Elaine Paige

Dame Elaine Paige is known as the First Lady of British Musical Theatre, and an acclaimed actor, recording artist, producer and broadcaster who has made an extraordinary contribution to West End theatre.

Elaine Paige was made a Dame in the King’s Birthday Honours in 2025.

Elaine has starred in numerous West End productions, on Broadway, and in concerts internationally, sweeping to fame when she created her award winning performance as Eva Peron in Evita. Shortly afterwards she created the role of Grizabella in the original production of Cats and the classic song Memory became one of Elaine’s many hit records.

Further theatre credits include: Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Grease, Billy, Chess – with her record breaking number one hit I Know Him So Well with Barbara Dickson, Anything Goes, Piaf, Sunset Boulevard in London and Broadway, The King and I, Sweeney Todd (New York City Opera), The Drowsy Chaperone, and Follies on Broadway.

She has worked twice with Sir Peter Hall’s Theatre Company in The Misanthrope and Feydeau’s Where There’s A Will.

Elaine has performed in concert worldwide from The White House to The Great Hall of the People in Beijing, from the Bolshoi to Sydney Opera House.

Elaine’s numerous TV credits include BBC comedy Beautiful People; Dora in Agatha Christie’s Ms Marple story A Murder is Announced; Where The Heart Is; Life; Home From Home; and her own TV specials and Royal Variety Shows, and I Dreamed a Dream: The Susan Boyle Story.

In terms of a recording artist, Elaine has recorded numerous solo, multi-Platinum and Gold albums, and cast albums.

Her awards include an Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical in Evita; five Olivier Award nominations; a Variety Club Award for Show Business Personality of the year (1978); Variety Club Award for Musical Artiste (1986) and Variety Club Award for Best Actress (1995); Gold Badge of Merit from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (1994); HMV Lifetime Achievement Award (1996); Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (1999); Order of the British Empire for services to Musical Theatre (1995); Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Musical (2004); and Variety Club Special Presentation for 40 Years on Stage (2009).

Elaine also hosts a hugely successful weekly BBC Radio 2 show Elaine Paige on Sunday, devoted to musical theatre and film music.

Her books include Memories.

Elaine Paige Links & Socials