There have been a flurry of reports this week that Martine McCutcheon was set to quit her starring role in the West End musical My Fair Lady. And, after first announcing she would quit in March and then hinting at a December 8 stop, a spokesman for the former EastEnders beauty has confirmed Martine’s departure is effective immediately.
“Martine has been in discussion with her doctors all morning,” reported her spokesman Simon Jones on Friday. “They have unfortunately concluded that she will not be returning to the stage from today.”
Doctors feared Martine could do permanent damage to her voice if she continued on in the production. “In order for her to get better, everyone concerned felt she should leave the show to get a proper rest,” an insider told UK tabloid the Daily Mail. Olivier Award-winning actress Joanna Riding will replace Martine starting next month.
Although Martine has received rave reviews for her stage performances, the 25-year-old actress has been dogged by ill health during her run as the Cockney flower girl in Trevor Nunn’s £5 million revival of the classic musical. In the show’s initial four-month stint at the National Theatre, she performed just 63 times and was too poorly to take to the stage for the pre-press night.
Despite repeated bouts of illness Martine did perform on the show’s opening night – only to be struck down anew with a combination of severe throat infection, sinusitis and impaired blood clotting. Eighteen-year-old understudy Alexandra Jay has covered for Martine on numerous occasions. It is believed she will take on the role for the next month.
Executives behind the Cameron Mackintosh-Trevor Nunn production have signed up Joanna Riding to take over the role of Eliza Doolittle permanently. Joanna, who recently starred in The Witches Of Eastwick, made her name in the celebrated revival of Carousel at the National a few years back and in Guys And Dolls.
Martine, who embarked upon a brief pop career after leaving EastEnders, says she plans to concentrate on a screen career. “Martine has not come to any decision about what she will do next,” says her spokesman. “There are a number of offers on the table.”
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
