Jane McGowan chats to former Hollyoaks’ actress Daisy Wood-Davis the star of Beautiful – The Carole King Musical...
Best known for her work on soaps Holby City and Hollyoaks – where she played Kim Butterfield for more than four years – Daisy Wood-Davies has swapped the heartache and misery of soapland for Sixties NYC as she takes on the role of music icon Carole King in the jukebox musical Beautiful.
The show, which arrives at the New Victoria Theatre, Woking and the New Wimbledon in coming weeks, follows the early life of the American singer-songwriter who shot to fame with such hits as Will You Love Me Tomorrow, Natural Woman and You’ve Got a Friend.
“I was thrilled to be cast,” says Daisy who originally hails from Bromley. “It’s a big old show and very strenuous. But it’s a great role and I love being back on the stage.”
While many of the audience will recognise her from TV, Daisy is a seasoned theatre performer – landing her first lead role while in her second year at stage school.
“I was always singing and dancing so, once I got to 14, my parents sent me to Italia Conti to study musical theatre,” she explains. “I was halfway through my second year when I got an audition for Dreamboats & Petticoats. I was surprised to get an audition and even more surprised to get the lead. I thought I would go back to stage school after the tour but then the show went into the West End, we recorded an ‘original cast’ album and it went on and on.
I did have a few moments of ‘should I, shouldn’t I’, but the aim of the course was to get a job and that is what I had done – so I just went for it.”
But the multi-disciplinary training has not been wasted as the role of Carole requires Daisy to sing, dance, act and play a little bit of piano.
“I must admit, my singing voice was a bit rusty after just acting for years on Hollyoaks, so I had to go back for lessons. I have made a mental note not to that do again and try and keep on top of it.”
And her voice has to be in tip-top condition to master some of the most classic pop songs in history.
“The songs are amazing and are so well-known. Growing up we listened to Carole King a lot – the Tapestry album is one of the best of all time.”
The show is on its second UK tour after leaving the West End in 2017 – running at 28 theatres up and down the country.
“What was really lovely was that we opened at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley, which for me was really special,” she says. “I always used to go to the panto with my nan and granddad and its where I decided that I wanted to be a performer. So it was a good night.”
Daisy has managed to pack a lot into her 11-year career, including appearances in The Rocky Horror Show, EastEnders and Hair. But she admits it can be tough when the job offers aren’t so forthcoming.
“Before I got the Hollyoaks role, I had come to a bit of crossroads,” she reveals. “I was toying with the idea of going to a drama school in New York or giving up altogether. The passion had just gone out of it for me. But then the call came, and I was really, really excited again.”
And if the reviews for Beautiful are anything to go by, it certainly seems like Daisy made the right decision.
Beautiful – The Carole King Musical is at the New Victoria Theatre from Feb 18-22, and at the New Wimbledon Theatre from Mar 24-28. For more details, visit: beautifulmusical.co.uk
