Helen Anker

Helen Anker (born 1972) is an English actress, singer, and dancer who trained at the Royal Ballet School and Bird College. She has appeared in numerous London West End and Broadway musicals and plays, perhaps best known for originating the role of Zelda Fitzgerald in '' Beautiful and Damned''.

Early life

Anker's first professional role was in 1981, when she was only nine years old, playing Louisa in ''The Sound of Music'' with Petula Clark at London's Apollo Victoria Theatre. Following this debut, she trained for five years at the Royal Ballet School before transferring to Bird College to pursue her passion for musical theatre.

Career

Anker's theatrical career resumed after finishing three years at Bird College, beginning in London's West End. She performed in ''Radio Times'' at Queen's Theatre in London, as Vera and cover Patsy in '' Crazy For You'' at the Prince Edward Theatre, as Victoria the White Cat, Jemima and Demeter in '' Cats'' at the New London Theatre, as Thelma Furness in ''Always'' at the Victoria Palace Theatre, as Louisa Gradgrind in '' Hard Times'' at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, and as Aggie and cover Laurey in ''Oklahoma!'' at the National Theatre, which was also filmed for Sky television.

Anker was cast in the leading role of Zelda Fitzgerald in '' Beautiful and Damned'', a musical named after F. Scott Fitzgerald's second novel, where she portrayed the turbulent and tragic life of a wife, lover, and literary muse during the Roaring Twenties. She originally played Zelda at The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford, and again when the production moved to London's Lyric Theatre. Additional West End roles for Anker include Iris in '' Fame'' at The Cambridge Theatre, Mrs Phagan and Sally Slaton in '' Parade'' at Donmar Warehouse, Girl on the Swing in ''Contact'' at Queen's Theatre, Ivy Smith in '' On the Town'' at the Coliseum, English National Opera. She also appeared in ''Candide'' at the Coliseum.

Anker also performed in many regional productions and UK tours, including Judy Turner in ''A Chorus Line'' at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, Mary Bailey in ''It's a Wonderful Life'' at The New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich, Meggie Cleary in the first UK Tour of The Thorn Birds, Ruby in ''Dames at Sea'' at Eastbourne and on tour, ''Masterpieces – A Noel Coward Revue'', and ''Let's Face the Music and Dance'' in Salisbury.

Crossing the Atlantic in 2010, Anker performed on Broadway in her first role in the US, as Miss Olson in '' Promises, Promises'' at The Broadway Theatre. She played the triple roles of Annabella, Pamela, and Margaret in '' The 39 Steps'' at Milwaukee Rep, and Georgia in ''Curtains'' at Paper Mill Playhouse. In the theatrical debut of '' Newsies'' in 2011, also at Paper Mill Playhouse, Anker originated the role of Medda Larkin. She continued to embrace a variety of unique and challenging roles throughout the United States: Beth/Paula in ''The Full Catastrophe'' for C.A.T.F, Eliza Doolittle in The Guthrie Theater's production of ''My Fair Lady'', Mrs Mullins in '' Carousel'' with The Houston Grand Opera and Guenevere in ''Camelot'' at The Chanhassen Dinner Theatres in Minneapolis. She was also performed dances in the opening numbers at several Tony and Academy Awards ceremonies.

Anker returned to London in 2017, where she portrayed Hesione in ''Heartbreak House'' at the Union Theatre, London, and sang in the Carpenter's tribute show ''Rainy Days & Mondays'' at London Theatre Workshop.

Anker performed the role of Tanya in the 2018–2019 UK & International Tour of '' Mamma Mia!''

Television and film

Anker's television and film appearances include '' Holby City'' for the BBC
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