Scarlett Strallen

Biography

Strallen played the title role in the West End production of Mary Poppins opposite Gavin Lee as Bert, at the Prince Edward Theatre from 2005 (as a replacement to original cast member Laura Michelle Kelly) to 2006, when she left to join The Royal Shakespeare Company's musical production of The Merry Wives of Windsor in Stratford. She returned to Poppins in 2007, replacing Lisa O'Hare, and stayed with the production until it closed in January 2008. For her performance as Mary Poppins, Strallen was nominated for the Best Takeover Role Award at the 2006 Theatregoers' Choice Awards. Strallen was invited to play the role in the Broadway production of Mary Poppins in 2008, replacing Ashley Brown and stayed with the show until October 2009, when she was replaced by Laura Michelle Kelly. She then temporarily played the part again in the Sydney production from November to December 2011. Strallen reprised the role of Mary Poppins with two other actresses who had also performed the role, Lisa O'Hare and Caroline Sheen, for the special benefit concert of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe's songs, "A Spoonful of Stiles and Drewe", at Her Majesty's Theatre. She had expressed interest in the West End production of Wicked, but could not audition due to her involvement with Mary Poppins.

In 2011, Strallen originated the role of Kathy Selden in the UK revival of Singin' in the Rain, a production that opened at the 2011 Chichester Festival Theatre and then moved to the West End Palace Theatre. She was nominated for the 2012 Olivier Award, Best Actress in a Musical for this role.

In 2013, Strallen originated the role of Cassie in the West End revival of A Chorus Line, which opened at the London Palladium in February 2013 and closed on 31 August 2013, and was directed by the original choreographer Bob Avian.

Later in 2013, Strallen appeared in the Menier Chocolate Factory production of Candide, where she played the role of Cunegonde from 23 November 2013 to 22 February 2014.

She has also performed in the ensembles of the West End productions of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Witches of Eastwick and Mamma Mia!.

Strallen has appeared on a number of audio books down the years. One of her first, as a child, was as Matilda Wormwood in an audio dramatisation of Roald Dahl's Matilda in 1990, released on audio cassette as part of the Roald Dahl Theatre Collection, dramatising a selection of the author's most popular children's books. She also appears in plays for BBC Radio 4.

Theatre appearances

Personal life

She is the eldest sister of Summer Strallen, Zizi Strallen and Saskia 'Sasi' Strallen, all of whom are also actresses. Zizi played Mary Poppins like her eldest sister, only in the UK tour. Her parents, performers Sandy Strallen and Cherida Langford, both performed in the original London production of Cats (but had met prior to this show). She is the niece of Broadway, stage and TV actress Bonnie Langford (her mother's sister). Her godfather is Christopher Biggins. She has been married to musical director Nicholas Skilbeck since 2010.