Carole Shelley
Encyclopedia
Carole Shelley is an English
actress. Among her many stage roles are the character of Madame Morrible in the original Broadway cast of the musical Wicked
.
debut in the original 1965 production of The Odd Couple
, playing Gwendolyn Pigeon. (She would reprise the role for the film version and for the first season of the subsequent television series.)
She appeared in several plays throughout the 1970s and 1980s, was acclaimed as Rosalind in As You Like It
at the 1972 Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario, and earned her first Tony Award
nomination in 1975 for her performance as "Jane" in Absurd Person Singular
. Shelley won the 1979 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her role as Mrs. Kendal in The Elephant Man
, and was nominated again in 1987 for her performance in Stepping Out
as "Maxine." Shelley also began appearing in musicals in the late 1990s, with the revivals of Show Boat
and Cabaret
.
In 2003, Shelley created the role of Madame Morrible in the original Broadway cast of the musical Wicked
, a role which she later reprised in the show's national touring and Chicago productions.
Shelley is currently playing the role of Grandma in the Broadway
production of Billy Elliot
at the Imperial Theatre. She began performances on October 1, 2008. In 2009, she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance.
. Since then she has had numerous roles on film and television. Most recently, she was featured as "Aunt Clara" alongside Nicole Kidman
and former Wicked co-star Kristin Chenoweth
in the film Bewitched.
She lent her voice to several roles in Disney films; notably, Amelia Gabble the Goose in The Aristocats
, Lady Kluck, Maid Marian's sidekick and lady-in-waiting, in Robin Hood
, and Lachesis the Fate in Hercules
.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
actress. Among her many stage roles are the character of Madame Morrible in the original Broadway cast of the musical Wicked
Wicked (musical)
Wicked is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. It is based on the Gregory Maguire novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West , a parallel novel of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz and L. Frank Baum's classic story The Wonderful Wizard...
.
Life and career
Shelley was born in London, England, the daughter of Deborah (née Bloomstein), a singer, and Curtis Shelley, a composer. On stage, Shelley made her BroadwayBroadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
debut in the original 1965 production of The Odd Couple
The Odd Couple
The Odd Couple is a 1965 Broadway play by Neil Simon, followed by a successful film and television series, as well as other derivative works and spin offs, many featuring one or more of the same actors. The plot concerns two mismatched roommates, one neat and uptight, the other more easygoing and...
, playing Gwendolyn Pigeon. (She would reprise the role for the film version and for the first season of the subsequent television series.)
She appeared in several plays throughout the 1970s and 1980s, was acclaimed as Rosalind in As You Like It
As You Like It
As You Like It is a pastoral comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1599 or early 1600 and first published in the folio of 1623. The play's first performance is uncertain, though a performance at Wilton House in 1603 has been suggested as a possibility...
at the 1972 Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario, and earned her first Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
nomination in 1975 for her performance as "Jane" in Absurd Person Singular
Absurd Person Singular
Absurd Person Singular is a 1972 play by Alan Ayckbourn. Divided into three acts, it documents the changing fortunes of three married couples...
. Shelley won the 1979 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her role as Mrs. Kendal in The Elephant Man
The Elephant Man (play)
The Elephant Man is a 1977 play by Bernard Pomerance. The production's Broadway debut in 1979 was produced by Richmond Crinkley and Nelle Nugent, and directed by Jack Hofsiss...
, and was nominated again in 1987 for her performance in Stepping Out
Stepping Out (play)
Stepping Out is a play written by Richard Harris in 1984. It was produced in the West End, London, where it received the Evening Standard Comedy of the Year Award, and on Broadway, New York.-Plot:...
as "Maxine." Shelley also began appearing in musicals in the late 1990s, with the revivals of Show Boat
Show Boat
Show Boat is a musical in two acts with music by Jerome Kern and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. It was originally produced in New York in 1927 and in London in 1928, and was based on the 1926 novel of the same name by Edna Ferber. The plot chronicles the lives of those living and working...
and Cabaret
Cabaret (musical)
Cabaret is a musical based on a book written by Christopher Isherwood, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. The 1966 Broadway production became a hit and spawned a 1972 film as well as numerous subsequent productions....
.
In 2003, Shelley created the role of Madame Morrible in the original Broadway cast of the musical Wicked
Wicked (musical)
Wicked is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. It is based on the Gregory Maguire novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West , a parallel novel of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz and L. Frank Baum's classic story The Wonderful Wizard...
, a role which she later reprised in the show's national touring and Chicago productions.
Shelley is currently playing the role of Grandma in the Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
production of Billy Elliot
Billy Elliot the Musical
Billy Elliot the Musical is a musical based on the 2000 film Billy Elliot. The music is by Sir Elton John, and book and lyrics are by Lee Hall, who wrote the film's screenplay. The plot revolves around motherless Billy, who trades boxing gloves for ballet shoes...
at the Imperial Theatre. She began performances on October 1, 2008. In 2009, she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance.
Film and TV
In 1968, Shelley starred as Gwendolyn Pidgeon in The Odd CoupleThe Odd Couple (TV series)
The Odd Couple is a television situation comedy broadcast from September 24, 1970 to July 4, 1975 on ABC. It starred Tony Randall as Felix Unger and Jack Klugman as Oscar Madison. It was based upon the play of the same name, which was written by Neil Simon.Felix and Oscar are two divorced men....
. Since then she has had numerous roles on film and television. Most recently, she was featured as "Aunt Clara" alongside Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman
Nicole Mary Kidman, AC is an American-born Australian actress, singer, film producer, spokesmodel, and humanitarian. After starring in a number of small Australian films and TV shows, Kidman's breakthrough was in the 1989 thriller Dead Calm...
and former Wicked co-star Kristin Chenoweth
Kristin Chenoweth
Kristin Chenoweth is an American singer and actress, with credits in musical theatre, film and television. She is best known on Broadway for her performance as Sally Brown in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown , for which she won a Tony Award, and for originating the role of Glinda in the musical...
in the film Bewitched.
She lent her voice to several roles in Disney films; notably, Amelia Gabble the Goose in The Aristocats
The Aristocats
The Aristocats is a 1970 American animated feature produced and released by Walt Disney Productions in 1970 and stars Eva Gabor and Phil Harris, with Roddy Maude-Roxby as Edgar the butler, the villain of the story...
, Lady Kluck, Maid Marian's sidekick and lady-in-waiting, in Robin Hood
Robin Hood (1973 film)
Robin Hood is an 1973 American animated film produced by the Walt Disney Productions, first released in the United States on November 8, 1973...
, and Lachesis the Fate in Hercules
Hercules (1997 film)
Hercules is a 1997 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The thirty-fifth animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series, the film was directed by Ron Clements and John Musker...
.