Elizabeth Seal
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Seal is a British
actress. In 1961, she won the Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her performance in the title role
of Irma La Douce
.
transfer of The Pajama Game
by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross at the London Coliseum. She then took over the role of Lola in Damn Yankees
from Belita at the same theatre. This was then followed by the title role in Irma La Douce
, which played at the West End and on Broadway. She won the 1961 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She later took the role of Roxie Hart in "Chicago: A Musical Vaudeville" (known today as Chicago The Musical) in the original London Production, alongside Jenny Logan (who played Velma Kelly) in 1979.
Other West End shows include roles in Tennessee Williams
' Camino Real
as well as Julian Slade
's long-running Salad Days. She appeared in such films as Radio Cab Murder (1954), Town on Trial
(1957), Cone of Silence
(1960), and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
(2001).
She has spent her later career teaching and choreographing at the Guildford School of Acting
, among other schools.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
actress. In 1961, she won the Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her performance in the title role
Title role
The title role in the performing arts is the performance part that gives the title to the piece, as in Aida, Giselle, Michael Collins or Othello. The actor, singer or dancer who performs that part is also said to have the title role....
of Irma La Douce
Irma La Douce (musical)
Irma La Douce is a musical with music by Marguerite Monnot and French lyrics and book by Alexandre Breffort. The English lyrics and book are by Julian More, David Heneker and Monty Norman. It was first produced in Paris in 1956.-Productions:...
.
Career
Seal shot to fame as Gladys in the West EndWest End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
transfer of The Pajama Game
The Pajama Game
The Pajama Game is a musical based on the novel 7½ Cents by Richard Bissell. It features a score by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. The story deals with labor troubles in a pajama factory, where worker demands for a seven-and-a-half cents raise are going unheeded...
by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross at the London Coliseum. She then took over the role of Lola in Damn Yankees
Damn Yankees
Damn Yankees is a musical comedy with a book by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop and music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. The story is a modern retelling of the Faust legend set during the 1950s in Washington, D.C., during a time when the New York Yankees dominated Major League...
from Belita at the same theatre. This was then followed by the title role in Irma La Douce
Irma la Douce
Irma la Douce/Irma la Dolce is a 1963 romantic comedy starring Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine, directed by Billy Wilder.It is based on the 1956 French musical Irma La Douce by Marguerite Monnot and Alexandre Breffort.-Plot:...
, which played at the West End and on Broadway. She won the 1961 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She later took the role of Roxie Hart in "Chicago: A Musical Vaudeville" (known today as Chicago The Musical) in the original London Production, alongside Jenny Logan (who played Velma Kelly) in 1979.
Other West End shows include roles in Tennessee Williams
Tennessee Williams
Thomas Lanier "Tennessee" Williams III was an American writer who worked principally as a playwright in the American theater. He also wrote short stories, novels, poetry, essays, screenplays and a volume of memoirs...
' Camino Real
Camino Real (play)
Camino Real is a 1953 play by Tennessee Williams. In the introduction to the Penguin edition of the play, Williams directs the reader to use the Anglicized pronunciation "Cá-mino Réal." The play takes its title from its setting, alluded to El Camino Real, a dead-end place in a Spanish-speaking town...
as well as Julian Slade
Julian Slade
Julian Penkivil Slade was an English writer of musical theatre best known for the show Salad Days, which he wrote in six weeks in 1954 and became the UK's longest-running show of the 1950s with over 2,288 performances....
's long-running Salad Days. She appeared in such films as Radio Cab Murder (1954), Town on Trial
Town on Trial
Town on Trial is a 1957 British mystery film directed by John Guillermin and starring John Mills, Charles Coburn, Barbara Bates and Derek Farr. A whole town comes under suspicion when a series of grisly murders are carried out - particularly members of the local tennis club.-Cast:* Charles Coburn...
(1957), Cone of Silence
Cone of Silence (1960 film)
Cone of Silence is a film about the investigation into a series of crashes involving the fictional "Atlas Aviation Phoenix" jetliner. In the United States, the film was released under the title Trouble in the Sky...
(1960), and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider is a 2001 adventure thriller film adapted from the Tomb Raider video game series. Directed by Simon West and starring Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft, it was released in U.S. theaters on June 15, 2001. The film was a commercial success...
(2001).
She has spent her later career teaching and choreographing at the Guildford School of Acting
Guildford School of Acting
Guildford School of Acting is a drama school located in Guildford, Surrey, England. It is an affiliate of the University of Surrey and is an accredited member of the National Council for Drama Training and The Conference of Drama Schools.-Overview:...
, among other schools.