Darius Campbell Danesh: Difference between revisions
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During 2008 he is starring as [[Rhett Butler]] in [[Trevor Nunn]]’s musical adaptation of [[Gone With The Wind (musical)|Gone With The Wind]] in London. |
During 2008 he is starring as [[Rhett Butler]] in [[Trevor Nunn]]’s musical adaptation of [[Gone With The Wind (musical)|Gone With The Wind]] in London. |
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==Biography== |
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===Personal life=== |
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Danesh was born in [[Glasgow]] and |
Danesh was born in [[Glasgow]], to [[Iranian]] father, Dr. Booth Danesh, is [[Iranian]] and [[Scotland|Scottish]] mother, Dr. Avril Danesh. He has two younger brothers, with all three were named after [[Persian Kings]]. Educated at [[Glasgow Academy]]. He then went on to study [[English studies|English]] and [[Philosophy]] at [[University of Edinburgh|Edinburgh University]]. |
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Danesh is engaged to [[Canada|Canadian]] actress [[Natasha Henstridge]] of ''[[Species (film)|Species]]'' fame. Henstridge said that she and Danesh met at a pedestrian crossing in Los Angeles.<ref name="cavalli">[http://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/2006/05/12/cavallivodka Hello Magazine: Cavalli Vodka, 12 May 2006]</ref><ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/celebrity-interviews/2008/04/14/fatherhood-a-priority-for-gone-with-the-wind-star-darius-danesh-86908-20382429/|title=Fatherhood A Priority For Gone With The Wind Star Darius Danesh|publisher=Daily Record|date=April 14 2008|accessdate=2008-04-21}}</ref> |
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His father, Dr. Booth Danesh, is [[Iranian]] and his mother, Dr. Avril Danesh, is [[Scotland|Scottish]]. |
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He has two younger brothers; all three were named after [[Persian Kings]]. |
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===Early life=== |
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Danesh's professional career began playing a ten-year-old Trojan boy in the [[Scottish Opera]]'s [[avante garde]] 1990s production of ''[[The Trojans]]''. As a teenager he then toured with the [[Scottish Opera]] in a critically acclaimed production of ''[[Carmen]]''. After performing at the [[Royal Opera House]] in [[Covent Garden]], Darius faced the first of many career cross-roads. He chose to return to his studies in lieu of training his rich [[baritone]] voice for an Operatic career.<ref name="arias">[http://london.broadway.com/story/id/3009385 Broadway.com]</ref> |
Danesh's professional career began playing a ten-year-old Trojan boy in the [[Scottish Opera]]'s [[avante garde]] 1990s production of ''[[The Trojans]]''. As a teenager he then toured with the [[Scottish Opera]] in a critically acclaimed production of ''[[Carmen]]''. After performing at the [[Royal Opera House]] in [[Covent Garden]], Darius faced the first of many career cross-roads. He chose to return to his studies in lieu of training his rich [[baritone]] voice for an Operatic career.<ref name="arias">[http://london.broadway.com/story/id/3009385 Broadway.com]</ref> |
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Revision as of 09:04, 23 April 2008
Darius Campbell Danesh |
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Darius Danesh (Template:PerB, born 19 August 1980 in Glasgow, Scotland) is a platinum-selling recording artist, songwriter, and West End stage actor. He rose to fame on the hit British TV talent show Pop Idol.
His first, self-penned single Colourblind entered the UK singles chart at number one, and his debut album went platinum under the guidance of Grammy-winning U2 producer Steve Lillywhite. Darius has had five UK Top Ten singles and he is managed by Simon Fuller.
In 2006 he ended a second successful West End run in the musical Chicago playing Billy Flynn, and 2007 saw him star as Sky Masterson in the Olivier Award winning Guys and Dolls.
During 2008 he is starring as Rhett Butler in Trevor Nunn’s musical adaptation of Gone With The Wind in London.
Biography
Personal life
Danesh was born in Glasgow, to Iranian father, Dr. Booth Danesh, is Iranian and Scottish mother, Dr. Avril Danesh. He has two younger brothers, with all three were named after Persian Kings. Educated at Glasgow Academy. He then went on to study English and Philosophy at Edinburgh University.
