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A lesbian/bi Nancy on “I’d Do Anything”?So, the BBC has recently launched the latest in its line of three musical talent contests, and I admit that I’m watching. First there was the 2006 show How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?, which searched for an unknown girl to play Maria in a new West End production of The Sound of Music. Then there was the 2007 show Any Dream Will Do, which searched for an unknown boy to play Joseph in a new West End production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Now there’s I’d Do Anything, which searches for both a girl to play Nancy and a boy to play Oliver Twist in a new stage production of Lionel Bart’s Dickens-based musical Oliver! Thankfully, the producers have decided that it’s just too cruel to put the small boys auditioning for Oliver through the usual American Idol–style humiliation of panel criticism and a public vote — so that decision will be made privately, although the audience will be let in on footage of the boys preparing and performing.
But the girls — who have now been narrowed down to twelve finalists aged between 17 and 28 — are judged to be old enough to cope. Consequently, there’s been all the usual gratuitous upping of their angst, as the panel (which includes Andrew Lloyd Webber) make them stand and wait for the initial decisions, and hint that they’ve been dropped just to see them squirm. Why do I keep on watching, given how obnoxious that behavior is? Well, for one thing, I love musical theater. And for another, there are worse ways to spend your Saturday evenings than in watching 12 talented women singing their hearts out. Back in the days of the first contest, How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?, the show was considerably enlivened by the gorgeousness, as well as the talent, of one of the competitors, Siobhan Dillon:
Siobhan reached the final three, but eventually lost out on the role of Maria to Connie Fisher, who has gone on to have a big success in the West End. Now that the final 12 competitors for Nancy have been chosen, the field is looking as if it could be more diverse than it was for Maria. Although I don’t think it was ever stated in How Do You Solve a Problem? that the contestants had to be Caucasian to play the Austrian Maria, all of the final ten were white. I’d Do Anything, in contrast, has two black British contestants, Cleopatra:
And Keisha:
What I really want to know, though, is whether any of the finalists will turn out to be openly lesbian or bisexual. While these BBC shows might seem gay-friendly on the surface — the presenter, Graham Norton, is openly gay, as is panel member John Barrowman — it’s been notable in the previous two contests that not one of the finalists has been openly queer. Sexuality might seem to be irrelevant in a talent contest, if it was not for the fact that the heterosexual contestants frequently mention their boyfriends or girlfriends, who are then shown sitting in the audience.
When it came to auditioning for the nun Maria Von Trapp, I have to admit that I can see why any lesbian or bisexual contestant might have wanted to keep her sexuality under wraps. Being dependent on the public vote means being dependent on public perceptions — and, unfortunate though it might be, I think too much of the British public still conflates lesbianism with an “extreme” form of sexuality that wouldn’t fit their image of a pure, rosy-cheeked Julie Andrews character.
Nancy in Oliver!, however, isn’t saddled with that sexless image — and so I do wonder whether any of the contestants will come out during the course of the program. Though it may not mean anything, Irish 18-year-old Jessie (pictured above) does sing a love song about a girl in her audition, which you can see here. And 17-year-old Samantha states in her biography that she is “obsessed with Catherine Zeta Jones” (though given Samantha’s looks, that could just be because she feels she resembles her):
Anyway, gay or not gay, I know that I’ll be watching. What about you? Do you like the show? Have you picked your favorite Nancy yet? Let me know in the comments. Submitted by on March 26, 2008 - 9:00am. |
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Nice...I'll take a girl singing about a girl!
Singing about girls
I've always wondered why people think that makes you maybe gay or at least bi. Here in Ireland it is perfectly normal for girls and women to sing songs about girls and women, as they are some of the most beautiful songs around....
As for the show, it is thoroughly amusing due to both Graham Norton and John Barrowman :)
I only caught the second
I only caught the second half of the auditions show so missed Jessie singing that, but she is already my favourite based on what I heard of her later, so that just makes it better!
While none of the previous contestants were openly gay, I think it was pretty clear that some of the Josephs were. I love these shows and will definately be tuning in, I love all the singing and dancing and Graham Norton (I think I was the only teenage girl ever to have pics of Graham Norton on her bedroom wall :P)
I'm such a fan...
After Ellen..came me!! 18 years to the day later to be extact!!
I have to admit that I love musicals too, both stage and film and have watched each of the series. I was lucky enough to see Connie Fisher in The Sound of Music just before Christmas and she was awesome.
