Jessica Robinson (performer)

Last updated

Jessica Robinson
Born28 November 1991 [1]
Other namesJessica Close, [2] Jessica Daley [3]
Years active2010-present
Website www.jessicadaley.co.uk

Jessica Robinson (stage name briefly 'Jessica Close' [2] and now 'Jessica Daley') is an English singer and actress. Robinson could not use her birth name as a professional UK actor, due to it already being used on the UK stage by another, so she settled on her grandmother's maiden name. [3] However, there is also a US movie actress called Jessica Daley! [4] . Robinson was first noted for her participation in the 2010 BBC talent-search Over the Rainbow , and more recently for performing in stage musicals in the West End, across the UK, and internationally, not least leading Evita in China in 2019. [5]

Contents

Background

Robinson was brought up in, and is a proud ambassador for, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire. [6] [7]

As a child, Robinson attended St Gabriel's Primary School followed by St Peter's Secondary School, in Middlesbrough. [8]

As a youth Robinson performed as part of the Middlesbrough Youth Theatre in which she played the part of Fantine in Les Misérables , company [6] and in 2006 also went on to compete the kids version of Stars in Their Eyes where she performed as the Australian actress/singer Natalie Imbruglia. Jessica took part in heat two. [9] [10] and the 2008 Miss Dance of Great Britain competition. [6]

Over the Rainbow

Robinson took part in Over the Rainbow, a BBC talent-search looking for an actress/singer to play Dorothy Gale in Andrew Lloyd Webber's production of The Wizard of Oz . She advanced to the sixth week, whereupon she was voted off following a sing-off against Danielle Hope, the show's eventual winner. [11]

Solo performances

Solo Song
Week one (03/04/10)"Rehab" (Amy Winehouse) [12]
Week two (10/04/10)"The Voice Within" (Christina Aguilera) [13]
Week three (17/04/10)"Crazy Little Thing Called Love" (Queen) [14]
Week four (24/04/10)"There You'll Be" (Faith Hill) [15]
Week five (01/05/10)"Cabaret" (from Cabaret ) [16]
Week six (08/05/10)"Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" (from Mary Poppins ) [17]

After Over the Rainbow

Robinson studied at the Arts Educational School. [18] She was lauded for her efforts at raising Middlesbrough's profile and performed at the 2010 Middlesbrough Music Live event with The Wildcats of Kilkenny. [19]

In August 2010 it was announced that Robinson would temporarily take over fellow Over the Rainbow alumna Stephanie Fearon's role in Smokey Joe's Cafe . Robinson performed for three nights in late August while Fearon recovered after an operation. [18]

Continuing to support her hometown's vibrant cultural scene, Robinson took the title role in the Christmas 2011 pantomime "Snow White" at Middlesbrough Little Theatre, [8] and in April 2012 she starred in the video for Middlesbrough-based band Collectors Club's debut single, First to Know. [20]

Robinson performed in Mamma Mia! on London's West End as Ali.

Robinson was part of the cast of Les Misérables Dubai.

In 2019, Robinson starred as Eva Perón on the Evita International Tour, starting in China; a role she subsequently reprised, travelling 150 miles at less than 8 hours notice and thus saving the show at the Leicester Curve Theatre in January 2024. [21] [22] [23]

Related Research Articles

<i>Evita</i> (musical) 1978 musical by Lloyd Webber and Rice

Evita is a musical with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. It concentrates on the life of Argentine political leader Eva Perón, the second wife of Argentine president Juan Perón. The story follows Evita's early life, rise to power, charity work, and death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elaine Paige</span> English singer and actress (born 1948)

Elaine Jill Paige is an English singer and actress, best known for her work in musical theatre. Raised in Barnet, Hertfordshire, Paige attended the Aida Foster Theatre School, making her first professional appearance on stage in 1964, at the age of 16. Her appearance in the 1968 production of Hair marked her West End debut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Jones (singer)</span> Musical artist (born 1942)

