Francesca Jackson
Encyclopedia
Francesca Jackson is a musical theatre actress. She took part in the Reality television show I'd Do Anything
and lost out the role of Nancy to Jodie Prenger
.
She joined the National Youth Music Theatre
in 1991, and starred in many productions such as Whistle Down the Wind
and Bugsy Malone
. Jackson now resides in London.
In recent years Francesca's most notable role was starring as Joanne in Rent remixed
alongside Denise van Outen
and she has also played the leading role of Alice in the workshop production of 'All the Fun of the Fair', directed by Nikolai Foster.
She also appeared in the 2006 production of 'Tonight's the night' as an understudy for Rachel Tucker
(future I'd Do Anything contestant). Later, Francesca auditioned for Reality TV show I'd Do Anything
attempting to win the part of Nancy. She was put through and eliminated fourth on the live show.
She once shared an apartment with Connie Fisher
, the future winner of How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?.
Jackson was eliminated on the fourth show on 19 April, when she and fellow contestant, Ashley Russell received the fewest votes from the public. Both were put in the Sing-off, and Lloyd Weber saved Russel, therefore eliminating Jackson from the competition.
Since I'd Do Anything, Jackson has been cast alongside Chesney Hawkes
and How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?
finalist Siobhan Dillon
as 'Lucy' in a new Barry Manilow
based musical named Can't Smile Without You.
In 2009, Jackson toured with Bill Kenwright
's Dreamboats and Petticoats
from 14 September 2009 – 5 December 2009, playing the role of Sue. In February 2010: Jackson completed a weeks run of A Little Night Music
in Paris, appearing alongside Lambert Wilson
, Leslie Caron
, Greta Sacchi, Rebecca Bottone, Leon Lopez
, Deanne Meek, David Curry, Celeste de Veazey, Directed by Lee Blakely. She reprised her role as 'Sue' in Dreamboats and Petticoats from late February to early July 2010, and toured with the show after the West End run finished.
It was recently announced that she will be joining the Original Westend cast of Million Dollar Quartet in the roll of Dyanne
I'd Do Anything (BBC TV series)
I'd Do Anything is a 2008 talent show-themed television series produced by the BBC in the United Kingdom and broadcast on BBC One. It premièred on 15 March 2008...
and lost out the role of Nancy to Jodie Prenger
Jodie Prenger
Jodie Prenger is an English actress and singer. She was the winner of BBC talent show-themed television series I'd Do Anything on 31 May 2008. She was also the winner of the second series of The Biggest Loser on Living in 2006...
.
Background
Jackson was born in Wolverhampton, England to parents, Mel and Steve Jackson. She later moved to Ystalyfera, Swansea where she grew up and where her parents still live today.She joined the National Youth Music Theatre
National Youth Music Theatre
The National Youth Music Theatre or NYMT is a UK organisation for young people in the field of musical theatre, based in London. It runs acting auditions, workshops, and musical theatre productions...
in 1991, and starred in many productions such as Whistle Down the Wind
Whistle Down the Wind
Whistle Down the Wind may refer to:* Whistle Down the Wind , a film directed by Bryan Forbes* Whistle Down the Wind , a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on the film...
and Bugsy Malone
Bugsy Malone
Bugsy Malone is a 1976 musical film, very loosely based on events in New York City in the Prohibition era, specifically the exploits of gangsters like Al Capone and Bugs Moran, as dramatized in cinema...
. Jackson now resides in London.
Career
Although, receiving many acting and singing jobs since the age of 10, Francesca's first big break was playing Bet at the age of 14 in the Sam Mendes production of Oliver! at the London Palladium alongside Robert Lindsay and Sonia Swabey.In recent years Francesca's most notable role was starring as Joanne in Rent remixed
Rent (musical)
Rent is a rock musical with music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson based on Giacomo Puccini's opera La bohème...
alongside Denise van Outen
Denise van Outen
Denise van Outen is an English actress, singer and television presenter. Her most notable roles to date are as a presenter on The Big Breakfast, and as Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago on both the West End and on Broadway.- Early life :Born Denise Kathleen Outen in Basildon, Essex, she is the...
and she has also played the leading role of Alice in the workshop production of 'All the Fun of the Fair', directed by Nikolai Foster.