I think Jessie has an amazing voice and is plenty sassy enough for Nancy. I really hope she does well. There are some good singers there. I'll definately be watching and asking...'Please, sir, can I have some more..' !! Okay, okay, bad I know, but I couldn't resist!!
I completely agree with Kaytiana - I think that more than a couple of the Josephs were on our team, so to speak!
I absolutely love this
I absolutely love this show, and managed to convert my dad to watching it even though he isnt a big fan of graham norton.
as for lesbian contestants on this series, i'm not sure yet, although very happy to see three irish girls in the finals as that accent makes go all funny inside! hehe
I think that when they did the maria one a couple of years ago, that maybe the "tomboy" maria (they all got nicknames) was possibly gay, and there are actually some interesting rumours about connie fisher too, and i can kind of see that.
oh, and i went to school with siobhan!! she really is gorgeous!
Graham Norton rocks!
I didn't watch the first two series and only caught the first I'd Do Anything by accident; I was flicking and stopped when I saw Graham Norton (because he's awesome! Bring back That's So Graham Norton!) And now I'm hooked. My favourite Nancys are Jessie and either Niamh or Rachel... they look the same in their little pictures. Anyway, the young one that obviously moved the judges to tears when they had to perform again in that tiny room.
So now I'm a little addicted. It's good to know their are other people right there with me!
YES
i actually hate these programs BUT...
FRANCESCA JACKSON (if anyone wants to know she's the one in the bright pink dress, bottom row far right) is absolutely fantastic!
short bio: she played Joanne in RENT, if anyone doesn't know joanne is the lesbian lawyer in the musical.
the irony of this is that in the recent west end production, maureen, her girlfriend in the show, was played by denise van outen, who is one of the judges on i'll do anything. she also used to share a flat with connie fisher (the person who won, how do you solve a problem like maria). many eyebrows have been raised at this already!
but back to the fact that she played a lesbian lawyer in RENT, all i can say is i went to see it and wasn't expecting much as it was a remixed version of the original musical, the two other female performers weren't up to much but francesca blew me away! anyways we met her afterwards and she was sooooooo nice to me and my friend! the other thing is that she is unbeliveably hot, especially in that lawyer suit she wore in rent. if anyone knows RENT then i will say that the tango maureen is made so much hotter in so many ways!
this is a picture of her with the person who played maureen after denise van outen!
so yeah, VOTE FRANCESCA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No Offence..
But Francesca was downright awful, and was only there in the first place because of Denise Van Outen.
A long road
http://www.asearchforlove.blogspot.com/
I love these programmes...
... and I am 100% behind Francesca! As has been said, she was amazing in Rent and as a professional actress, deserves to win. She could actually manage 8 shows a week unlike some of the others I fear.
BTW, that's Jessie Wallace in the photo - she was Kat Slater in Eastenders.
The Bionic Woman's mother :-)
Just for those non-Brits that ventured into this thread, Jessie Wallace played Kat Slater in Eastenders, she was the mother of the Michelle Ryan character, Zoe Slater. We didn't know this until that hilarious scene outside the Vic where Zoe goes: 'You can't tell me what to do, you're not my mother!' and Kat goes: 'YES I AM!'
Sorry, had to be done, that scene makes me laugh. I was rolling on the floor when Michelle Ryan was on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross (Wossie) and they played it.
:-D
yeah i remember
jesse wallace in eastenders with zoe! God they were funny at times!
hooray for rubbishy british soap operas!
yeah i saw rent when jesse wallace was in it, she wasn't that good though, although i eard denise van outen wasn't much better!
anyways back to francesca! woooooooooooooooo go fran!
Jessie Buckley
Is anyone else in love/lust with her?
She is AMAZING.
Yes. And she has TOTAL L.P.
YES :) I would actually
YES :)
I would actually marry Jessie Buckley :D
Jessie
I love Jessie. She is so gorgeous. All the girls are actually, but she is the one that stands out to me. She is also one of the best singers :)
As for the gay thing, on digital spy forums someone who works behind the scenes said one of the girls is gay, and I think it is most likely to be Jessie. The others don't really give me any vibes, but you never know. Also Jessie said she's never really had a boyfriend, but that doesn't mean she doesn't want one!
forgot
I'm rooting for Jessie
I'm rooting for Jessie anyway :)
I also melt when I hear her speak.
and I am in LOVE with that audition video of her.
I mean... WOW
Jessie Buckley for the HOT 100!
DAMN I already voted! I
DAMN I already voted!
I wish I'd put her in there now!
I would actually marry her :)
Jessie Buckley for Hot 100! Agreed.