Connie Fisher facts for kids

Connie Fisher (born 17 June 1983) is a British actress, singer, and TV presenter. She became famous after winning the BBC One TV show How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?

In November 2006, she started playing the main role of Maria von Trapp in The Sound of Music in London's West End. This is a famous theatre district. She was so good that her contract was extended until February 2008. She played Maria again in a UK tour of the show starting in July 2009. Later, in 2012, she also had a role in the British medical TV series Casualty.

Early Life and Training

Connie Fisher was born in Lisburn, Northern Ireland. Her father was a soldier. When she was four, her family moved to a village near Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire, Wales. She learned to speak Welsh fluently.

As a teenager, Connie loved performing. She joined local theatre groups like the Haverfordwest Operatic Society and the Torch Youth Theatre. She performed in musicals like The Pirates of Penzance and South Pacific. She also joined the National Youth Music Theatre, a special group for young performers. With them, she played important roles in shows that toured the UK and even Japan.

Connie also sang in a choir called Côr Newyddion Da. This group helped her perform as a soloist in Welsh cultural festivals called Eisteddfods. In 2002, she won a scholarship at the National Eisteddfod of Wales for her singing.

She went on to study musical theatre at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, a top drama school. She won an award that paid for her training. In 2005, she graduated with top honors and a special prize.

Career Highlights

Starting Out

Before becoming a big star, Connie appeared on TV shows like Star for a Night and Children in Need. She also recorded a Welsh song and a charity single.

Her first professional theatre role was in a pantomime of Aladdin in 2005. She also won a singing competition in 2006. Before her big break, she worked in sales while trying to get roles in West End shows.

Becoming Maria: 2006–2008

Connie became widely known when she won the 2006 BBC One TV show How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?. This show searched for the lead actress for The Sound of Music.

In 2007, she had to take a short break from the show because of vocal strain. When she returned, she performed six shows a week, with another actress taking on two performances.

Connie performed at the Concert for Diana at Wembley Stadium in 2007, alongside famous singers like Sarah Brightman and Josh Groban. She also sang "Somewhere" on a special recording of West Side Story. She won two theatre awards in 2007 for being a favorite actress and a top newcomer.

In December 2007, Connie appeared in a BBC special called When Joseph met Maria!. This show celebrated the success of the BBC talent shows she and Lee Mead had won. The show How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? even won an Emmy Award in New York!

After Maria: 2008–2011

Connie finished her role as Maria in February 2008. She then starred in another musical called They're Playing Our Song. She also performed in several concerts. In December 2008, she appeared on the Royal Variety Performance and in a TV drama called Caught in a Trap.

Her second solo album, Secret Love, came out in February 2009. However, her tour for the album was canceled because she needed an operation on her vocal cords. She later guest-presented a Scottish TV show called The Hour. In July 2009, she began touring the UK again as Maria in The Sound of Music.

Voice Challenges and New Paths: 2011–Present

In 2011, Connie was diagnosed with a condition called sulcus vocalis, which caused small holes in her vocal cords. This made it very hard for her to sing and even speak clearly. After three operations, she was told she might never sing professionally again.

However, in 2015, she worked with a voice coach who helped her sing again. This journey was shown in a documentary called Connie Fisher: I'll Sing Once More.

Since 2011, Connie has expanded her career beyond singing. She has presented TV shows like Songs of Praise and the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition. She also started the Connie Fisher Academy, which helps young people train for musical theatre. In 2013, she began working as a development producer for a TV production company.

Connie has also taken on more acting roles. She had a recurring role as a patient named Amanda in the BBC One medical drama Casualty in 2012. In 2018, she was a judge on a Welsh singing competition called Junior Eurovision: Chwilio am Seren. This show aimed to find a young singer to represent Wales in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2018.

Personal Life

Connie Fisher married banker Jeremy Reed in 2010. They live in Barry, Wales.

In August 2009, Connie was honored at the National Eisteddfod in Bala, Gwynedd. She was made a member of the Gorsedd, a special group that celebrates Welsh culture.

Discography

Favourite Things

Connie's first album, Favourite Things, was released on 9 October 2006. It reached No. 14 on the UK Album chart.

The Sound of Music – London Palladium cast album

On 11 December 2006, the soundtrack for the new London production of The Sound of Music was released. It featured Connie Fisher and the rest of the cast.

Secret Love

Her second solo album, Secret Love, was released on 23 February 2009.