Millie O'Connell
 | This article may contain an excessive amount of intricate detail that may interest only a particular audience. (December 2023) |
Millie O'Connell | |
|---|---|
 O'Connell performing at Hampton Court Palace in 2022 | |
| Born | Emilia Rose O'Connell 18 January 1997 Shanklin, Isle of Wight, England |
| Years active | 2015–present |
Emilia Rose O'Connell (born 18 January 1997), also known as Millie O'Connell, is an English musical theatre actress and singer. She is best known for portraying Anne Boleyn in the original UK tour and West End production of the musical Six. She is part of pop girl group SVN. She has received Laurence Olivier and WhatsOnStage Award nominations.
Early life[edit]
O'Connell is from Shanklin, Isle of Wight, England.[1] She is of Maltese, Irish, and Italian descent. From the age of three, O'Connell took classes at the Gillian Cartwright School of Dance. She attended Christ the King College.[2] After completing her GCSEs at 16,[3] she won a scholarship to train at Laine Theatre Arts in Epsom,[4] graduating in 2015, aged 18.
Career[edit]
O'Connell made her professional stage debut in the international revival of the show 42nd Street in 2016, in Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris,[5] forming part of the ensemble whilst understudying Peggy Sawyer. In 2017, she moved back to the UK, performing in the same show in Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, forming part of the ensemble whilst understudying Anytime Annie. In 2018 she joined the UK tour cast of Thoroughly Modern Millie, understudying Millie Dillmount.
Her rise to fame stemmed from her role of Anne Boleyn in the original UK tour cast of Six in 2018. The show's success gave it a permanent home in the West End's Arts Theatre, where she starred in the show until October 2019. Prior to leaving the show, Millie had played the most shows out of every actress in the original West End cast.
Late 2019 brought O'Connell the role of Velcro in Soho Cinders at Charing Cross Theatre.[6][7] In 2020 she starred in Be More Chill as Chloe Valentine in The Other Palace.[8][9] She left the show two weeks before its original closing date to rehearse for Hair at the Turbine Theatre, where she portrayed the role of Jeanie. Following this, Millie landed 'her dream role' of Maureen Johnson in Rent. She starred in this revival alongside Six cast alumna Maiya Quansah-Breed, portraying the leading role of Mimi Marquez. Due to COVID-19, the show only had five live performances before shutting due to government guidelines.[10] In response to this, the team livestreamed a recorded version of the show during lockdown. They returned to the show in 2021, Millie returning to the role.
In 2021, Millie returned to the role of Chloe Valentine in Be More Chill, showing at the Shaftesbury Theatre,[11] and then returned to the role of Jeanie in Hair, showing in the London Palladium.
In April 2022, it was announced that The Cher Show would be touring the UK. Millie took on the role of Babe (Cher) on the year long tour.[12] The show launched at the Curve Theatre in Leicester.[13] The creative team included director Arlene Phillips, choreographer Oti Mabuse and costume designer Gabriella Slade.[14]
August 2022 brought the original cast of Six together to film a proshot, and Millie, reunited with her castmates, were granted the opportunity to reprise their roles once more at Hampton Court Palace in July.
SVN[edit]
Millie also forms a part of the pop girl group SVN (pronounced 'seven') alongside six former West End cast members of Six: Jarnéia Richard-Noel, Natalie May Paris, Alexia McIntosh (Lexi), Aimie Atkinson and Maiya Quansah-Breed, and Grace Mouat (former swing and dance captain of the original cast of Six). After a limited series of concerts in October 2020, their debut concert was rescheduled from February 2022 to 7 August 2022 at the O2 Academy Islington, with the group releasing singles such as Stars (2021) and Woman, Free, Boss and At Christmas (2022).
