Katie Brayben (born 3 September) is an English actress and musician who has performed in stage plays, television and musicals and also as a singer and songwriter with her own music. She is presently best known for her portrayal of the title role of Carole King in the London production of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, for which she won the 2015 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She won her second Olivier award at the 2023 ceremony for her performance as the title role in Tammy Faye.

Biography

Brayben is an English actress, singer and musician who also performs as an original songwriter playing piano and guitar.[1][2] Born Katie Burke, her parents being London blues-based performers Mick (Mike) Burke and Frances (Fran) McGillivray, she was raised in a musical household in the London borough of Lewisham;[3] her sister Jo Burke is also a folk music performer (singer and violinist).[4] She studied at the Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance, from which she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 2003.[1][5] She made her West End debut when she took over the lead role of Sophie in the 10th anniversary production of Mamma Mia! and later starred opposite Matt Smith in the American Psycho musical. In 2014 she joined the production of Mike Bartlett's King Charles III playing Princess Diana, and moved with the show when it transferred from the Almeida Theatre to the West End. In 2015 when that show moved to Broadway, she took on the title role of Carole King in the London production of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.[6] Her performance won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical.[7]


2022 saw Katie Brayben re-team with American Psycho and King Charles III director Rupert Goold at the Almeida for the new biographic stage musical Tammy Faye.[8] With Brayben in the title role of the queer icon, the show explored her life with lyrics by Jake Shears and music by Sir Elton John. The production would go on to receive four nominations at this year’s Laurence Olivier Awards,[9] where Katie would receive her second Olivier for Best Actress in a Musical - making her one of six actresses in the awards almost fifty year history to win more than once in this category.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2015 Vera Sally Episode - "Changing Tides"
2017 Doctor Who Ellie Episode - "Oxygen"
2017 King Charles III Diana, Princess of Wales TV movie
2019 A Serial Killer's Guide to Life Lou Farnt also Associate Producer
2021 The Wheel of Time Latra Posae Decume Episode - "The Eye of the World"

Stage

Year Title Role Notes
2013–14 American Psycho Courtney Lawrence Almeida Theatre
2014 King Charles III Diana, Princess of Wales Almeida Theatre
2015 Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Carole King Aldwych Theatre
2016 The Spoils Sarah Trafalgar Studios
2019 Girl from the North Country Elizabeth Laine Gielgud Theatre
2022 Tammy Faye Tammy Faye Almeida Theatre

References

  1. 1 2 "CDA London: Katie Brayben" (PDF). Cdalondon.com. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  2. ↑ "Katie Brayben". Thegooseisout.com. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  3. ↑ "Katie Brayben: 'You have to make it known if you want a certain role'". Thestage.co.uk. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  4. ↑ "Jo Burke". Joburkemusic.com. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  5. ↑ Smith, Reiss (10 May 2017). "Who is Katie Brayben, the actress who plays Princess Diana's ghost in King Charles III?". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  6. ↑ "Katie Brayben cast as Carole King in Beautiful". Whatsonstage.com. 25 September 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  7. ↑ "Katie Brayben is Best Actress in a Musical | Official London Theatre". Archived from the original on 4 August 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  8. ↑ "Tammy Faye". Almeida Theatre. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  9. ↑ "Olivier awards 2023: full list of winners". The Guardian. 2 April 2023. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 9 August 2023.


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