Abi Finley

Abigail "Abi" Finley (born in 1983) is an actress and Musical Theatre performer from Prestwich, Greater Manchester, England, [http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/entertainment/previewsandreviews/tm_headline=remember-my-name&method=full&objectid=19265830&siteid=50061-name_page.html IC Liverpool] ] the daughter of a prominent local Jewish performer [http://www.totallyjewish.com/entertainment/features_and_reviews/?content_id=5002 Totally Jewish] .]

Finley has notably played "Fiona" in Blondel at the Pleasance Theatre, Islington London and "Serena" in Fame on a UK National Tour. Since landing these leading roles Finley has been highly praised for her singing voice and acting skills. [http://www.reviewsgate.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=3155 BLONDEL. To 31 December. :: ReviewsGate.com :: The Theatre Reviews site that covers the UK ] ] [ [http://www.theinternetforum.co.uk/node/2258 Abi Finley stars in Fame! - a review!! | The Internet Forum ] ] Finley first came to national attention for her appearance on the BBC Reality TV programme "How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?" (HDYSAPLM?) in 2006, where she was known as "Tomboy Maria". This was produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber and David Ian to find someone to play Maria von Trapp in The Sound Of Music. She appeared on the show with her best friend from college, Aoife Mulholland and reached the semi-final of the BBC competition; but in a twist of fate she lost out to Mulholland in the sing-off, singing Any Dream Will Do. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/maria/marias/abi_index.shtml BBC - How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? - Homepage ] ]

Career

Shortly after HDYSAPLM? finished in late 2006 Finley was cast by the Oscar winning lyricist, Sir Tim Rice in his revival of Blondel. On casting Finley, Rice said in an interview with Hello Magazine: 'Fiona has to be funny, fiesty and sexy,' he says. 'Plenty of candidates have two of the necessary attributes. Only Abi had all three. . . when you see Abi on stage you actually want to look at her. I'd be amazed if Abi is not a big star pretty soon.' [http://abifinley.com/images/hello1and2.jpg] Geoff Ambler reviewing 'Blondel' said of Finley's performance: 'Abi Finley, the beautiful and talented one from 'A Problem like Maria', proves that she can act with confident poise among the best, as well as sing, in what is her professional stage debut. This tight, witty show with its tremendous cast is one of the best to open in London this year.'

In early 2007, straight from Blondel, Finley landed the part of "Serena" in Fame on a UK National Tour. "She had to audition for the part then practice, while also learning the part of Fiona in Blondel". Ian Pearce, who reviewed the show for the BBC, said: 'The first thing that strikes you is the quality of the live band and the sheer exuberance of the dancing . . . a strong performance comes from Abi Finley as the somewhat dowdy Serena.' [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties/content/articles/2007/02/06/fame_review_feature.shtml BBC - Beds Herts and Bucks - Entertainment - In all reality it's Fame! ] ]

On Christmas Eve 2007 Finley was seen performing with Lee Mead and Connie Fisher and some of the other 'Maria' and 'Joseph' finalists in a BBC special 'festive' reunion show called 'When Joseph met Maria!' - celebrating both the hit Andrew Lloyd Webber BBC shows - it was recorded earlier on Dec 2nd 2007. The BBC show, HDYSAPLM, featuring Finley, recently won a prestigious international Emmy Award in New York (2007) for best non-scripted entertainment. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7102271.stm BBC NEWS | Entertainment | British shows scoop Emmy awards ] ]

From the 6th May 2008 Abi Finley will star as Miranda, the disembodied German head in Betwixt! The Musical. The show opens from 6th May 2008, and runs till June 22nd at the The King's Head Theatre, Islington.

Notable Roles

2008 Miranda in Betwixt! The musical, the The King's Head Theatre, Islington http://www.betwixtthemusical.com

2006 - Fiona in Blondel at the "Pleasance Theatre", Islington. [http://www.blondelmusical.com/principalcast.asp Blondel Official Site] , "Press Release". URL last accessed on 2007-07-25.] Rice was personally involved in casting Finley following her appearance on "How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?"

Previous roles include, Annie in "Oklahoma", Rizzo in "Grease" , Blousey in "Bugsy Malone" , Edith in "Pirates of Penzance", Calamity Jane in "Calamity Jane" , and the Narraror in "Joseph".

Education

She attended King David Yavneh school in Manchester, then earned a BA (honours) degree in English and Drama at the University of Leeds, before going on to complete a Masters in Musical Theatre at the Central School of Speech and Drama. [http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/entertainment/previewsandreviews/tm_headline=remember-my-name&method=full&objectid=19265830&siteid=50061-name_page.html IC Liverpool] .]

Personal

The singer and actress from Prestwich, now resides in Finchley, London. Finley has said: “I’m doing what I’ve always wanted to do. I’m living the dream.”

Her talent shone from a very early age when she starred in virtually every production that her high school in Manchester, King David Yavneh, put on. From there she went on to study for a degree in English and Drama at the University of Leeds and her course led to her landing the title role in Calamity Jane and Annie in Oklahoma. She then studied for a masters degree at the Central School of Speech and Drama, in London, where she appeared in productions including A Winter’s Tale (as Paulina) and Grease (as Rizzo). This is where she met her best friend Aoife Mulholland, who was also studying on the same course, and together they decided to audition for HDYSAPLM?. In her Hello Magazine interview Finley said, 'Aoife and I thought we would make a big weekend of it [the BBC audition] , . . . we were like a couple of new kids holding hands in the big school playground.' [http://www.abifinley.com/images/hello4.jpg]

On her time in HDYSAPLM Finley has said: “It was like a holiday camp and school trip rolled into one. We would sit around the lounge in the evenings watching reality TV and saying how much we hated it. We forgot we were doing it!" And on getting the leading role breaks after HDYSAPLM, “I know it is a cliché but honestly and truly I am living the dream, doing something I always wanted to do. I have to pinch myself sometimes. I am so lucky to be doing what I love doing on a daily basis – you can't ask for any more.”

References

External links

* [http://abifinley.com/ Abi Finley Official Web Site]
*imdb name|id=2381569
* [http://forum.theinternetforum.net/index.php?board=130.0 News on all the ex-Maria's]