Caroline Sheen

Caroline Sheen is a Welsh actress who has played leading roles on stage in the West End alongside TV and film appearances. She won a Helen Hayes award for playing the role of Mary Poppins on the National Tour of America.

Caroline Sheen
Born
Caerleon, Newport, Wales[1]
EducationCaerleon Comprehensive School
OccupationActress
Years active2008–present
Height168 cm (5 ft 6 in)
Spouse(s)Michael Jibson
RelativesMichael Sheen (cousin)

Background

Born and raised in South Wales, Sheen is married to actor Michael Jibson. A member of the National Youth Theatre of Wales and Gwent Young People's Theatre, she was named as an Associate Artist of the Watermill Theatre in 2018. Sheen is also an Honorary Fellow of the University of South Wales.

Career

Sheen made her West End debut as Marty in Grease[2] at the Cambridge Theatre. She went on to play Florinda in Into the Woods[2] at the Donmar Warehouse and then went into the original cast of Mamma Mia![2] at the Prince Edward Theatre, understudying the lead role of Sophie. She created the role of Jennifer Gabriel in the world premiere production of The Witches of Eastwick[2] at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Other West End credits include Eponine in Les Misérables[3] at the Palace Theatre, Sandy in Grease at the Victoria Palace, and Truly Scrumptious in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang[4] at the London Palladium Work at the National Theatre includes Philia in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum[5]', Susan Walker in Once in a Lifetime[6] Caroline played Mary Poppins in the UK Tour of the Cameron Mackintosh/Disney production. Caroline created the role of Clara Johnson in the European Premiere of The Light in the Piazza at Curve Theatre in Leicester. Sheen reprised her role as Mary Poppins in the US Tour of Mary Poppins. She returned to the UK in the role of Fantine in Les Misérables at the Queens Theatre, following that with Woman 2 in the London Premiere of Stephen Sondheim's Putting it Together at the St James Theatre. Sheen stepped in at last minute to play the roles of Alaura/Carla on several occasions in the Donmar Warehouse production of City of Angels. More recent work includes leading roles in Crazy for You and Under Milk Wood both at the Watermill Theatre, and Lilli/Kate in Kiss Me Kate at Kilworth House. In 2019, Sheen created the leading role of Violet Newstead in the West End Premiere of 9 to 5 at the Savoy Theatre. She left the role on 8 February 2020.

Sheen'a television appearances include episodes of Hotel Babylon, Doctors (in which she portrayed the role of Rona Jefferson)[7] and Torchwood, all for the BBC. Sheen also played the part of Elizabeth of York in the Channel 4 documentary Henry VIII, Mind of a Tyrant. In 2018, Sheen appeared in episodes of Press and The Rook, and starred as Carys in Pitching In for the BBC.

Recordings

In February 2010 Caroline released her debut album Raise the Curtain, a selection of songs by leading contemporary musical theatre writers from Britain and America; featuring 5 previously unrecorded songs, including a cut song from The Witches of Eastwick; alongside songs from The Light in the Piazza, Just So, Grey Gardens, and Mary Poppins. Sheen can also be heard on the original cast recordings of Mamma Mia!, The Witches of Eastwick, Rosemary Ashe's album Serious Cabaret and A Spoonful of Stiles and Drewe". In 2016 Before/After was released, a recording of a new musical featuring Sheen and Hadley Fraser. In 2020 the 9 to 5: The Musical London cast album was released in which she features as Violet Newstead, the role she created in London.

Other performances

Sheen was a guest soloist in the opening ceremony of the Wales Millennium Centre. Other solo concert work includes Night of a Thousand Voices at the Royal Albert Hall, Michael Ball and Friends at the Royal Opera House, An Evening with Jason Robert Brown, and Georgia Stitt and Friends. She appeared alongside fellow Mary Poppins actresses Lisa O'Hare and Scarlett Strallen in A Spoonful of Stiles and Drewe singing a specially devised version of "Practically Perfect".[8]

On 9 February 2020 she interviewed Stephen Schwartz at the JW3 in London.

References
  1. Caroline Sheen profile
  2. Archived 11 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  3. "londonlesmis.co.uk". Londonmusicalsonline.com. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  4. Lyn Gardner (24 September 2003). "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, London Palladium | Stage". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  5. "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum – Productions". Royal National Theatre. Archived from the original on 12 February 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  6. "Once in a Lifetime – Productions". Royal National Theatre. Archived from the original on 12 February 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  7. Writer: Kate Davidson; Director: Peter Fearon; Producer: Caroline Slater (19 November 2020). "All the Single Ladies". Doctors. BBC. BBC One.
  8. Archived 4 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine
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