Kerry Ellis

Kerry Ellis stands among the rare performers who transitioned from stage roles to pop success, much as Laura Michelle Kelly did after appearing in Wicked. Born in Haughley, Suffolk in 1979, she started singing young and, drawing influence from Liza Minnelli and Barbra Streisand, grew passionate about musical theater. Following her graduation from Laine Theatre Arts School, Ellis spent time performing aboard a cruise ship, then at age 21 debuted in the West End as Martine McCutcheon's understudy in the title part of My Fair Lady. Cast next in the Queen musical We Will Rock You, she originated and performed the character Meat for two years, after which she took the role of Ellen in Miss Saigon and later portrayed Fantine in Les Miserables. In 2006 Ellis served as understudy to Idina Menzel in the London staging of Wicked and eventually assumed the part of Elpheba on a full-time basis; two years afterward she reprised that same character on Broadway and received multiple theater honors. During 2008 she collaborated with her mentor Brian May on the teaser disc Wicked in Rock, issued in London theaters. Having headlined the Royal Albert Hall, toured the solo presentation The Great British Songbook, and contributed the track "Somebody to Love" to Only Men Aloud's Band of Brothers, Ellis simultaneously developed her first solo album while appearing as Nancy in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Oliver. The resulting record, Anthems, incorporated musical-theater numbers, several Queen covers, and fresh material penned by May, with Foo Fighters' Taylor Hawkins supplying drums; it peaked at number 15 upon its 2010 release. She rejoined Brian May in 2017 for Golden Days, an album of covers alongside original songs.