Introducing: Connie Fisher
From: Pembrokeshire, Wales but now lives in London
Age: 23
Occupation: Telesales and acting
Family: Only child.
Experience: Mountview Theatre School, 1st BA Hons Musical Theatre
Born in Belfast, Connie is an only child and an Officer's daughter. She lived in Dorset until the age of six when she moved to Wales. Connie works in Media Sales in a call centre and hates it!
A Welsh speaker, she has appeared in many an Eisteddfod (cultural festival) when she was younger. Connie was classically trained from the age of 12 and then won a full scholarship to Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. She left with a 1st Class honours and won a prize for the highest degree. She was a member of the National Youth Theatre during her teen years (she even toured Japan!) and appeared on Jane McDonald's Star for a Night when she was 16.
Connie's first professional job was playing the Princess in Aladdin in a local panto. Since then she's been to countless West End auditions, always getting down to the final two but never getting the part!
Her musical theatre heroes are Julie Andrews and Ruthie Henshall but she also likes to listen to KT Tunstall, Carole King and Snow Patrol.
Although Connie claims her hobbies are singing, singing and singing, she also enjoys going to the theatre. She runs to keep fit... but doesn't enjoy it!
When did you first realise you had a talent for singing?
When I was eight years old my Nanna Dot taught me Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam. She noticed I could sing, and so she taught me Supercalafragilisticexpialidocious and Following Your Father's Footsteps for a community show.
What is your favourite musical?
My favourite musical film is Mary Poppins or The Sound of Music. My favourite modern musical is Jason Robert Brown's Songs For A New World or Avenue Q.
Who is your favourite character in a musical and why?
My favourite character in a musical has to be Mary Poppins. She's elegant, organised, enchanting and magical.
What qualities do you have similar to those of Maria?
I'm a bit of a tomboy (the short hair), I'm a flibbertijibbet, a willow the wisp, a clown - I've always been a bit scatty! Just as Maria is always late back to the convent, I'm always late for everything! As an only child, I've always been very independent like Maria, and I'm always, always singing.
Why should you be the next Maria?
I've trained for three years in musical theatre - I know I have the passion, commitment and stamina to perform eight shows a week and have always aspired to play the lead in a West End show. Audiences have always commented on my Julie Andrews-like qualities both on and off stage, and I can't think of a more suitable role. I have always dreamed of playing Maria, and those dreams are nine people away from becoming a reality!
