Frances Ruffelle
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Frances Ruffelle | |
---|---|
Born | Frances Jane Ruffelle 29 August 1965 Redbridge, London, England |
Other names | Frankie Ruff |
Occupation(s) | Actress, singer |
Years active | 1975–present |
Spouse | |
Children | 2, including Eliza Doolittle |
Parent(s) | Sylvia Young Norman Ruffell |
Website | francesruffelle |
Frances Ruffelle (born 29 August 1965) is an English musical theatre actress and singer. She won a
In 1984, Ruffelle starred as Dinah in the original West End production of
Career
As well as her later stage work, Ruffelle has also gained success on the screen. Her film credits include roles in The Wildcats of St Trinian's (1980), P'tang, Yang, Kipperbang (1982), Secrets & Lies (1996), The Road to Ithaca (1999), Les Misérables (2012), Devil's Tower (2014), and Long Forgotten Fields (2014).
Ruffelle's first West End appearance was as Louisa in
The creative team behind Les Misérables, Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, also used Ruffelle's vocals as Kim while writing Miss Saigon. She also workshopped Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard and Whistle Down the Wind.
Ruffelle, who previously played Roxie Hart in Chicago in the West End from September 2003 to June 2004, reprised the role for the show's 10th anniversary in 2007 and stayed with the production through into 2008. Her return to Chicago marked the first time she has performed in the show in the Cambridge Theatre, having only appeared in it when it was on at the Adelphi Theatre.
Ruffelle was set to appear in a revival of the Sherman Brothers musical Over Here! in January 2007, alongside Donna McKechnie, Diane Langton and Richard Fleeshman, however it was postponed, and was scheduled to open in Toronto in 2009.
In 2006, she performed in a musical based on the works of
Ruffelle appeared as series regular Dawn Daniel-Spears in Sky's Dream Team, and series regular Kitty in Headless, for which she also composed the music.
Other television credits include playing Olivia in Warner Bros' New Adventures of Robin Hood, Denise in Alan Bennett's Objects of Affection for the BBC and Susan in SWALK for Thames Television. She has starred in The Bill (Thames Television), Strangers (ITV), The Equaliser (Universal) and The Hard Word (Thames Television).
In 1994, Ruffelle was chosen to represent the United Kingdom at the
In 2010, she appeared in the 25th Anniversary Concert of Les Misérables at the
She opened in the title role of Piaf in Pam Gems' Piaf in February 2013 and received a UK Theatre award nomination for Best Actor and in 2014 created the role of Bella in The A–Z of Mrs P at Southwark Playhouse. Frances also performs her critically acclaimed solo shows, Paris Original and Beneath the Dress, in London and New York.
In 2015, Ruffelle played the role of Naomi Green in the ITV sitcom Birds of a Feather. She appeared in three episodes.
Theatre credits
- 2017: Queenie, The Wild Party, The Other Palace
- 2014: Bella, The A–Z of Mrs P, Southwark Playhouse
- 2013: Piaf, Leicester Curve Theatre
- 2011 Fastrada, Pippin, Menier Chocolate Factory, Mitch Sebastian
- 2010 Angelique Picard, Songs from a Hotel Bedroom, Linbury Studio ROH/Tour, Kate Flatt
- 2010 One Woman Show, Beneath the Dress, Edinburgh Festival 2010/London, Paul Baker
- 2008 Mathilde, George Square, Edinburgh, Simon Callow
- 2008 Make Me a Song: The Music of William Finn, New Players Theatre, Andrew McBean
- 2007 Roxie Hart, Chicago, Adelphi Theatre, Walter Bobbie
- Betty Shaefer, Sunset Boulevard, Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sydmonton Festival
- Annabel, Lucky Stiff, Bridewell Theatre, Steven Dexter
- Candy, Whistle Down the Wind, Sydmonton Festival, Gail Edwards
- Delilah, Apples, Royal Court Theatre, Simon Curtis
- Eponine, Outer Critics Circle Award
- Yonah, Children of Eden, Upstart – West End, John Caird
- Dinah, Starlight Express, Really Useful Theatre Company, Trevor Nunn
