Memory '' and '' Don't Cry For Me Argentina ''. By no means has Paige limited her theatre credits to Lloyd Webber projects. In 1986, she appeared as Florence in '' Chess '', (lyrics by Tim Rice, music by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus , formerly of ABBA ), a role she had originated for the 1984 RCA double-disc concept album. The show was notable at the time for its set, which featured a large, tilting stage that resembled an illuminated chess board, with a proscenium built from television screens. For this role Paige was nominated for Laurence Olivier Award in a category Outstandng Performance by an Actress in a Musical. She followed this success with a hit revival of Cole Porter 's '' Anything Goes '' in 1989 which she co-produced with Tim Rice, based on the contemporary US ( Lincoln Center ) production starring Patti LuPone . In 1993, she embarked on a troubled run as famed French chanteuse Édith Piaf in Pam Gems ' musical play ''Piaf'' (1993). In 2000 she appeared in another acclaimed revival, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II 's '' The King And I '', in which the King was played by Jason Scott Lee . In 2004, she sang the role of Mrs. Lovett in the New York City Opera production of Stephen Sondheim 's '' Sweeney Todd ''. From 14 May 2007, Paige returned to the West End stage for the first time in six years in the title role in the 100-performance run of the Canadian musical comedy '' The Drowsy Chaperone '' at London's Novello Theatre until 4 August. {Link without Title} The producers said on 10 July 2007 that they had decided to close the show less than two months after it opened because "London ticket sales have been slower than needed to sustain a longer run..." bringing down the curtain on the transfer after less than 100 performances – including previews. Recording work Paige also has had success in the UK singles charts. '' I Know Him So Well '' (from ''Chess''), her duet with Barbara Dickson , held the #1 position in the British charts for four weeks, and still remains the biggest selling record by a female duo in the Guinness Book Of Records . She also had a top ten hit with Memory from ''Cats''. Additionally, she has had eight consecutive gold and four multi-platinum albums. Paige released her first full studio album of new recordings in twelve years, "Essential Musicals" in October 2006. It includes popular songs from musicals identified by a poll on her radio show. Film, television and radio Paige has hosted her own BBC television specials as well as starred in several films for the network, and has also performed in a number of televised Royal Variety Shows. Arts commentator Melvyn Bragg hosted a special edition of The South Bank Show about Paige's career in 1996, entitled ''The Faces of Elaine Paige''. She made special recordings of some of her most famous songs exclusively for the programme. It is frequently shown on PBS in the U.S. . More recently, Paige has focused on television appearances, playing Dora Bunner in the 2004 ITV adaptation of Agatha Christie 's ''A Murder is Announced'', before performing a guest role as a post mistress in ''Where the Heart Is''. In September 2004, Paige began a weekly radio show, ''Elaine Paige on Sunday'', on BBC Radio 2 , featuring music from musical theatre and film scores. Occasional interviews are also featured, having included theatre impressario Cameron Mackintosh , actress Angela Lansbury , The Pet Shop Boys and Elton John . Paige's show has been described by Elisabeth Mahoney of The Guardian as a "rare wrong move" on the part of Radio 2. {Link without Title} On July 28 , 2007 , Paige appeared on a special celebrity version of '' Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? '' with Michael Ball to raise money for their chosen charity. With a combined effort, they raised £64, 000. OTHER ACTIVITIES
DISCOGRAPHY Solo recordings
Solo recordings (compilations)
Cast recordings
STAGE ROLES
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