Anita Louise Combe is an Australian actress, singer, dancer who has worked extensively in the entertainment industry all around the world. Combe attended the Gwen Mackay School of Dancing and trained in the Cechetti method of ballet with Jennifer Pollard in Adelaide, South Australia before making her first professional appearance on stage as Sillabub in the Australian Premiere Production of Cats at the Theatre Royal in Sydney. She is one of the few people in the world to date who has played both roles of Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly in the production of Chicago in the West End. Anita created the role of Stephanie Mangano in the World Premiere Production of Saturday Night Fever opposite fellow Australian, Adam Garcia and produced by Adelaide born,

Robert Stigwood Robert Colin Stigwood (16 April 1934 – 4 January 2016) was an Australian-born British-resident music entrepreneur, film producer and impresario, best known for managing Cream, Andy Gibb and the Bee Gees, theatrical productions like ''Hair'' ...

.Theatre: Saturday Night's all right
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Personal life

Combe was born in Adelaide, South Australia. Her mother Rosemary was a nursing sister and her father John was an architect. She grew up with five brothers, two older and three younger. Her eldest brother, Scott, died in a car accident only months after her opening night in the musical

Cats The cat (''Felis catus'') is a domestic species of small carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species in the family Felidae and is commonly referred to as the domestic cat or house cat to distinguish it from the wild members of t ...

. Her main ambition was to become a ballet dancer, but after being cast in her first role in Cats she realised she wanted to expand her career into singing and acting also. After playing roles such as Peron's Mistress in

Evita Evita may refer to: Arts * Evita (1996 film), ''Evita'' (1996 film), a 1996 American musical drama film based on the 1976 concept album of the same name * Evita (2008 film), ''Evita'' (2008 film), a documentary about Eva Péron * Evita (album), ''E ...

, Sybil in

Private Lives ''Private Lives'' is a 1930 comedy of manners in three acts by Noël Coward. It concerns a divorced couple who, while honeymooning with their new spouses, discover that they are staying in adjacent rooms at the same hotel. Despite a perpetuall ...

and

Cosette Cosette () is a fictional character in the 1862 novel ''Les Misérables'' by Victor Hugo and in the many adaptations of the story for stage, film, and television. Her birth name, Euphrasie, is only mentioned briefly. As the orphaned child of an u ...

in ''

Les Misérables ''Les Misérables'' ( , ) is a French historical novel by Victor Hugo, first published in 1862, that is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century. In the English-speaking world, the novel is usually referred to by its original ...

'', all in Australia, Combe then made her West End debut in the world premiere production of

Sunset Boulevard Sunset Boulevard is a boulevard in the central and western part of Los Angeles, California, that stretches from the Pacific Coast Highway in Pacific Palisades east to Figueroa Street in Downtown Los Angeles. It is a major thoroughfare in t ...

. Anita has no children

Career

Film and Television

EastEnders ''EastEnders'' is a Television in the United Kingdom, British soap opera created by Julia Smith (producer), Julia Smith and Tony Holland which has been broadcast on BBC One since February 1985. Set in the fictional borough of Walford in the Ea ...

, Rochelle, BBC, Dir: John Dower

The Royals (TV series) ''The Royals'' is an American primetime television soap opera that premiered on E! on March 15, 2015. Created by Mark Schwahn and starring Elizabeth Hurley, it is the network's first scripted series. The show began as a loose adaptation of the ...

, (Season 3) Lady Jane

Doctors Doctor or The Doctor may refer to: Personal titles * Doctor (title), the holder of an accredited academic degree * A medical practitioner, including: ** Physician ** Surgeon ** Dentist ** Veterinary physician ** Optometrist *Other roles ** ...

, Laura Bowles Miller, BBC, Dir: Graham Sherrington

Holby City ''Holby City'' (stylised on-screen as HOLBY CIY) is a British medical drama television series that aired weekly on BBC One. It was created by Tony McHale and Mal Young as a spin-off from the established BBC medical drama ''Casualty'', and pr ...

, Margarhita, BBC Salsa ''Industry pilot'', Gail, Luvchild Productions, Dir:Lorrie Sheehy/

Kevin Ball Kevin Ball (born 12 November 1964) is an English former professional footballer who played for Portsmouth, Sunderland, Fulham and Burnley. Since his retirement, he has held a number of positions at Sunderland, including twice being caretaker m ...

Rabbit Fever, ''Feature film by Stephen Raphael ''Sheila Tucker, Caught in the headlight prod.,Dir:Ian Denyer

Silent Witness ''Silent Witness'' is a British crime drama television series produced by the BBC, which focuses on a team of forensic pathology experts and their investigations into various crimes. First broadcast in 1996, the series was created by Nigel McC ...

