Ben is 'amazed' by rise to fame
SCARBOROUGH teenager Ben Ellis started the year as a virtual unknown with dreams of becoming a star. After a rollercoaster journey on a TV talent show he will make his official West End debut tomorrow in the stage production of the hit movie Hairspray.
Reporter PAUL DERRICK caught up with the 18-year-old to talk
about the show, adjusting to fame and working with his hero Michael Ball.
BEN Ellis is
astounded by his
rise to fame.
"When I sit back and
reflect, it's amazing
what's happened to me in
the last year and my
life's been turned
around," he says.
The talented teenager
charmed millions of viewers
every Saturday night on
national TV and won the
respect of some of the
biggest names in musical
theatre.
Tomorrow he will step
into the spotlight for the
official opening of
Hairspray having achieved
his dream.
The musical tells the
story of Tracy Turnblad, "a
big girl with big hair and an
even bigger heart" and her
dreams of fame.
It is based on the 1988
John Waters movie, and,
while on Broadway, was critically
acclaimed and lauded
with awards.
The show has been readapted
as a Hollywood film
starring Michelle Pfeiffer
and John Travolta.
Ben plays heart throb
Link Larkin, who he
describes as a budding Elvis
with a macho front but
starts to show his affectionate
side when he meets
Tracy.
"It's a perfect part for me
now as I get to sing, dance
and act. As a first West End
job it's the best I could have
and to do it as a debut is
absolutely mind-blowing,"
he says.
Previews for the show
started earlier this month
and it is already a hit with
audiences with standing
ovations almost every night.
Ben says: "The audiences
are so wowed and taken
back by it, they can't believe
what they are seeing. It
appeals to all ages and anyone
can come along."
Little Britain star Matt
Lucas is also a fan of the
show and "couldn't praise it
enough".
It features an all star cast
including Mel Smith as
Wilbur Turnblad, Leanne
Jones as Tracy and Michael
Ball as Edna Turnblad.
Ben ranks Michael as one
of his "all time great idols"
and "Mr Musical Theatre".
The first time Ben met his
hero he couldn't believe it
and got to know him on a
personal level as they started
working together. The
performer is also on hand to
give him any tips.
"All the time he will give
me advice on how to maybe
do a line or help me out,
which is brilliant. I appreciate
everything he says to me
and he's a very wise man,"
he says.
Ben made his name on
BBC talent show Any Dream
Will Do where Andrew
Lloyd Webber launched a
search for a leading man in
his latest production of
Joseph and the Amazing
Technicolor Dreamcoat.
He made it into the semi
finals and won the praises of
judges Bill Kenwright,
Denise Van Outen, John
Barrowman and Zoe Tyler.
He expects some of the
judges to come to the opening
night and has no regrets
about missing out on the
role of Joseph.
"I'm much more suited to
this. I can dance, sing, do
rock 'n' roll and do what I
love," he says.
His message for his
Scarborough fans is to come
and see Hairspray.
"I know it's a long way to
travel but it's such a good
show and it's worth seeing.
Everyone just comes out of
the theatre gobsmacked and
it's going to take the West
End by storm."
Hairspray is at the
Shaftesbury Theatre.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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