Paul Jones is an English singer, actor, harmonicist, radio personality and television presenter. He first came to prominence as the original lead singer and harmonicist of the rock band Manfred Mann (1962–66) with whom he had several hit records including "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" and "Pretty Flamingo".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy Nail</span> English actor & vocalist (born 1954)

James Michael Aloysius Bradford, known as Jimmy Nail, is an English singer-songwriter, actor, film producer, and television writer. He played the role of Leonard "Oz" Osborne in the television show Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and the title role in Spender. He also recorded a 1992 number one single, "Ain't No Doubt". His role as Agustín Magaldi, the oily crooner in the 1996 film Evita, gave him international recognition.

Julie Covington is an English singer and actress, best known for recording the original version of "Don't Cry for Me Argentina", which she sang on the 1976 concept album Evita.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheridan Smith</span> English actress and singer

Sheridan Smith OBE is an English actress, singer, and television personality. Smith came to prominence after playing a variety of characters on sitcoms such as The Royle Family (1999–2000), Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps (2001–2009), Gavin & Stacey (2008–2010), and Benidorm (2009). She co-starred as Joey Ross in the drama series Jonathan Creek between 2009 and 2013, and went on to receive acclaim for starring in a succession of television dramas, such as Mrs Biggs (2012), Cilla (2014), The C Word (2015), Black Work (2015), The Moorside (2017), Cleaning Up (2019), and Four Lives (2022). Her film credits include Tower Block (2012), Quartet (2012), The Huntsman: Winter's War (2016), and The Railway Children Return (2022).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kim Medcalf</span> English actress, singer (b. 1973)

Kim Louise Medcalf is an English actress and singer. She is best known for portraying the role of Sam Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denise Welch</span> English actress and television personality

Jacqueline Denise Welch is an English actress, television personality, writer and broadcaster. Her roles include Natalie Barnes in Coronation Street (1997–2000), Steph Haydock in Waterloo Road (2006–2010), and Trish Minniver in Hollyoaks (2021–2022). Welch also appears as a regular panellist on the ITV chat show Loose Women.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siobhan Dillon</span> English actress and singer (born 1984)

Siobhan Patricia Dillon is an English actress and singer, who rose to fame when she performed in the British talent show-themed television series How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? on BBC One in 2006. Since then, Dillon has performed in the West End, playing the roles of Sandy in Grease at the Piccadilly Theatre, Vivienne Kensington in Legally Blonde at the Savoy Theatre, Sally Bowles in Cabaret, Molly in Ghost the Musical at the Piccadilly Theatre, Ellen in Miss Saigon, and Betty Schaefer in Sunset Boulevard with the English National Opera. Siobhan reprised this role at the Palace Theatre in New York City.

Jessica-Jane Stafford is an English actress, television presenter and former glamour model who is best known for starring in the BBC programme The Real Hustle from 2006 to 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephanie Fearon</span> British stage and television actress

Stephanie Leanne Fearon is a British stage and television actress most noted for her TV appearances in the CITV show My Parents Are Aliens and the BBC talent-search Over the Rainbow.

Middlesbrough Youth Theatres (MYT) is an umbrella company consisting of Middlesbrough Junior Theatre, earlier known as MLT Juniors, together with a 'Kidstage' group of 7- to 11-year-olds, and an older 'Youth Theatre' of 11- to 18-year-olds. The largest section of the company is the Juniors, a group originally created in 1956.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hannah Waddingham</span> British actress and singer (born 1974)

Hannah Waddingham is a British actress, singer and television presenter. She is known for playing businesswoman Rebecca Welton in the comedy series Ted Lasso (2020–2023), for which she received three nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, winning in 2021, and the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in both 2021 and 2022.

<i>Over the Rainbow</i> (2010 TV series) British TV series or programme

Over the Rainbow is a British television talent series that aired on BBC One from 26 March to 22 May 2010. It documented the search for a new, undiscovered musical theatre performer to play the role of Dorothy Gale in Andrew Lloyd Webber's 2011 stage production of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz and a dog to play Toto for a one-off performance.

