She’d Do Anything
- Mar 25
- 4 min read
Recently, I referenced some TV shows that held auditions to cast parts in stage show. It was done both in the U.S. and England, though one that was only done in the U.K. was to cast the roles of ‘Nancy’ and “Oliver’ in a 2008 West End production of Oliver! They called the competition show, I'd Do Anything. And this was no small potatoes thing – it starred Rowan Atkinson as ‘Fagin (yes, Rowan Atkinson) and was produced by Cameron Macintosh. I mention this because one of the contestants was an 18-year-old girl named Jessie Buckley. She didn’t win (which is almost inexplicable, since the videos I’ve seen of her in the TV competition, she’s absolutely wonderful – and of course what we know of her work since…including – well, just winning the Oscar for Best Actress), though she did finish second. I can only assume the winner was a gem. But still…
This must have been a nerve-wracking experience since not only are you auditioning on national television, but two of the three judges were Cameron Macinstosh (who, as I noted, would be producing the stage production they were actually auditioning for) and Andrew Lloyd Webber (who I believe may have created the series.) The host of the show was Graham Norton, who many people in the U.S. now known from his chat show on BBC America.
I should note that for anyone surprised about Jessie Buckley being such a good singer, she won the Olivier Award in 2021 as Best Actress in a Musical for Cabaret, and also made a movie in England – I don’t know if it got released in the U.S. – “Wild Rose” in which she plays a rough young woman trying to survive while her dream is to be a country music singer. She sings throughout the movie, and even had a British hit that she performed at the BAFTA Awards.
It wasn’t long after she appeared on I’d Do Anything that I first became aware of her work. Not as a singer (I didn’t know of this audition series until much later), but in a tiny role in the 2019 HBO limited series Chernobyl, and she leaped out to me from her few scenes, since I thought she’d be perfect for a film project I was working on. When I initially brought her up, the response was understandably, “Who’s she?” Over time, her talent became abundantly evident. Now, it's "Yes, she's great.”
(By the way, to add to the “But still…” aspect of Jessie Buckley coming in second here, one of the other 12 contestants – and who didn’t make it to the finals -- was Samantha Barks. She later went on to star in the movie of Les Miserables as ‘Eponine.” And also starred on the West End as ‘Elsa’ in the stage production of Frozen, as well as originating the role of ‘Vivian’ in the Broadway production of the musical version of Pretty Woman. She didn’t win either, though she finished third. So, the second and third-place actresses were pretty darn great.)
I have two videos of Jessie Buckley from the finale, when it’s down to her and one other actress. What’s worth noting, when saying that she didn’t win the audition, is that the judges don’t decide who wins in the finale. That’s up to audience call-in votes. And what’s interesting (and pretty clear) from the judges’ comments after both performances is that they had the wisdom to recognize how superb Jessie Buckley is. And I’m 100% sure if it was up to them, she’d have been selected. As it was, Jessie Buckley was a big fan favorite (just not quiiiiite big enough…), and it’s what helped launch her career.
First, here on the finale are Jessie Buckley and Gwion Wyn Jones (who was auditioning for the role of ‘Oliver’ – and won) adorably performing the song, “Truly Scrumptious” from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. (Considering that Cameron Macintosh was actually producing the stage production of Oliver! that this was for, you have to know – once you hear what he says after this performance – that he was aching for the audience to vote for her.
Jessie Buckley tends to get cast in very serious roles, often dark ones. But I've always found her in her interviews to be very funny, and the total charm she shows here confirms that.
SIDE NOTE: After the performance, you'll see a little blonde girl in the audience cheering her and holding a sign, "Jessie for Nancy." That's her little sister.
And finally, this is Jessie Buckley being Jessie Buckley, even at age 18, and blowing the roof off the house and singing “As Long as He Needs Me.” And remember, as you watch this – the majority of the audience didn’t vote for her. (But as you hear the deep praise Andrew Lloyd Webber says after this one, I have no doubt that Cameron Macintosh was nodding in furious agreement inside. After all, we do see him on his feet wildly applauding and shouting “Bravo!!!” (In fact, right before that, as she nears the crescendo of her performance, at the 1:05 mark, you can see Macintosh from the back, and I swear it's like he makes a very tiny "bounce" in his chair and turns -- sort of like looking at the other experts, "Are you seeing what I'm seeing??!") So, you can only imagine how much he wanted her in his production. Note: I’ve seen a longer clip, and only Lloyd Webber is asked to comment, so Cameron Macintosh's reaction isn't left out here.) Still, it’s nice to know she’s done just fine since…
By the way, in his great praise of her performance, Andrew Lloyd Webber wonders if she'd be able to sustain that intensity night after night. Given what we've seen of her performances and career in the intervening 17 years, the answer is -- yes.
Finally, for people who watch these competition-type shows, let this be a lesson that you don’t have to win to have an amazing career. And even, a far more successful one than the winner.
Comments