Susan McFadden (born 8 February 1983) is an actress and singer born in Dublin, Ireland. She is best known for playing the roles of Sandy in Grease at the Piccadilly Theatre and Elle Woods in Legally Blonde the Musical at the Savoy theatre in London's West End. She has also been a member of the all female Celtic music group, Celtic Woman, since 2012.
Susan McFadden was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1983, to parents Mairead and Brendan. She is the younger sister of former Westlife member, Brian McFadden.
McFadden is a graduate of the Billie Barry Stage School, located in Dublin. Before appearing on Grease is the Word, McFadden toured with many Irish entertainers (including June Rodgers) in supporting roles. She was one of the dancers in Daniel O'Donnell's Rock & Roll Show tour and DVD. She also played the role of Kathy in an Irish production of Singing in the Rain in 2004 to much acclaim. The show played at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin and the Everyman Palace Theatre in Cork.
She is the winning contestant on the ITV reality TV show Grease Is the Word. As a result she played the lead female role of Sandy in the West End production of Grease with Danny Bayne beginning in August 2007.
In 2008, McFadden recorded two songs for the CD Act One - Songs From The Musicals Of Alexander S. Bermange, an album of 20 brand new recordings by 26 West End stars, released in November 2008 on Dress Circle Records.
She played the lead role of Milly in the stage adaption of Seven Brides For Seven Brothers, with Steven Houghton.
McFadden starred in the original west end cast of the musical Legally Blonde at the Savoy Theatre in London's West End playing Elle Woods after originating the role of Serena. Official reviews and audience reaction were extremely positive. Beginning on 25 October, McFadden became the alternate Elle, performing Mondays and Tuesdays. McFadden began playing the role of Elle Woods full-time beginning 10 January 2011 and left the role on 9 July 2011 and has recently been nominate for a What's on stage award for "best takeover". She was subsequently replaced by former Margot and understudy Elle, Carley Stenson.
McFadden sang with Ben Morris and Sean Carey in the final of RTE One's Fame: The Musical in Dublin on Sunday 13 June 2010.
On 5 January 2012, McFadden was named as a replacement for Lisa Kelly, then going on maternity leave, in the all female ensemble Celtic Woman. McFadden debuted with Celtic Woman in February at Nashville, Tennessee for the kickoff of the "Believe" North American Tour and continued with the European, Australian and South African Tours in 2012. After Lisa Kelly announced her departure from the group in January 2013, McFadden has since become a full-time member of Celtic Woman.
Actress
2001
Bachelors Walk (TV Series) as
Orla
- Episode #1.3 (2001) - Orla
1999
Relative Strangers (TV Mini Series) as
Jenny Mullen
- Episode #1.2 (1999) - Jenny Mullen
- Episode #1.1 (1999) - Jenny Mullen
Soundtrack
2016
Celtic Woman: Destiny (Video documentary) (performer: "Destiny / When You Go", "Siúil a Rún", "The Whole of the Moon", "You Raise Me Up", "My Land", "Bean Pháidín", "Tír na nÓg", "Sometimes a Prayer Will Do", "Amazing Grace", "Óró sé do bheatha 'bhaile", "Walk Beside Me", "Westering Home")
2015
Fox News (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode) - Episode dated 17 March 2015 (2015) - (performer: "Téir Abhaile Riú")
2015
The Late Late Show (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode) - Episode dated 9 January 2015 (2015) - (performer: "Téir Abhaile Riú/Caledonia/Mo Ghile Mear")
2014
Hoje em Dia (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode) - Episode dated 27 August 2014 (2014) - (performer: "Téir Abhaile Riú", "Danny Boy")
2014
Todo Seu (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode) - Episode dated 27 August 2014 (2014) - (performer: "You Raise Me Up", "Danny Boy", "Caledonia")
2014
Celtic Woman: Emerald (TV Special) (performer: "Awakening", "Teir Abhaile Riu", "Danny Boy", "Mo Ghile Mear", "Amazing Grace", "Níl Sé'n Lá", "The Voice", "You Raise Me Up", "The Parting Glass", "Caledonia")
2014
Today (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode) - Episode dated 6 March 2014 (2014) - (performer: "Mo Ghile Mear/Caledonia/The Parting Glass")
2013
The 700 Club (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode) - Episode dated 2 December 2013 (2013) - (performer: "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas")
2013
Las Vegas Morning Blend (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode) - Episode dated 21 November 2013 (2013) - (performer: "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas")
2012
Celtic Woman: Home for Christmas - Live from Dublin (Video) (performer: "Winter Wonderland", "We Wish You A Merry Christmas", "Hark the Herald Angels Sing", "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", "We Three Kings", "O Tannenbaum", "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas", "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear", "Joy to the World", "The Christmas Song", "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas")
2012
The Morning Show (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode) - Episode dated 13 August 2012 (2012) - (performer: "Bridge Over Troubled Water")
2012
ZDF-Fernsehgarten (TV Series documentary) (performer - 1 episode) - Episode dated 27 May 2012 (2012) - (performer: "Téir Abhaile Riú")
2012
Frühstücksfernsehen (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode) - Episode dated 11 May 2012 (2012) - (performer: "I'm Counting On You", "Téir Abhaile Riú")
2012
Fox and Friends (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode) - Episode dated 15 March 2012 (2012) - (performer: "Danny Boy")
Self
2021
Celtic Woman: Postcards from Ireland (Documentary) as
Self
2016
Celtic Woman: Destiny (Video documentary) as
Self
2015
Fox News (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 17 March 2015 (2015) - Self
2015
The Late Late Show (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 9 January 2015 (2015) - Self
2014
The Noite com Danilo Gentili (TV Series) as
Self
- Celtic Woman (2014) - Self
2014
Hoje em Dia (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 27 August 2014 (2014) - Self
2014
Todo Seu (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 27 August 2014 (2014) - Self
2014
Celtic Woman: Emerald (TV Special) as
Self
2014
Today (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 6 March 2014 (2014) - Self
2013
The 700 Club (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 2 December 2013 (2013) - Self
2013
Las Vegas Morning Blend (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 21 November 2013 (2013) - Self
2012
Celtic Woman: Home for Christmas - Live from Dublin (Video) as
Self
2012
The Morning Show (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 13 August 2012 (2012) - Self
2012
ZDF-Fernsehgarten (TV Series documentary) as
Self
- Episode dated 27 May 2012 (2012) - Self
2012
Frühstücksfernsehen (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 11 May 2012 (2012) - Self
2012
Fox and Friends (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 15 March 2012 (2012) - Self
2008
The Podge and Rodge Show (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #4.16 (2008) - Self
2007
Children in Need (TV Series) as
Self - Performer
- Episode #1.28 (2007) - Self - Performer
2007
Loose Women (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #12.5 (2007) - Self
2007
Grease Is the Word (TV Series) as
Self - Contestant
- Episode #1.7 (2007) - Self - Contestant
- Episode #1.6 (2007) - Self - Contestant
- Episode #1.5 (2007) - Self - Contestant
- Episode #1.4 (2007) - Self - Contestant
- Episode #1.3 (2007) - Self - Contestant
- Episode #1.2 (2007) - Self - Contestant
- Episode #1.1 (2007) - Self - Contestant
2002
You're a Star (TV Series) as
Self