, Rachel Blake, BBC, Dir:Nick Renton Belinda, ''Australian Film by Pamela Gibbons'', Vicki, Dir: Pamela Gibbons

A Country Practice ''A Country Practice'' is an Australian television soap opera which broadcast on the Seven Network from 18 November 1981 until 5 November 1993, airing at 7:30 pm on Monday and Tuesday evenings. Altogether, 14 seasons and 1,058 episodes were p ...

Guest Lead, Anna Collins, JNP FILMS

Home and Away ''Home and Away'' (often abbreviated as ''H&A'') is an Australian television soap opera. It was created by Alan Bateman and commenced broadcast on the Seven Network on 17 January 1988. Bateman came up with the concept of the show during a trip ...

Guest Lead, Shirley, Channel 7 network G.P Guest Lead, Melanie Bloom, ABC Network Ray Martin Midday Show, Guest appearances singing live, Channel 9 network Good Morning Australia Guest appearances singing live

Theatre

Ragtime Ragtime, also spelled rag-time or rag time, is a musical style that flourished from the 1890s to 1910s. Its cardinal trait is its syncopated or "ragged" rhythm. Ragtime was popularized during the early 20th century by composers such as Scott ...

, Mother, Charing Cross Theatre London, 2016 Dir: Thom Southerland

, Grizabella, UK Tour 2016 Dir: Trevor Nunn

Gypsy The Romani (also spelled Romany or Rromani , ), colloquially known as the Roma, are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group, traditionally nomadic itinerants. They live in Europe and Anatolia, and have diaspora populations located worldwide, with sign ...

, Tessie Tura, Chichester Festival/Savoy Theatre 2014/15, Dir: Jonathan Kent

9to5 9to5, National Association of Working Women is an organization established in 1973 that is dedicated to improving working conditions and ensuring the rights of women and families in the United States. The group has its origins in ''9to5 News'', ...

, Roz Keith, UK tour, 2013, Dir: Jeff Calhoun

Chorus Line A chorus line is a large group of dancers who together perform synchronized routines, usually in musical theatre. Sometimes, singing is also performed. Chorus line dancers in Broadway musicals and revues have been referred to by slang terms su ...

, Cassie, Australian Production, 2013, Dir: Bayyork Lee Starting Here, Starting Now, Victorian State Opera Melbourne, Dir: Andrew Mcbean Stepping Out, Mavis Turner, Derby Playhouse, Dir: Stephen Dexter Taking Steps Alan Ayckbourne, Elizabeth Crabbe, Gatehouse Theatre, London, Dir: Alex Holt

Noël Coward, Sybil, Sydney Opera House, Dir: Peter Williams Honeyspot ''Aust/aboriginal play by Jack Davis'', Peggy, Canada/USA/Aust. lizabethan Theatre Trust Dir: Richard Tulloch ''

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

'' (with

David Hasselhoff David Michael Hasselhoff (born July 17, 1952), nicknamed "The Hoff", is an American actor, singer, and television personality. He has set a Guinness World Record as the most watched man on TV. Hasselhoff first gained recognition on ''The You ...

), Velma Kelly, Adelphi Theatre, London, Dir: Scott Faris

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

(with Alyson Moyet & Marti Pellow), Roxie Hart, Adelphi Theatre, London, Dir: Scott Faris Oscar (which closed after opening night), Constance Lloyd, George Bernard Shaw Theatre, London, Dir: Mike Read Hello Again London Premiere, The Actress, Bridewell Theatre, London, Dir: Clive Paget Saturday Night Fever (musical), Created role of: Stephanie Mangano, London Palladium, Dir:

Arlene Phillips Dame Arlene Phillips (born 22 May 1943) is an English choreographer, talent scout, television judge and presenter, theatre director, and former dancer, who has worked in many fields of entertainment. For many years, she was most noted as the c ...

La Boheme LA most frequently refers to Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States. La, LA, or L.A. may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * La (musical note), or A, the sixth note * "L.A.", a song by Elliott Smith on ''Figure ...

World Premiere MTL production, Mimi, Dir: Tony Britten

World Premiere Production, Betty Schaefer, Adelphi Theatre, London, Dir:

Sir Trevor Nunn Sir Trevor Robert Nunn (born 14 January 1940) is a British theatre director. He has been the Artistic Director for the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal National Theatre, and, currently, the Theatre Royal, Haymarket. He has directed dramas ...

Canadian Premiere, Betty Schaefer, Toronto & Vancouver, Dir:

, Cosette, Australian Production, Dir: Gayle Edwards

, Peron's Mistress, State Theatre, Sydney, Dir: Tom Guerra

CATS The cat (''Felis catus'') is a domestic species of small carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species in the family Felidae and is commonly referred to as the domestic cat or house cat to distinguish it from the wild members of t ...

Australian Premiere, Sillabub, Theatre Royal, Sydney, UK and European Tour, Grizabella Dir:

Man of La Mancha ''Man of La Mancha'' is a 1965 musical with a book by Dale Wasserman, music by Mitch Leigh, and lyrics by Joe Darion. It is adapted from Wasserman's non-musical 1959 teleplay ''I, Don Quixote'', which was in turn inspired by Miguel de Cervantes ...

