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Susan McFadden Sosaidh Nic Pháidín | |
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 Susan McFadden at Macquarie Shopping Centre, Sydney, in August 2012 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1983-02-08)8 February 1983 (age 42) Dublin, Ireland |
| Origin | Artane, Dublin |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, actress |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Labels | Celtic Collections,Manhattan |
Susan McFadden (born 8 February 1983) is an Irish actress and singer. She is best known for playing the roles of Sandy inGrease and Elle Woods inLegally Blonde the Musical in London's West End and being a member ofCeltic Woman from 2012 to 2018.
Susan McFadden was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1983, to parents Mairead and Brendan. She is the younger sister of formerWestlife memberBrian McFadden.
McFadden is a graduate of the Billie Barry Stage School, located inDublin. She toured with many Irish entertainers (including June Rodgers) in supporting roles.[1]
She was one of the dancers in Daniel O'Donnell's Rock & Roll Show tour and DVD. She also played the role of Kathy in an Irish production ofSinging in the Rain in 2004 to much acclaim. The show played at theOlympia Theatre in Dublin and theEveryman Palace Theatre inCork.
She was the winning contestant on theITV reality TV showGrease Is the Word. As a result, she played the lead female role ofSandy in theWest End production ofGrease with Danny Bayne beginning in August 2007.[2]
In 2008, McFadden recorded two songs for the CDAct One – Songs From The Musicals Of Alexander S. Bermange, an album of 20 brand new recordings by 26 West End stars, released in November 2008 on Dress Circle Records.
She played the lead role of Milly in the 2008 UK tour ofSeven Brides for Seven Brothers, opposite Steven Houghton.[1]
McFadden sang with Ben Morris and Séan Carey in the final ofRTÉ One'sFame: The Musical in Dublin on Sunday 13 June 2010.[3]
McFadden starred in the original West End cast of the musicalLegally Blonde at theSavoy Theatre in London's West End playing Elle Woods after originating the role of Serena. Official reviews and audience reaction were extremely positive.[citation needed] Beginning on 25 October, McFadden became the alternate Elle, performing Mondays and Tuesdays. McFadden began playing the role of Elle Woods full-time beginning 10 January 2011[4] and left the role on 9 July 2011 and has been nominated for a WhatsOnStage award for "best takeover". She was subsequently replaced by former Margot and understudy ElleCarley Stenson.
On 5 January 2012, McFadden was named as a replacement forLisa Kelly, then going on maternity leave, in the all-female ensembleCeltic Woman.[1] McFadden debuted with Celtic Woman in February at Nashville, Tennessee, for the kickoff of the "Believe" North American Tour and continued with the European, Australian, and South African Tours in 2012. After Kelly announced her departure from the group was permanent in January 2013, McFadden became a full-time member of Celtic Woman. She toured with the group for six and a half years.
On 12 August 2018, it was announced that McFadden would be taking leave from the group to have her first child.
In October 2019, Susan rejoined Celtic Woman for a few shows filling in forMairéad Carlin while she recovered from appendicitis.
On 22 January 2020, it was announced that Susan would be rejoining Celtic Woman for six shows during the US Celebration tour, but the tour was postponed shortly after due to thecoronavirus pandemic.[5][6] That tour eventually took place in the spring of 2022, and Susan fulfilled her promised six-show commitment.
She also rejoined for the recording of "Postcards from Ireland" as well as the Postcards from Ireland Tour.
McFadden is married to Celtic Woman's former bagpiper Anthony Byrne.[7] Their first child was born November 2018, and a second child was born in May 2021.[8]
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