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Courtney Bowman
Bowman performing in Six in May 2021 at the Lyric Theatre
Born (1995-02-01) 1 February 1995 (age 29)
Boston, Lincolnshire, England
Alma materGuildford School of Acting
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
Years active2016–present
Signature

Courtney Bowman (born 1 February 1995) is an English stage actress and singer.[1] She originated the role of Fatimah in Everybody's Talking About Jamie at the Crucible and Apollo Theatre.[2] She played Anne Boleyn in Six at the Arts Theatre, Lyric Theatre and Vaudeville Theatre[3] and Elle Woods in Legally Blonde at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.[4] Bowman most recently starred in Pretty Woman: The Musical as Kit De Luca at the Savoy Theatre.[5]

On television, she appears in the CBeebies revival of Big Cook, Little Cook (2022–present) as Little Cook Small.[6]

Early life

[edit]

Bowman was born and raised in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. She is dual-heritage, being half Cape Verdean and describes herself as Afro-European.[7] Bowman attended Boston High School from eleven to eighteen.[8] She then went on to train at the Guildford School of Acting for three years until she graduated in 2016.[9] Bowman also performed at the 10th annual Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year competition held at the Novello Theatre on 15 May 2016,[10] she won the award and £1000 after performing “Me and My Town” from Anyone Can Whistle and “The Driving Lesson” from Heart of Winter by Tim Connor.[11]

Career

[edit]

Bowman performed at both Josh Groban on Stage in 2015 as a chorister and at Sam Bailey's 2016 concert Sam Bailey: In Concert as a soloist.[1]

She is currently a client of Belfield & Ward Talent Agency.[12]

In November 2016, Bowman was announced as part of the original cast of Everybody's Talking About Jamie playing at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield during its original string of performances the following year.[13] It was announced in late-June 2017 that Bowman would return in the same role for its West End transfer in late 2017 following its successful run in Sheffield.[14]

Whilst performing the role of Fatimah in Everybody's Talking About Jamie at the Apollo Theatre, a professionally filmed version of the musical, featuring Bowman, was broadcast into more than 600 cinemas worldwide.[15] It was initially administered by entertainment event cinema distributor More 2 Screen on 5 July 2018,[16] while encore screenings took place on 29 January and 13 June 2019.[17][18]

In June 2019, it was announced via Pearson Casting, that alongside Danielle Steers, Bowman would join the cast of Six on 15 October 2019.[19]

From 2019 to 2021, Bowman played Anne Boleyn as part of the principal cast of the West End production of Six. Bowman returned to Six when it opened at the Lyric Theatre after having closed for the COVID-19 pandemic. From late September 2021, she moved to the Vaudeville Theatre where she would complete her Six run; her final performance took place on 14 November 2021.[20]

Bowman performed a solo concert at Pizza Express, Holborn on 15 March 2020[21] and a socially distanced recorded concert at the Arts Theatre on 7 September 2020.[22] She also appeared in two drive-in concerts,[23] a collaborative concert at the Turbine Theatre within the Battersea Power Station complex, and a charity concert at the Actor's Church, Covent Garden.[24] In April 2021, Bowman portrayed Princess Badroulbadour in an online production of Disenchanted!, produced by stream.theatre.[25]

In mid-February 2022, it was announced Bowman would star in a 50 episode revival series of the pre-school cookery show Big Cook, Little Cook as Little Cook Small on CBeebies,[26] airing daily from 28 February 2022.[27] In March 2022, it was announced exclusively via WhatsOnStage that Bowman would portray the leading role of Elle Woods in the revival of Legally Blonde at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.[4] In an interview with The Independent she recounts how the production is distinct from other iterations of the musical, citing subtle differences to the script and lyrics in order for the production to align itself with the present day.[8] She also starred in a revival concert version of Kinky Boots at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in August 2022, portraying the role of Lauren.[28] In late-September it was revealed Bowman would be attending the first-ever MusicalCon fan convention taking place at London's ExCel Centre on 22–23 October 2022.[29] It was announced in October 2022 via the Olivier Awards social channels, that Bowman would host the annual UK Theatre Awards at the Guildhall, London that same month on 23 October 2022.[30]

It was announced by Ambassador Theatre Group Productions in late-October 2022, that Bowman would portray the supporting role of Kit de Luca in the West End production of Pretty Woman: The Musical playing at the Savoy Theatre from mid-November 2022.[31]

Bowman hosted the 2023 WhatsOnStage Awards alongside Laurie Kynaston and her Legally Blonde co-star Billy Luke Nevers on 12 February 2023 at the Prince of Wales Theatre.[32] That evening, she also won the first gender-neutral WhatsOnStage Award for Best Performer in a Musical for her performance as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.[33] In their speech, she thanked her mother, best friend and cast of Legally Blonde.