She also appeared in the 2006 production of 'Tonight's the night' as an understudy for Rachel Tucker
Rachel Tucker
Rachel Tucker is a Northern Irish singer and actress who competed as one of the finalists in the BBC talent show-themed television series I'd Do Anything in 2008...
(future I'd Do Anything contestant). Later, Francesca auditioned for Reality TV show I'd Do Anything
I'd Do Anything (BBC TV series)
I'd Do Anything is a 2008 talent show-themed television series produced by the BBC in the United Kingdom and broadcast on BBC One. It premièred on 15 March 2008...
attempting to win the part of Nancy. She was put through and eliminated fourth on the live show.
She once shared an apartment with Connie Fisher
Connie Fisher
Connie Fisher is a Welsh actress and singer, who won the BBC One talent contest, How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?...
, the future winner of How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?.
Jackson was eliminated on the fourth show on 19 April, when she and fellow contestant, Ashley Russell received the fewest votes from the public. Both were put in the Sing-off, and Lloyd Weber saved Russel, therefore eliminating Jackson from the competition.
Since I'd Do Anything, Jackson has been cast alongside Chesney Hawkes
Chesney Hawkes
Chesney Lee Hawkes , is an English pop singer, songwriter, and occasional actor. He is best known for his 1991 single "The One and Only", which topped the charts in the UK and reached the Top 10 in the U.S.-Life and career:...
and How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?
How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?
How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? was a British television talent series, that was broadcast on Saturday evenings on BBC One between 29 July and 16 September 2006. It documented the search for a new, undiscovered musical theatre performer to play the role of Maria von Trapp in the 2006 Andrew...
finalist Siobhan Dillon
Siobhan Dillon
Siobhan Patricia Dillon is an English actress and singer, who rose to fame when she performed in the British talent show-themed television series How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? on BBC One in 2006...
as 'Lucy' in a new Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow is an American singer-songwriter, musician, arranger, producer, conductor, and performer, best known for such recordings as "Could It Be Magic", "Mandy", "Can't Smile Without You", and "Copacabana ."...
based musical named Can't Smile Without You.
In 2009, Jackson toured with Bill Kenwright
Bill Kenwright
Bill Kenwright CBE is a leading West End theatre producer and film producer.He is also the Chairman of Everton Football Club, an English professional football club from the city of Liverpool....
's Dreamboats and Petticoats
Dreamboats and Petticoats
Dreamboats and Petticoats is a jukebox musical based on popular songs from the fifties and early sixties. The musical, featuring those songs of the rock 'n' roll era, is set around the years 1957 to 1963 and was written by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran....
from 14 September 2009 – 5 December 2009, playing the role of Sue. In February 2010: Jackson completed a weeks run of A Little Night Music
A Little Night Music
A Little Night Music is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler. Inspired by the Ingmar Bergman film Smiles of a Summer Night, it involves the romantic lives of several couples. Its title is a literal English translation of the German name for Mozart's Serenade...
in Paris, appearing alongside Lambert Wilson
Lambert Wilson
Lambert Wilson is a French actor. He is internationally known for his portrayal of The Merovingian in The Matrix He was born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, the son of Georges Wilson, who was an actor, theatrical manager and director of the Theatre National de Paris.Wilson screen tested for The...
, Leslie Caron
Leslie Caron
Leslie Claire Margaret Caron is a French film actress and dancer, who appeared in 45 films between 1951 and 2003. In 2006, her performance in Law and Order: Special Victims Unit won her an Emmy for guest actress in a drama series...
, Greta Sacchi, Rebecca Bottone, Leon Lopez
Leon Lopez
-Biography:Leon Lopez is an English actor, singer-songwriter and occasional model, best known for playing the role of "Jerome Johnson" in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside from 1998 to 2002. He is a former student of the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, established by Sir Paul McCartney...
, Deanne Meek, David Curry, Celeste de Veazey, Directed by Lee Blakely. She reprised her role as 'Sue' in Dreamboats and Petticoats from late February to early July 2010, and toured with the show after the West End run finished.
It was recently announced that she will be joining the Original Westend cast of Million Dollar Quartet in the roll of Dyanne
External links
- Francesca Jackson Fan Blog
- Francesca Jackson: “My dream role is Nancy” - interview with Francesca Jackson (April 2008)