Radio icon Elaine Paige speaks out on the role that changed her life and why she’d never step back onto the West End stage

by

The West End honored Dame Elaine Page’s incredible impact on musical theatre with a Special Award at the 50th Olivier Awards last Sunday. It was a fitting tribute to her long and successful career.

Wearing a bright pink cape, the Radio 2 host expressed immense gratitude for the acknowledgement of her 60 years performing, but also jokingly admitted it made her feel a bit surprised and overwhelmed.

It’s exciting, but also a bit scary to realize I’m nearing the end of my career,” she told TopMob. “Still, it’s a huge honor, and I’m absolutely delighted.”

Paige started her career in London’s West End in 1968 with the musical Hair. However, her career truly took off ten years later when she began working with composer Andrew Lloyd Webber.

In 1978, the actress achieved early fame as the first performer to sing “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina,” earning an Olivier Award. She continued to break ground in musical theatre, originating the roles of Grizabella in Cats (famous for the song “Memory”) and Florence Vassy in Chess, and also appearing in the first productions of revivals like Anything Goes and Sunset Boulevard. This impressive work led to four additional Olivier Award nominations.

Paige feels incredibly fortunate to have had several career-defining roles. She cites Evita as a life-changing experience, and fondly remembers Cats for its iconic song ‘Memory’. She also highlights Sunset Boulevard, Édith Piaf, and Chess as particularly wonderful and impactful roles she’s been able to play throughout her career.

Even she acknowledged that things didn’t always go as planned over those sixty years. She said there were many, many instances where things went wrong.

I recall performing as Mrs. Anna in a production of The King and I. There was a moment when I went to show the children a map, but it unexpectedly fell off the wall. Unable to point out anything on it, I had to think on my feet and make things up as I went along.

Want to see this content?

This page uses a security feature called Google reCAPTCHA. Before it loads, we need your permission because it might use cookies. If you want to see the content, click ‘Accept and continue’ to enable reCAPTCHA.

Around the early 2000s, Elaine Paige shifted her focus from performing on stage and launched a new career with her BBC Radio 2 show, “Elaine Paige on Sunday.” For the past 22 years, the show has been entirely dedicated to musical theatre and consistently attracts around 2.3 to 2.5 million listeners every week.

Looking back on it, she admitted she had no idea when she started the program that it would become so successful.

I honestly expected a small, quirky show. But it’s clear that over the years since I left musical theatre, the country has really come to recognize it as a serious art form.

She explained that she wasn’t embarrassed to say that when she worked in musical theatre, people – especially men – often dismissed it with a negative reaction. It was generally seen as a less respected form of theatre, considered low-budget or less artistic.

You know, I really believe this art form is now being recognized and appreciated like the all-time greats. I truly hope it continues to be, because it’s incredibly challenging – it demands so much from the performers, it’s physically draining, but honestly, it’s a blast! It takes real skill and energy to pull it off, and I’m proud to support it.

“I’ve had the most wonderful adventure with it in this life.”

With all that experience, did she have any advice to share for the younger generation?

I would never try to copy someone else’s performance – I believe each actor needs to interpret a role in their own way. That said, I was really impressed with Rachel Zegler in Evita. I went to see it, and she was fantastic! She has a truly beautiful voice and was magnificent in the role – it even made me a little envious!

Paige made it clear she’s done with performing, ending the conversation with a chuckle.

I’m just too tired to keep doing this; it really takes physical strength. I think it’s time I let the younger generation take over.

Authors

Olivia Garrett

Read More

2026-04-15 13:07