‘I didn’t know his music!’: Helen George reveals she worked as a backing vocalist for Elton John as a student, but ‘didn’t appreciate’ the opportunity
Helen George has admitted that she “knew” nothing of Elton John’s music when she worked as a backing vocalist for him.
The Call The Midwife actress, 38, revealed she was sought out for the opportunity while studying musical theater at the Royal Academy of Music in 2005.
The Rocketman hitmaker studied at the same school when he was 11 years old.
Error? Helen George has admitted that she “knew” nothing of Elton John’s music when she performed as a backing vocalist for him during his student days.
But despite the great opportunity, Helen, who was 21 at the time, said she “didn’t appreciate” being on tour with the star and had just “had a great time”.
Speaking to Tom Allen on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show with Sky, Helen shared: ‘[Elton] I went to the Royal Academy of Music, and I trained at the Royal Academy of Music and he took some of the singers and musicians on tour with him.
“That was very nice of him and I was like 21 years old, I didn’t know Elton John’s music and I didn’t really appreciate it, and I had a great time.”
‘Now I look back and think, why didn’t I fall in love with him? It was amazing and now I listen to his music religiously.
Crossed Paths: Helen was discovered while studying musical theater at the Royal Academy of Music in 2005. Elton studied at the same school when he was 11 years old.
Helen has since starred in a video for the 1901 Birdy cover and also showcased her voice when she appeared on the BBC special for the 75th anniversary of VE Day at Buckingham Palace.
Now, she’s ready to take the stage as Anna. on The King and I’s upcoming UK tour, which kicks off at the Marlowe Theater in Canterbury in February.
Speaking about the iconic role, she shared: ‘I’m over the moon, it’s such a great role. I never thought I could touch it and it was offered to me and I said ‘of course I can’t say no!’ That’s one of the best musical theater roles of all time.’
Unbelievable: Helen has since starred in a video for Birdy’s 1901 version and also sang in the BBC’s special for the 75th anniversary of VE Day at Buckingham Palace in May 2020.
Helen is best known, however, for her role in the medical period drama, Call The Midwife.
Her character Trixie Franklin and Matthew Aylward (played by Olly Rix) had a happy ending when they got married on the show.
This comes as Helen George and Olly Rix looked like happy newlyweds while filming for the new season of Call The Midwife back in November.
Olly previously admitted that when he meets fans, he often finds that they are more interested in berating him than swooning.
While they like his character (Matthew Aylward, the wealthy, handsome landlord who drove nurse Trixie Franklin crazy and backed the financial security of the Nonnatus House midwives base), they also worry that he’ll be the next guy to leave Trixie. with a broken heart.
The BBC drama returned with a Christmas special on Christmas Day and season 12 kicked off on New Year’s Day.
Happy ending? Helen is best known for her role in the period medical drama Call The Midwife (pictured with her co-star Olly Rix)