Matt Henry (singer)
Matt Henry | |
|---|---|
| Born | Birmingham, England[1] |
| Genres | Pop, Gospel, Soul, Electronic |
| Occupations | Singer, actor |
| Years active | 2002–present |
Matt Henry is a British singer and actor.
Early life and education
[edit]Henry studied at the Roehampton University of Surrey, obtaining a Bachelors of Arts Degree in drama and sociology,[2] before continuing theatrical training at the Urdang Academy in London.
Henry answered an open call to audition as understudy for Simba in The Lion King while he was in his second year at Urdang Academy in London. As a student, he was not supposed to audition for professional roles, but skipped his classes. When he returned, the principal summoned Henry to his office and asked where he had been. He said he was ill and the principal told him that the casting director of The Lion King called and said he had the part.[1]
Career
[edit]In 1997, Henry was chosen by the Prince's Trust to perform at the Two Nations Concert at Johannesburg Stadium in 1997 alongside the Spice Girls, Billy Ocean, and Omar.[citation needed]
His early West End credits include Saturday Night Fever and Avenue Q.[3]
In 2013, Henry competed in series two of the BBC's The Voice UK, where he was mentored by both will.i.am and Jessie J. He reached the final and finished in fourth place.[citation needed]
In 2015, he released his debut solo album Red Flare, which was recorded live at the studio owned by The Feeling’s Dan Gillespie and produced by Mr Hudson. He promoted the album with a UK tour supporting pop icon Cyndi Lauper.[4]
In 2020, he originated the role of Frankie The Foetus in Jonathan Harvey's play Our Lady of Blundellsands at the Everyman Theatre, Liverpool.[citation needed]
In 2020, Henry co-created and starred in a musical, The Drifters Girl. The show delayed its original October 2020 opening at the Garrick Theatre in London, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, eventually opening in November 2021, following previews at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in October 2020.[citation needed]
Awards
[edit]Henry was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2018 New Year Honours, for services to musical theatre.[5][6]
Filmography and television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Britain and Ireland’s Next Top Model | Himself | Runway coach |
| 2013 | The Voice UK | Himself | Contestant, fourth place |
| 2019 | Kinky Boots (musical) | Lola | |
| 2022 | Matilda the Musical | Doctor |
Theatre credits
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Theatre | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | The Lion King | Simba (understudy) | Lyceum Theatre | West End |
| 2004 | Miss Saigon | John Thomas (understudy) | N/a | UK National Tour |
| 2005 | Saturday Night Fever | Cesar | Apollo Victoria Theatre | West End |
| 2006-2012 | Avenue Q | Gary Coleman | Noël Coward Theatre | West End |
| 2008 | Hair | Hud | N/a | UK National Tour |
| 2009 | The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe[citation needed] | Mr. Beaver | Royal & Derngate | Northampton |
| 2009 | The Frontline | Benny | Shakespeare's Globe | London |
| 2010 | The Rat Pack: Live From Las Vegas | Sammy Davis Jr. | Adelphi Theatre & UK Tour | West End & UK National Tour |
| 2011 | The Harder They Come | Ivanhoe "Ivan" Martin | Stratford East & UK Tour | Stratford & UK National Tour |
| 2015 | Red Flare | Debut studio album | ||
| 2015-17 | Kinky Boots | Lola/Simon | Adelphi Theatre | London |
| 2018 | The Two Noble Kinsmen | Piritous | Globe Theatre | London |
| 2019 | One Night in Miami | Sam Cooke | N/a | UK National Tour |
| 2020 | Our Lady of Blundellsands | Frankie The Foetus | Everyman Theatre, Liverpool | Liverpool |
| 2021–22 | The Drifters Girl | Multiple Characters | The Garrick Theatre | Newcastle and West End |
| 2024–present | The Devil Wears Prada | Nigel | The Dominion Theatre, London | London |
Music
[edit]| Year | Title | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Red Flare | Debut studio album | |
Accolades
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best Actor in a Musical (Kinky Boots) | Won |
| 2016 | WhatsOnStage Awards | Best Actor in a Musical (Kinky Boots) | Won |
| 2017 | Order of the British Empire | MBE | Awarded |
| 2017 | Grammy Awards | Best Musical Theater Album (Kinky Boots West End Cast Recording) | Nominated |
References
[edit]- 1 2 Clark, Nick (5 June 2019). "Actor Matt Henry: 'When you leave London, you get a grittier response – it's exciting'". The Stage. Archived from the original on 7 June 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
- ↑ "Matt Henry MBE gives keynote at RSU LGBTQ+ Conference" (Press release). Roehampton. 28 February 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
- ↑ Shenton, Mark (21 August 2015). "Kinky Boots Stomps Its Way to London, Beginning Tonight at the Adelphi Theatre". Playbill. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
- ↑ "LIVE REVIEW: Cyndi Lauper and Matt Henry". Monstagigz.com. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
- ↑ Gosling, Francesca (29 December 2017). "Kinky Boots' Matt Henry adds 'humbling' MBE to awards cabinet". Irish Independent. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
- ↑ "No. 62150". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 2017. p. N19.
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- Living people
- Alumni of the University of Roehampton
- Alumni of the Urdang Academy
- The Voice UK contestants
- British male musical theatre actors
- Laurence Olivier Award winners
- Black British male actors
- 21st-century Black British male singers
- 21st-century British male singers
- Members of the Order of the British Empire
- British stage actor stubs
- Male actors from Birmingham, West Midlands
- 21st-century British male actors
- British male film actors