Danielle Hope is an English actress and singer. She was the winner of the BBC talent contest Over The Rainbow and as a result played the part of Dorothy in the Andrew Lloyd Webber production of The Wizard of Oz, which began performances at the London Palladium in the West End in February 2011. Following this role, she went on to play the role of Éponine in Les Misérables in the West End, starting in June 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sophie Evans (performer)</span> Welsh singer and actress

Sophie Gwen Jenkins is a Welsh singer and actress from Tonypandy. She played Glinda in the West End production of Wicked (2017) and Dorothy in the 2011 musical The Wizard of Oz.

Lauren Alvarado is an English singer and actress who performs under the stage name "Lauren Samuels". She became well known to the British public as a contestant on the 2010 BBC UK TV series Over the Rainbow. Since appearing on the show, she has gone on to appear in West End theatre, including playing the lead role of Sandy in Grease.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephanie Davis (actress)</span> English actress (born 1993)

Stephanie Ann Davis is an English actress. She began her career with small roles in British television series, and in 2010, she competed in the BBC talent-search Over the Rainbow. She was then cast in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, portraying the role of Sinead O'Connor between 2010 and 2015, and again from 2018 to 2019. In 2016, she was the runner-up in the seventeenth series of Celebrity Big Brother. In May 2023, Davis joined the cast of ITV soap opera Coronation Street as Courtney Vance.

Amy Diamond is an English actress, singer, former glamour model, and Page 3 girl.

Madalena Alberto is a Portuguese actress, singer and composer who has developed her career in London's West End. Alberto received rave reviews for her role as Eva Perón in Evita in the West End (2014), where the show arrived after its UK Tour. Alberto played the role of Fantine in the 25th Anniversary production of Les Misérables.

References

  1. Daley, Jessica. "28 Nov 2022 -- 31 today". X. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  2. 1 2 twitter.com
  3. 1 2 "Introducing… Jessica Daley". officiallondontheatre.com. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  4. "Jessica Daley". IMDb.com. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  5. "Jessica Daley". spotlight.com. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 "Jessica". BBC. Retrieved 10 August 2010.
  7. "Bio". jessicadaley.co.uk. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  8. 1 2 Barley, Sophie (21 October 2011). "Jessica Robinson in Snow White in Middlesbrough". GazetteLive.co.uk: Teesside Evening Gazette. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  9. youtube.com, Talent 2007
  10. "Heat Four". Archived from the original on 12 May 2010. Retrieved 10 August 2010.
  11. "Over the Rainbow\Dorothys\Jessica Robinson". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  12. "Jessica's Performance - Over the Rainbow - Episode 3 - BBC One". YouTube. 3 April 2010. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2010.
  13. "Jessica's Performance - Over the Rainbow - Episode 5 - BBC One". YouTube. 10 April 2010. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2010.
  14. "Jessica's Performance - Over the Rainbow - Episode 7 - BBC One". YouTube. 17 April 2010. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2010.
  15. "Jessica's Performance - Over the Rainbow - Episode 9 - BBC One". YouTube. 24 April 2010. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2010.
  16. "Jessica: Cabaret - Over The Rainbow - Episode 11 - BBC One". YouTube. 1 May 2010. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2010.
  17. "Jessica's Performance - Over the Rainbow - Episode 13 - BBC One". YouTube. 8 May 2010. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2010.
  18. 1 2 "Jessica Spends Three Nights in Joe's for Steph". WhatsOnStage.com. 10 August 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
  19. "Red carpet for Jessica Robinson at The Mall". GazetteLive.co.uk. 8 June 2010. Retrieved 10 August 2010.
  20. youtube.com
  21. "Actress dashes 150 miles to save illness-hit Evita musical". 7 January 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  22. "Middlesbrough actress Jessica Daley drives 150m to revive role in Evita at Leicester's Curve Theatre". www.itv.com. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  23. "Jessica Daley saves Evita performance by travelling 150 miles". www.whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 9 January 2024.