In September 2023, it was announced Courtney would star in Canterbury's annual pantomime, a production of Aladdin, playing at the Marlowe Theatre as the Spirit of the Ring.[34] This ran from November 2023 to January 2024, and earnt Bowman a nomination for 'Best Magical Being' at The Pantomime Awards, in association with Stagecoach.[35]

In April 2024, Courtney took part in the 10th anniversary concert of the musical Cool Rider at The London Palladium, adapted from the 1982 film Grease 2, and portrayed the role of Sharon.[36]

Bowman pictured as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in June 2022

Stage

[edit]
Year Production Role Venue Ref
2016 The Wind in the Willows Horse/Ensemble Theatre Royal, Plymouth / UK Tour [37]
2017 Blondel Martha Union Theatre, London [38]
2017-2019 Everybody's Talking About Jamie Fatimah / Cover Pritti Pasha Crucible Theatre / Apollo Theatre [2]
2019-2021 Six Anne Boleyn Arts Theatre / Lyric Theatre / Vaudeville Theatre [3]
2022 Legally Blonde Elle Woods Regent's Park Open Air Theatre [4]
2022–2023 Pretty Woman Kit De Luca Savoy Theatre [31]
2023–2024 Aladdin Spirit of the Ring Marlowe Theatre [34]
2024 Closer To Heaven Shell Christian The Turbine Theatre [39]


Filmography

[edit]

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Broadcasting Channel Ref
2018 Olivier Awards 2018 Fatima ITV [40]
Children In Need 2018 BBC One [41]
2019 Musical Sing-a-Long 2019 AVROTROS [42]
2021 Musicals: The Greatest Show Anne Boleyn BBC One [43]
This Morning ITV [44]
2022–present Big Cook, Little Cook Little Cook Small CBeebies [6]
2023 EastEnders Yasmin BBC One [45]

Radio

[edit]
Year Title Role Radio Station Ref
2020 WhatsOnStage Awards 2020 with Elaine Paige and Paddy O’Connell Herself BBC Radio 2 [46]
Magic With The Musicals LIVE Anne Boleyn Magic FM [47]
2021 Musicals: The Greatest Show BBC Radio 2 [43]

