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FIND OUT MOREBecoming Maria
Connie Fisher was the toast of London's west end as Maria von Trapp in The Sound of Music. But as she reprises her role for the UK touring production of the show, the 26-year-old actress tells All About Manchester her life is not all glitz and glamour.
It seems like yesterday when a young Connie Fisher was catapulted from obscurity into one of the best roles in the West End after winning the 2006 BBC talent contest, How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? Nearly 1.5 million people voted for the former telesales worker to follow in the footsteps of Julie Andrews in a new production of the Rodgers & Hammerstein's musical The Sound of Music, produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber, at the London Palladium.
Fisher, who comes from Pembrokeshire, West Wales, sparkled as Maria von Trapp, a role that she says she was born to play. "I've always wanted to play Maria and I've always been a Julie Andrews fan, so to play her role and to get such wonderful responses - standing ovations and great reviews - it's fantastic."
In The Sound of Music, Fisher plays nun-turned-nanny Maria, and although she is obviously neither a nun nor a nanny herself, she feels she shares some common characteristics with this character. She explains: "I love singing; we're both passionate about music. And I think we're both strong women and cheerful characters. Maria is a bit of a teacher and I also quite enjoy being with kids.
"At the Palladium I had 83 kids and it was great; they are such stars. We have three groups of kids for the tour and they rotate. It's really demanding for them, but they really are the icing on the cake for me."
Fisher has recently announced her engagement to boyfriend Jeremy Reed, and she laughs at the suggestion that working with all these kids may put her off starting a family of her own. "No! In fact I always get a bit broody because they are so adorable and so talented. They keep the show fresh for me. Not just because they are rotating and you get different actors all the time, but because they are kids and they don't think about being an actor, they just do it."
So children are on Fisher's list of favourite things. What else is on it? "Gosh, well, materialistically I'd say chocolate - I love chocolate. But singing is number one on my list; I'm a singaholic through and through. My fiance is definitely one of my favourite things. I love making jewellery; that's a hobby of mine. I love walking my dog on the beach back in Pembrokeshire. I love being close to the sea - I'm moving to Cardiff, where my fiance has a house on the seafront. I love animals... all the above."
Listening to Fisher speak, you can't help but fear for her. She sounds so fresh and eager and, well, innocent. How does someone like her survive in the cut-throat world of showbiz?
"It's not all glitz and glamour," she admits. "But it's a dream job and I absolutely love it."
She doesn't sound comfortable talking about some of the least glamorous aspects of her dream job, but there's unembellished truth in her answer, which is refreshing. "We have press nights at each venue, which I suppose I could do without. I've already done the press back at the Palladium and now I'm doing the press at each venue, so it's like having a press night every month, which is quite nerve-racking. We all get nervous and insecure about our performances - we're actors, that's what we do - so yes, press nights are always nerve-racking for me. If there was one thing I could do without that's probably the critics, but touch wood they've always been nice to me, and I did train to do this job so I'm prepared for it."
The press has generally been good to Fisher, crowning her 'the people's Maria' and showering her with rave reviews for her debut West End role. The Independent called her "enchantingly fresh and ardent", The Daily Mail praised her "natural and unsugared" performance, while The Telegraph found her "absolutely enchanting". The Guardian was equally supportive, applauding her "clear, crystalline voice" and "winning charm".
But it soon became obvious that not all was cream-coloured ponies and crisp apple strudels in the world of Connie Fisher. First, she was criticised for her lack of professional status and then she came under fire for using a click track - a common feature of West End musicals - to support her voice in some of the most demanding numbers. Performing eight shows a week soon took its toll on the young actress, who looked increasingly skinny.
Then there are the throat problems that have plagued her career from the outset. Soon after starting as Maria at the Palladium, she damaged her vocal cords and had to cut down the number of shows she performed each week. And earlier this year, she had to have an operation on her vocal cords after being diagnosed with congenital fusion anomalies. "It was something I was born with," she explains. "It's a condition that makes my cords more tired than others. But I can do six shows a week."
As far as fairy tales go, it hasn't been the easiest of rides, but the clouds in Connie Fisher's sky seem to come with a silver lining. So asked whether she resents being referred to as a 'reality TV star' three years on, she makes a joke about it: "I'm very grateful for the way that I was cast, how everyone voted for me, but at the same time it's been three years since I won and I'd like to be referred to as an actress now rather than a reality TV star. But the 'star' bit is nice. 'Reality TV star' sounds better than 'reality TV contestant', doesn't it?"
So perhaps Fisher is tougher than she looks. Despite the odds, she is back doing what she loves and having a blast. She looks forward to coming to Manchester, she says, where she'll be spending Christmas. And she can't wait to take on her next role - "wedding planner for my wedding!" - next summer.
The Sound of Music runs from Dec 15, 2009 to Jan 16, 2010 at the Palace Theatre. Tickets cost £12.50 - £42.50 and you can book by calling 0844 847 2275.