Discography[edit]
| Year | Title | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Queen | SVN | SVN |
| Stars | |||
| 2022 | Woman | ||
| Free | |||
| BOSS | |||
| At Christmas |
Concerts[edit]
| Year | Concert | Date | Venue | Producer | Notes (if necessary) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Girl Power: the Reunion | 10-11 October | Oval Space, Cambridge Heath, London | Aimie Atkinson | - |
| 2022 | SiX: Live at Hampton Court Palace | 19-20 June | Hampton Court Palace | Kenny Wax | Members did not perform as SVN but as their significant roles in SIX. Grace Mouat did not feature in the event. |
| SVN | 7 August | O2 Academy Islington | SVN | Production all in-house; BOSS music video on set, with MBV productions and Genesis Lynea |
Personal life[edit]
O'Connell is openly queer.[15][16]
Filmography[edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Broadcasting channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | The People's Strictly for Comic Relief | Dancer | BBC |
| 2016 | The Entire Universe | ||
| 2018 | This Morning | Anne Boleyn | ITV |
| 2019 | The One Show | BBC One | |
| Olivier Awards | ITV | ||
| BUILD Ldn | Herself | The Build Series LDN | |
| 2020 | Rent | Maureen Johnson | - |
| 2022 | This Morning | Herself | ITV |
| 2023 | Wonka | Tram Lady 2/Dancer | N/A |
Stage[edit]
| Year | Production | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Laine Leaps Ahead | Lead / Featured Singer | Epsom Playhouse |
| 2016 | Aladdin | Slave of the Ring / Understudy Jasmine | Civic Theatre |
| 42nd Street | Ensemble / Understudy Peggy Sawyer | Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris | |
| 2017 | Ensemble/Understudy Anytime Annie | Theatre Royal Drury Lane | |
| 2018 | |||
| 2018 | Six | Anne Boleyn | UK tour |
| 2019 | Arts Theatre | ||
| Soho Cinders | Velcro | Charing Cross Theatre | |
| 2020 | Be More Chill | Chloe Valentine | The Other Palace |
| Hair | Jeanie | Turbine Theatre | |
| Rent | Maureen Johnson | Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester | |
| Catfish the Musical | DD | Stars Concept Cast | |
| Halls | Natalie | Stars Concept Cast | |
| 2021 | Rent | Maureen Johnson | Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester |
| Be More Chill | Chloe Valentine | Shaftesbury Theatre | |
| Hair | Jeanie | London Palladium | |
| 2022 | The Cher Show | Babe (Cher) | UK & Ireland tour |
| Six the Musical: Live at Hampton Court Palace[17] | Anne Boleyn | Hampton Court Palace | |
| 2023 | Sleeping Beauty: The Fairy's Tale | Sleeping Beauty | Norwich Theatre[18] |
Awards and nominations[edit]
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Laurence Olivier Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical | Six | Nominated | [a] |
| 2022 | WhatsOnStage Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Musical | Rent | Nominated | [19] |
Notes[edit]
- ^ Shared with Six cast
References[edit]
- ^ "New West End role for Millie". Isle of Wight Observer. 4 October 2019. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ Tew, Imogen (12 March 2019). "'I never ever want to stop' — spotlight on Isle of Wight actress nominated for Olivier Award". Isle of Wight County Press. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ^ Howells, Andy (17 August 2022). ""It's A Real Showstopper!" Says The Cher Show Star Millie O'Connell as Hit Musical Makes Cardiff Debut". Entertainment South Wales. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
- ^ "Millie O'Connell". The Cher Show. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
- ^ "Millie O'Connell". TresA. 2020-05-22. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (24 October 2019). "Everybody's Talking About Jamie Alum Luke Bayer and Six Star Millie O'Connell Lead Cast of Soho Cinders Beginning October 24". Playbill. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
- ^ Clarendon, Emma (29 October 2019). "'It honestly had me hooked by the first scene': Millie O'Connell swaps Six for Soho Cinders". My Theatre Mates. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
- ^ Paskett, Zoe (9 December 2019). "Two former SIX queens star in London transfer of Broadway hit musical Be More Chill". Evening Standard. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
- ^ Wood, Alex (14 February 2020). "Be More Chill UK premiere: first look at Scott Folan, Millie O'Connell and more in the hit musical". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ Wood, Alex (13 July 2021). "Rent revival unveils 2021 cast". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
- ^ Evans, Suzy (15 May 2022). "'Be More Chill' to return to the West End for a limited run". London Theatre. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
- ^ Scott, Clementine. "BWW Interview: Millie O'Connell Talks THE CHER SHOW". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
- ^ Putnam, Leah (25 February 2022). "Millie O'Connell, Debbie Kurup, and Danielle Steers to Star in The Cher Show European Premiere". Playbill. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
- ^ "The Cher Show – we meet Oti Mabuse, Arlene Phillips and three leading ladies in rehearsal". WhatsOnStage. 2022-04-15. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
- ^ Ryan, Anya (20 April 2022). "Cher and share alike: three actors star as the singer in musical that turns back time". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ "🌈 happy pride everyone!!! love is LOVE stay strong, stay beautiful, we out here doing the MOST being vibrant, loud and shining bright ✨ More Beautiful artwork by @liberaljane - thank you for constantly sharing your voice and talent for us to see ✨ do you like my edit lol x 🌈 #queerpride #panpride 🌈". Instagram. Millie O'Connell. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
- ^ "Original West End Queens to perform Six Live at Hampton Court Palace". Official London Theatre. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
- ^ Ingenthron, Blair (26 August 2023). "Star of SIX Millie O'Connell to Join Norwich Theatre Panto". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ Wood, Alex (9 December 2021). "Nominees for 22nd Annual WhatsOnStage Awards announced". WhatsOnStage.
External links[edit]
- Millie O'Connell at Spotlight