, Fermina/Gypsy Dancer, Victorian State Opera, Melbourne, Dir: Graeme Murphy, George Fairfax

Nominations

Green Room Awards The Green Room Awards are peer awards which recognise excellence in cabaret, dance, drama, fringe theatre, musical theatre and opera in Melbourne. The awards were started in 1982 when Blair Edgar and Steven Tandy formed the Green Room Awards A ...

, Australia - Best Actress in a Musical 'A Chorus Line' Robert Helpmann Awards, Sydney - for Best Actress in a Musical 'A Chorus Line' Dora Maver Moore Award, Toronto - for Best Supporting Actress in a musical ‘Sunset Boulevard’ Jessie Richardson Award, Vancouver - for Best Actress in a Musical ‘Sunset Boulevard’ WhatsOnstage Award, London – for Best Actress in a musical ‘Hello Again’

Recordings

Gypsy, London Cast Recording Saturday Night Fever, World Premiere Cast Recording Sunset Boulevard, World Premiere Cast Recording Sunset Boulevard, Canadian Cast Recording A Chorus Line, BBC, Live Recording Andrew Lloyd Webber Greatest Hits, Silva Screen Records Cats, Australian Premiere Cast Recording

Concerts

Rodgers & Hammerstein Rodgers and Hammerstein was a theater-writing team of composer Richard Rodgers (1902–1979) and lyricist-dramatist Oscar Hammerstein II (1895–1960), who together created a series of innovative and influential American musicals. Their popular ...

Concert, Guest singer, Israel Chamber Orchestra, CONDUCTOR:

Martin Yates Martin Yates (born 1 July 1958, London) is a British conductor. After attending Kimbolton School (1969–1974), he studied at the Royal College of Music and Trinity College of Music, London, where his teachers included Bernard Keeffe (conducti ...

Take That Take That are an English pop group formed in Manchester in 1990. The group currently consists of Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen. The original line-up also featured Jason Orange and Robbie Williams. Barlow is the group's lead singe ...

Concert, The Ultimate Tour, SJM Productions, DIR: Kim Gavin Encore Concert, Guest Singer in Dubai, Creative Concerts Ltd

Concerts, Guest Singer,

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is an English orchestra, founded in 1893 and originally based in Bournemouth. With a remit to serve the South and South West of England, the BSO is administratively based in the adjacent town of Poole, s ...

West End at Home Concert in Poole, Guest Singer, Creative Concerts Ltd Summer Showstoppers Concert on the Isle of Wight, Guest Singer,

Radio Broadway, Starring role, Various Concert Locations Concert in Amsterdam with

John Barrowman John Scot Barrowman (born 11 March 1967) is a Scottish-American actor, author, presenter, singer and comic book writer. He is known for his role as Captain Jack Harkness in '' Doctor Who'' and ''Torchwood'', and as Malcolm Merlyn in the Arrow ...

, CONDUCTOR:

A Chorus Line Concert, Bebe Benzenhiemer, BBC,

BBC Big Band The BBC Big Band, originally known as the BBC Radio Big Band is a British big band, previously run under the auspices of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The band broadcasts exclusively on BBC Radio, particularly on BBC Radio 2's long- ...

Over the Threshold, Kate, Gatehouse Theatre, DIR: Nick Afka White Christmas, Betty Haynes, DIR:

Michael Blakemore Michael Howell Blakemore OBE, AO (born 18 June 1928) is an Australian actor, writer and theatre director who has also made a handful of films. A former Associate Director of the National Theatre, in 2000 he became the only individual to win T ...

Helen of Troy Music/lyrics:

Brian Johnson Brian Johnson (born 5 October 1947) is an English singer and songwriter. In 1980, after the death of Bon Scott, he became the third lead singer of the Australian rock band AC/DC. He and the rest of the band were inducted into the Rock and Rol ...

Brendan Healy Brendan Healy (born August 4, 1983) was a professional lacrosse player for the Washington Bayhawks and the Chicago Machine of Major League Lacrosse. Professional career In his first season with the Baltimore Bayhawks, Brendan played in ten ga ...

Athena/Dido/Cassandra Prince of Wales Theatre, London Gary Griffin Book/additional lyrics:

Dick Clement Dick Clement (born 5 September 1937) is an English writer, director and producer. He became known for his writing partnership with Ian La Frenais for television series including ''The Likely Lads'', ''Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?'', ...

Ian La Frenais Ian La Frenais (born 7 January 1937) is an English writer best known for his creative partnership with Dick Clement. They are most famous for television series including ''The Likely Lads'', ''Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?'', ''Porridg ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Combe, Anita Louise Year of birth missing (living people) Living people Actresses from Adelaide Australian stage actresses Actresses from London