Danesh is engaged to Canadian actress Natasha Henstridge of Species fame. Henstridge said that she and Danesh met at a pedestrian crossing in Los Angeles.[1][2]
Early life
Danesh's professional career began playing a ten-year-old Trojan boy in the Scottish Opera's avante garde 1990s production of The Trojans. As a teenager he then toured with the Scottish Opera in a critically acclaimed production of Carmen. After performing at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, Darius faced the first of many career cross-roads. He chose to return to his studies in lieu of training his rich baritone voice for an Operatic career.[3]
Music career
While studying English Literature at Edinburgh University, a chance audition and promise of a record deal led Darius to fame on the television show Popstars. He reached the final stages, and in 2001 auditioned for Pop Idol, where his voice was compared to that of Frank Sinatra. He won over the British public and critics, millions voted for him and he became the "Under Dog" favourite for the Pop Idol title. Although Will Young went on to claim the Pop Idol title, Darius went on to have success on his own terms. After the series final, he turned down Simon Cowell's million pound offer to sing cover songs,[4] and instead sent a self-composed track to his favourite producer with the aim of creating something original. Grammy-winning U2 producer Steve Lillywhite signed him to a five-album deal. In the summer of 2002, Colourblind became Darius' first number one single and that Christmas, his self-penned album Dive In went platinum.[4]
Over the next two years, Darius would go on to support Shakira in Paris on her World Tour;[4] complete his own sell-out UK tour; become an Ambassador for the Prince's Trust; contribute to the War Child charity album[5] with Coldplay and Oasis; write a no. 6 Sunday Times Best Seller book, "Sink or Swim"; and headline in India with Alanis Morissette[6] after his album went platinum there.
After receiving news that his father was diagnosed with terminal cancer, Darius wrote and dedicated his second studio album to Dr Booth Danesh, the man he calls his hero.[4] In 2005, the album's title-track "Live Twice" became Darius' fifth Top Ten single.[7] Amazingly, father Booth not only lived to see his son perform it at the Royal Albert Hall, but fought and beat his cancer into remission, echoing the song's lyrics. The album though was not a commercial success charting briefly.
In 2007 he was writing for his third studio album in London and Los Angeles.
Theatre work
Darius celebrated a five month sell-out West End run in Chicago[7] during 2005-2006, and at 25, officially became the youngest actor ever to fill the role of Billy Flynn since the show first opened on Broadway in 1975, appearing in 121 shows without missing a performance.
In 2007 Darius starred as Sky Masterson, taking on the role originally played by Ewan McGregor, in Michael Grandage's Olivier Award winning production of Guys and Dolls.[8]
On 5th December 2007 he reprised his role of Billy Flynn for the 10th Anniversary charity performance of Chicago in London, to benefit the charities Breast Cancer Haven and Breast Health Institute.[9]
In 2008 Danesh returned to London's West End to originate the role of Rhett Butler, the role immortalised on screen by Clark Gable, in Sir Trevor Nunn's musical adaption of Gone With The Wind.[10]
Charity work
Off stage, Darius works with the Lymphoma Association to raise awareness, and he continues to work with underprivileged youth as a Prince's Trust Ambassador. He supports a campaign by human rights group Amnesty International to protest against injustice.[11] Darius has also designed a guitar for Guitar Aid to raise funds and stimulate communities in some of the world's poorest countries.[12]
Discography
See also
References
- Danesh, Darius. Darius, Sink or Swim, My Story. ISBN 0-7553-1281-3
- ^ Hello Magazine: Cavalli Vodka, 12 May 2006
- ^ "Fatherhood A Priority For Gone With The Wind Star Darius Danesh". Daily Record. April 14 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Broadway.com
- ^ a b c d The Record Music Magazine, January 2005
- ^ BBC News: Music stars unite for war charity, 14 October 2002
- ^ IndianTelevision.com: Alanis Morissette and Darius to stage at MTV Immies, 1 December 2004
- ^ a b The Big Smoke, 7 November 2005
- ^ Guys And Dolls the Musical
- ^ Official London Theatre Guide
- ^ Darius Danesh Is Gone with the Wind Rhett Butler
- ^ Daily Record 31 January 2007
- ^ Guitar Aid: The Darius Guitar
External links
- Official Web Site
- Official MySpace
- Darius Danesh at Curlie
- Darius Danesh at IMDb
- Guitar Aid - The Darius Guitar
- 1980 births
- Living people
- People from Glasgow
- People from Renfrewshire
- British Iranians
- Glasgow Academy alumni
- Alumni of the University of Edinburgh
- Scottish singers
- Scottish male singers
- Scottish pop singers
- Scottish songwriters
- Scottish singer-songwriters
- Scottish actors
- Scottish actor-singers
- Scottish musical theatre actors
- Pop Idol contestants