Podcast

[edit]
Year Title Episode Role Presenter Ref
2020 The Queendom Podcast 20 Herself Josh Mitchell [48]
2021 Now Or Nevers 1 Billy Luke Nevers [49]
2022 In The Frame 6 (Season 7) Andrew Tomlins [50]
2023 The Mayor of Musical Theatre 3 Ian Bowkett [51]
Robbie's Backstage Bants 59 Robbie Davies [52]
2024 Your 5 Minute Call 15 Amber Davies [53]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2016 The Stephen Sondheim Society Mercury Musical Developments Student Performer of the Year — Won [54]
2022 Black British Theatre Awards Best Female Actor in a Musical Legally Blonde Nominated [55]
BroadwayWorld UK Awards Best Leading Performer in a New Production of a Musical Nominated [56]
WhatsOnStage Awards Best Performer in a Musical Won [57]
2024 The Pantomime Awards Best Magical Being Aladdin Nominated [35]
[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Courtney Bowman - Spotlight Portfolio". Spotlight.
  2. ^ a b "Courtney Bowman". Everybody's Talking About Jamie. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Six: The Musical! - Cast - Courtney Bowman". Six The Musical.
  4. ^ a b c "Legally Blonde at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre announces lead casting | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com. 16 March 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  5. ^ "Courtney Bowman - Pretty Woman The Musical - Cast - Official Site". Pretty Woman The Musical. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  6. ^ a b Darvill, Josh (18 February 2022). "Big Cook, Little Cook returns to CBeebies with revamped series". TellyMix. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  7. ^ Lewis, Isobel (12 May 2022). "Legally Blonde's Courtney Bowman: 'Blonde isn't just a hair colour – it's a feeling'". The Independent. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  8. ^ a b "A star of stage and screen! Courtney Bowman was a student of Dance Krazy in Bennington, Lincolnshire where she studied dancing, acting and singing. West End performer Courtney Bowman is coming home as Everybody's Talking About Jamie set to be beamed into cinemas across the UK... including Boston". www.bostonstandard.co.uk. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  9. ^ "Graduates of 2016 | GSA - Guildford School of Acting". www.gsauk.org. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  10. ^ "Courtney Bowman wins 10th annual Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year". LondonTheatre1. 15 May 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  11. ^ "Young actress wins top student award". www.bostonstandard.co.uk. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  12. ^ "Belfield & Ward Talent Agency - Courtney Bowman". Belfield & Ward Talent Agency. Archived from the original on 11 January 2016.
  13. ^ "Full cast announced for Everybody's Talking About Jamie | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com. 25 November 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  14. ^ "Everybody's Talking About Jamie transfers to the West End | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com. 21 June 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  15. ^ "More2Screen - Global entertainment for local cinemas". More2Screen. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  16. ^ "A star of stage and screen! West End performer Courtney Bowman is coming home as Everybody's Talking About Jamie set to be beamed into cinemas across the UK... including Boston". www.bostonstandard.co.uk. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  17. ^ "Everybody's Talking About...Jamie in Cinemas AGAIN!". Everybody's Talking About Jamie. 8 January 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  18. ^ Everybody's Talking About Jamie Encore | Book tickets at Cineworld Cinemas, retrieved 27 June 2020
  19. ^ Wild, Stephi. "Courtney Bowman, Danielle Steers, Collette Guitart, and Shekinah Macfarlane Will Join SIX; Plus New Six Month Booking Period Announced". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  20. ^ Wood, Alex (14 July 2021). "Six the Musical to move into new West End 'forever home' in September | WhatsOnStage". WhatsOnStage. Archived from the original on 14 July 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  21. ^ "Pizza Express Live". www.pizzaexpresslive.com. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  22. ^ "TFW: LIVE at the Arts!". artstheatrewestend.co.uk. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  23. ^ BWW News Desk. "West End Musical Drive-In Announce New Dates and Lineup for September". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  24. ^ "West End performers to star in new charity concert at the Actor's Church | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com. September 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  25. ^ "Disenchanted musical, reimagining fairytale princesses, to be revived online | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com. 29 March 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  26. ^ televisual.com (17 February 2022). "CBeebies brings back Big Cook, Little Cook". Televisual. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  27. ^ "CBeebies - Big Cook Little Cook - Next on". BBC. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  28. ^ "Chess, Kinky Boots and Treason to be staged in concert at Theatre Royal Drury Lane | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  29. ^ "Guests - Musical Con - Excel London 22-23 Oct". www.musicalcon.co.uk. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  30. ^ "Olivier Awards on Instagram: "Omigod you guys, look who's presenting the #UKTAwards on 23 October. The awards will be taking over @olivierawards Instagram on that date so be sure to follow along to see who wins!"". Instagram. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  31. ^ a b "Courtney Bowman joins Pretty Woman in the West End | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com. 21 October 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  32. ^ "Hosts Announced For The 23rd Annual WhatsOnStage Awards". Theatreweekly.com. 9 January 2023.
  33. ^ "WhatsOnStage Awards: Jodie Comer and Lucie Jones among winners". BBC News. 12 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  34. ^ a b Jade, Kayleigh (25 August 2023). "Marlowe Theatre's Aladdin 2023 panto cast and tickets for festive show". Stageberry. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  35. ^ a b ACJackson (2 May 2024). "The UK Pantomime Association announces the nominees for The Pantomime Awards 2024 in association with Stagecoach". The UK Pantomime Association. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  36. ^ "Cool Rider: 10th Anniversary Concert". Cool Rider. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  37. ^ "Rufus Hound to star in new Wind in the Willows musical". WhatsOnStage.com. 17 June 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  38. ^ "FIRST LOOK: Tim Rice's Blondel at the Union Theatre". British Theatre. 22 June 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  39. ^ "Closer to Heaven". The Turbine Theatre. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  40. ^ Everybody's Talking About Jamie performance at the Olivier Awards 2018 with Mastercard, 26 April 2018, retrieved 4 April 2021
  41. ^ "And You Don't Even Know It - Everybody's Talking About Jamie - Children in Need 2018". YouTube/BBC. 20 June 2020.
  42. ^ "Everybody's Talking About Jamie - And You Don't Even Know It". YouTube/AVROTROS. 25 August 2019. Archived from the original on 25 August 2019.
  43. ^ a b "Stars take to the stage as Musicals: The Greatest Show is announced for BBC Radio 2 and BBC One". www.bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  44. ^ "There's no way you want to miss this performance from the cast of Six!". ITV. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  45. ^ "EastEnders - 22/12/2023". BBC iPlayer. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  46. ^ "WhatsOnStage Awards 2020". YouTube/BBC Radio. March 2020. Archived from the original on 2 February 2021.
  47. ^ "Six the musical: get the lowdown on the Queens rocking the West End". Magic at the Musicals. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  48. ^ "The Queendom Podcast - A SIX: The Musical Podcast on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  49. ^ "Episode 1 - Courtney Bowman - Now or Nevers". Spotify. 27 January 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  50. ^ "In The Frame: Theatre Interviews from West End Frame: S7 Ep6: Courtney Bowman, Lauren in Kinky Boots & Elle Woods in Legally Blonde on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  51. ^ "The Mayor of Musical Theatre: Courtney Bowman on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  52. ^ Backstage Bants with Courtney Bowman, 6 May 2023, retrieved 6 May 2023
  53. ^ Your 5 Minute Call with Amber Davies (15 May 2024). Courtney Bowman on Being Elle Woods & On-Stage Confessions | Your 5 Minute Call with Amber Davies. Retrieved 15 May 2024 – via YouTube.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  54. ^ "GSA student wins Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year award | GSA - Guildford School of Acting". gsauk.org. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  55. ^ Thomas, Sophie (14 September 2022). "2022 Black British Theatre Awards: Nominees announced". London Theatre. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  56. ^ "Best Leading Performer in a New Production of a Musical | BroadwayWorld UK". www.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  57. ^ "Nominations in full: the 23rd Annual WhatsOnStage Awards | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com. 8 December 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
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