ASHLEIGH GRAY, Fife (Scotland) 1982

Her professional debut was the role of Kim in TABOO, THE BOY GEORGE MUSICAL.

Other theatre credits include the UK national tour of GREASE playing Miss Lynch and first cover Rizzo and Jan in NHS THE MUSICAL at the Drum Theatre Plymouth. She appeared in the European Premiere of the song cycle MYTHS AND HYMNS at The Finborough Theatre by Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist Adam Guettel. She was mostly seen in the West End in WICKED as standby Elphaba at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, having previously spent a year in the role of Pfannee and as first cover Elphaba. Ashleigh has just returned from playing Maid Marion in a new musical version of Robin Hood at The Castle Theatre in Wellingborough.
Asheigh appeared last 20th March in the Michael Bruce ‘Unwritten Words’ album launch at London’s Delfont Room and also appears on the album itself.

Currently she is working on her first solo cabaret that will take place Monday 25th April at The Battersea Barge.


- The first musical you saw and/or most impressed you: LES MISÉRABLES! I fell in love with it when I saw it in Edinburgh! I’ve always wanted to do that show, it’s amazing!!!

- You would like to make a duet with: Michael Buble! I absolutely adore him!!! In the musical world though, I’d love to work with Brian d’Arcy James - he has an incredible voice!!

- Webber o Sondheim? Sondheim!!

- London or New York? London, but I do love New York!!

- Do you keep the programmes of the musicals you watch? Yes, I have quite a collection under my bed. They’re always good to look back over!

- The worst moment you’ve had live on the stage was (as a performer and/or as a spectator): Oh, there’s been a few! It’s always bad when you ‘dry’ and completely forget your lines and what you’re even doing on the stage! I don’t have much luck with props either! I always seem to forget them, or fall off them or something!

- An unforgettable moment (as a performer and/or as a spectator): My first ever show as Elphaba in WICKED! Running on for my entrance was so exciting!! Flying was even better!!

- Do you have any superstitions before the opening night? Not really. i just like to know that I’m 100% happy with what I’m doing. I have too many nightmare about not knowing where I am or what I say on stage!! Awful!

- A musical character that you would like to BE (not perform): Probably someone with the perfect life, which is very rare in Musical Theatre! Maybe someone like Belle, in BEAUTY IN THE BEAST. I’d love to live in a Disney World!!!

- A character of your opposite sex that you would like to perform: Something along the lines of the Phantom I guess! I also love the big epic songs in the new Musical version of SHREK!
- What do you like best/least about your work? The fact that I get paid to go to work in a job I love doing everyday! Not many people can say that!!

- What is your favorite musical movie? Probably THE SOUND OF MUSIC. It was the first one I ever saw and I absolutely fell in love with it!! My tape was worn out when I was a kid!

- The last CD/DVD related to Musicals that you have bought is: ‘Unwritten Songs’, the work of Michael Bruce. He’s a young Scottish Composer and his work is brilliant!!!

- What is your favorite line from a musical: I love the sentiment behind - “So much of me is made of what I learned from you - You’ll be with me, like a handprint on my heart!” ("For Good" - WICKED).

- Agree or disagree with TV Shows finding new Musical Stars (as ‘Over The Raibow’ or ‘I’d Do Anything’): I do tend to disagree with them. They’re great for finding new talent but at the end of the day, without the correct training, it’s very difficult to sustain a leading role 8 shows a week! The sad thing is that it’s got to the stage now where performers who have that training are now going on these shows as that seem to be the only way to land a lead role in the West End at the moment!!

- You feel proud of: All my achievements to date!! At the end of High School, I filled in my yearbook saying that my dream for ten years time was to be sitting in a dressing room somewhere preparing to take to the stage as the leading lady in a West End show! And I’ve done it!

- Of this moment you’re living as an actress, the most important thing to you is: Happiness. I love what I do but it does come with it’s ups and downs. It can be easy to get upset by things and feel depressed and sad sometimes but you have to remember that this is the life you’ve chosen. Sometimes it doesn’t all go to plan but and at the end of the day, if you can keep happy in other aspects of your life, everything else will just fall into place!!

- Other projects you are working on: I am currently working on my very first Solo Cabaret in London. It’s going to be an evening full of songs I love to sing, be it old favourites, songs from shows I’ve been in and I also have some friends writing some new material for the occasion! I’m looking forward to it!