Paige in and it was so embarrassing to the musical have a young man somewhere Abracadabra so private. at the Lyric Theatre, 1983 Inside the head of... Tell us a secret about yourself I paint watercolours. I started Elaine Paige about ten years ago and it is a real passion. I slosh the paint The 4ft 11½in around and I’m not that great, but I love it. I often paint singer longed to be landscapes at my home in the hills of Cannes in the style of a tennis player, but Turner and Monet. Ha, ha! Well, you’ve got to set your couldn’t see over sights high.

the net! And how What is the worst job you’ve done? did she end up in a A musical called Maybe That’s Your Problem in boat with Dustin 1973. Unbelievably, it Hoffman on was about premature ejaculation and it didn’t ’s first night? last long. In fact it was all over after 18 performances and was the quickest show What is your earliest I have ever done. memory? Sitting on my mum’s lap as Who would be your she sang little ditties to me. I dream dinner date? can still remember the lyrics. Roger Federer. I play tennis I have no idea where Mum whenever I can with friends got those songs – years ago I at Queen’s Club in . recorded myself singing them Roger is such a wonderful on cassettes and gave them player, so dinner with him to various godchildren when would be fascinating. It they were babies. certainly helps that he is very attractive. What sort of child were you? I was very shy and quite What phobias do you have? insecure, a real mummy’s girl. ‘i had to sing don’t cry I hate confined spaces, And I was not very strong especially crowded rooms. It’s health-wise. In the winter I mainly to do with being little. had to wear a liberty bodice to I am 4ft 11½in, so I am always keep my chest warm because for me argentina on ‘down there’ when everyone the slightest cough or cold else is way above. It feels went to my chest. That still horrible and I start to perspire happens nowadays. and get breathless and I have a ladder, with a man to get out of there. I am the What is the worst thing same in a packed lift. anyone has ever said to you? When Miss Hamer, my school What is your guiltiest headmistress, destroyed my under my dior dress’ pleasure? dreams of being a professional Fortnum and Mason’s Rose tennis player. I was 15. She & Violet Creams. They are asked if I wanted to do terrible for a singer because A levels and I said, ‘No I want Describe the best night of Barbra Streisand fan and I stagehand had to get under all that chocolate and cream to be a tennis player.’ There your life was supposed to get tickets my skirt and climb the ladder hangs around the vocal cords, was a pause and she said: ‘But, The opening night of Evita in for a concert or big film with me to take the weight but people give them to me Elaine dear, you can’t even see 1978 was extraordinary. I had premiere she was doing in the of the Christian Dior spangly and I adore them. over the net.’ It was the first won that part in the face of Eighties. I was on the charity dress. It was so hazardous time I had realised I was short worldwide competition and I connected to the event. I that I would have fallen If you could go back in time, and not like other people. knew the show was going to can’t even remember exactly without help. It was often a where would you go? But the woman did me a be a hit. It was just so unusual what it was, but there was different person each night I’d love to be in the court favour: after that I started and unique. The standing some mix-up and I wasn’t of Elizabeth I and go to the concentrating on singing ovation went on so long that able to get him a ticket. He Globe Theatre to see the first and acting. night that it was slightly was so upset that I was cut night of Shakespeare’s A embarrassing. At one stage I out of his life for good Last film you saw? Midsummer Night’s Dream. What is your most didn’t want to go back on for and I never heard from Spectre. I love Daniel Craig and it treasured possession? another bow, but the manager him again. It was so made me laugh out loud a few times. Which words or phrases My mother was a milliner literally shoved me on from silly and I missed our do you most overuse? and I still have her heavy the wings. My friend Dustin friendship. Last book you read? Darling. It’s a convenient wood head block. It is very Hoffman escorted me to the Joan Rivers’ autobiography, which replacement for battered, with lots of pinholes. after-show party on a boat on What has been your was so honest and revealing. names that I will never It reminds me of watching the Thames and we all had a most embarrassing remember. her make hats. Our bath was fantastic night. moment? Last tv show you loved? Interview by Rob McGibbon always filled with sparta (a Every night during The Affair with Dominic West ‘Musicals: The Definitive tough linen) soaking in water, Who would like to say Evita when I had and Ruth Wilson. The chemistry Illustrated Story’, with which she used for the base sorry to and why? to climb a ladder to a between them was foreword by Elaine Paige, is of the hats. I keep the block in An old friend of mine called platform to sing Don’t really good. published by DK, £25. The

ARENAPAL/MICHAEL CHILDERS/CAMERA PRESS CHILDERS/CAMERA ARENAPAL/MICHAEL my dressing room at home. Frank Baker. He was a big Cry For Me Argentina. A DVD ‘I’m Still Here’ is out now

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