Call The Midwife star Helen George is thrilled to return to her musical theatre roots in a show that’s close to her heart
We’re used to seeing actress Helen George playing glamorous but eminently capable midwife Trixie Franklin, now Lady Aylward, in the much-loved BBC One Sunday night drama Call The Midwife, now in its 13th series.
Happily, Helen is still in the show but she’s also busy wowing audiences on the London stage in a new production of the Rogers and Hammerstein iconic musical The King And I.
Based on a real life story from the 1860s, the musical tells the tale of widowed British schoolteacher Anna Leonowens who is hired by the King of Siam as he attempts to modernise his country.
Although connected to the students – the King’s children – Anna struggles with not only cultural differences but a tricky relationship with the headstrong king. Through her persistence and eagerness for human connection, Anna helps to fuel a sense of openness and social understanding between her and the king in an attempt to invoke change and understanding. Helen is loving every minute. “I’d been wanting to do a musical for a while – it’s what I’m trained in,” she revealed at the launch of the production at London’s Savoy Hotel. “It’s my first love and I was waiting for the right one to come along.
“The roles I was being offered were approximations of Trixie – blonde cameo parts where she was funny and wore hot pants! Playing Anna was the first fully fleshed-out lead role I was offered and I just couldn’t turn it down.”
Helen played Anna in a touring production of the musical for part of last year and received some glowing reviews.
“Helen George is a revelation . . . she glided elegantly through her scenes with the poise of a Hollywood heroine, and won hearts with her humanity and humour,” one said.
“George shines as Anna – she brings a fierce intelligence and compassion to the role,” read another.
Then there’s her dancing. She came sixth in the Strictly Come Dancing class of 2015, but The King And I takes the art form to a whole new level. As Anna, Helen dances a sweeping polka on stage dressed in the most exquisite silk gown with a huge skirt, complete with corset and crinoline. It weighs 4.5kg (10lbs).
“I’m as big as a house!” She laughs. “In the rehearsal room everybody had to get out of the way. I lifted up the skirt and dragged scripts and tea cups w
