Helena Blackman and Dave Willetts star in South Pacific
WHEN Helena Blackman just missed out on winning the BBC talent show, How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? two years ago, the 25-year-old singing talent learnt an important lesson about show business.
"It's not easy out there," admits Helena, who was born and bred in Southampton. "You might remember the highs, but always the lows, and those only make you stronger and more determined to get back out there. You really have to be strong."
Not one to be kept down by defeat, Helena pursued her ambitions and recently landed the lead role of Nellie Forbush in a new touring production of South Pacific.
The Rogers and Hammerstein classic love story, which also stars musical theatre stalwart Dave Willetts (Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers), arrives at Wycombe Swan this week.
Winner of nine Tony awards and the Pulitzer Prize, South Pacific features a host of well-known songs including Some Enchanted Evening, Younger Than Springtime, There Is Nothing Like A Dame and I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair.
Helena says: "The fact that the show was written by Rogers and Hammerstein was pretty important to me, because as well as writing a good melody there's always a great story too.
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"I always loved watching all the Rogers and Hammerstein classics. They really are like modern fairytales. I loved seeing them over and over as a kid and I've not tired of them yet!"
Helena first showed a love for all things musical when she performed at her local dance school aged just 18 months old. Her training continued through her formative years with lessons in ballet, modern dance and tap, and she also took up singing lessons at the age of ten.
"I think there’s a job in everyone’s career that pushes them to the next level and for me that was Maria. But I also know now is the time to really work hard and keep at my dreams."
Helena Blackman
After her A-Levels, Helena enrolled on a three-year musical theatre course at the renowned Guildford School of Acting.
"That was an amazing place to be," remembers Helena. "Just being there with people who were as passionate, hardworking and committed really helped me to move forward."
After graduating, Helena landed several roles, including spending seven months at Tokyo Disneyworld as a principal singer and joining the European tour of Beatlemania.
But it was her appearance on How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?, a talent search for Andrew Lloyd Webber and David Ian's new production of The Sound Of Music, that really helped Helena step into the limelight.
Even two years later, the musical star tells me she is very much in contact with some of her fellow contestants, including Meliz Serman, Laura Sicurello, Belinda Evans, Aoife Mulholland and Abi Finley, as well as Andrew Lloyd Webber himself.
She adds: "I think there's a job in everyone's career that pushes them to the next level and for me that was Maria. But I also know now is the time to really work hard and keep at my dreams."
South Pacific runs from Tuesday, July 8 to Saturday, July 12, at Wycombe Swan. Details: 01494 512000 or www.wycombeswan.co.uk
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