- Princess Louisa, The Sleeping Prince, Theatre Royal Haymarket, Peter Coe
- Narrator, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, National Tour, Bill Kenwright
Film credits
- The Wildcats of St Trinian's (1980)
- P'tang, Yang, Kipperbang (1982)
- Secrets & Lies (1996)
- The Road to Ithaca (1999)
- Les Misérables (2012)
- Devil's Tower (2014)
- Long Forgotten Fields (2014)
Television credits
- Elsie in Strangers (1981, 1 episode)
- Denise in Objects of Affection (1982, 1 episode)
- Mandy in The Hard Word (1983, 1 episode)
- Jackie in Tucker's Luck (1985, 2 episodes)
- Sylvie in The Equalizer (1988, 1 episode)
- Susan Gilbert in The Bill (series 9)(1993, 1 episode)
- Olivia in The New Adventures of Robin Hood (1997, 1 episode)
- Kitty in Headless (2000)
- Dawn Daniel-Spears in Dream Team (2001, 20 episodes)
- Naomi in Birds of a Feather (2015, 3 episodes)
Radio
- 2009, Guest Soloist, FRIDAY NIGHT IS MUSIC NIGHT (JUDY GARLAND SPECIAL), BBC Radio 2
- 1996, Mary in Jesus Chris Superstar in Concert BBC Radio 2
Music career
"Lonely Symphony" was released as a single in the UK, as well as in other countries, and also appeared on her first solo album, Fragile. It reached number 25 in the
Ruffelle's second album, Frances Ruffelle, came out in 1998, on the small Dress Circle label. It was a change in direction, featuring stripped-down arrangements of mostly musical theatre songs, as well as a couple of classics, original songs and covers. In 2004, she released Showgirl on her own label, a return to fuller arrangements, but far from a pop sound. Ruffelle also collaborated with Sam Bonner in the group, paTala, making an album called Purify, featuring "a fusion of traditional Sanskrit chants with unique arrangements of contemporary Western beats". A new solo album, Imperfectly Me, was released in September 2010.[2]
Personal life
Ruffelle was born in Redbridge district of Ilford in London, England, UK. Her father is a phone company engineer and manager.[3] Her mother is Sylvia Young, the founder of the prestigious theatre school at which she trained.
Ruffelle married director
Discography
Cast recordings
- Starlight Express Original London Cast (1984)
- Les Misérables Original London Cast (1985)
- Les Misérables Original Broadway Cast (1987)
- Mack & MabelIn Concert (1988)
- Apples Original London Cast (1989)
- Children of Eden Original London Cast (1991)
- Les Misérables Highlights Original London Cast (2009)
Solo albums
- Fragile (1994)
- Frances Ruffelle (1998)
- Showgirl (2004)
- Purify (2005) as PaTala, with Sam Bonner
- Imperfectly Me (2010)
- I Say Yeh-Yeh (2015)
Album appearances
- Back of My Mind (Christopher Cross album) (1988) includes "I Will (Take You Forever)" duet
- Only You" duet
- Save the Children: A Christmas Spectacular of Carols and Songs (1992) sings "I Watch You Sleeping", and featured on "Save the Children"
- Corps & Armes (Etienne Dahoalbum) (2000) – includes "Le Brasier", co-written by Daho/Ruffelle/Helen Turner; also released as a single
- The Definitive Christopher Cross (2001) includes "I Will (Take You Forever)" (new mix)
Singles
- "He's My Hero" (1986)
- "On My Own" (rerecorded single version) (1985) – from Les Misérables
- "On My Own" (second rerecorded single version) (1987) – from Les Misérables
- "I Will (Take You Forever)" (1988) – duet with Christopher Cross from Back of My Mind – US Adult Contemporary Chart No. 41
- "Stranger to the Rain" (rerecorded single version) (1990) – from Children of Eden
- "Love Parade" (1994)
- "Lonely Symphony (We Will Be Free)" (1994) – UK Eurovision Song Contest entry
- "Lose Your Illusions" (1994)
- "God Watch Over You" (1995)
- "Jennifer's Garden" (1997) (Denmark only)
- "Blue Eyes" (1997) (Germany only)
- "If a Wish Came True" (1998) (Netherlands only)
- "Smile" (2004)
References
- ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ Francesruffelle.com Archived 22 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Frances Ruffelle Biography (1965–)". filmreference.com. Retrieved 17 April 2015.