Julia McKenzie
b. 17 February 1941, Enfield, Middlesex, England. An actress, singer, and director. McKenzie started to perform at an early age, and attended the Sylvia Spriggs Dancing School. She was about to begin training to be a French teacher when she was offered a scholarship to study opera. After spending four years at the Guildhall School Of Music, she performed in provincial theatres and toured in operettas and musical comedies for a good number of years before coming to prominence in 1969 in the London production of Mame, which starred Ginger Rogers. In the early '70s she had her first introduction to Stephen Sondheim's work, with which she later became indelibly associated, when she took over one of the leading roles in Company. She also replaced Patricia Routledge in COWARDY CUSTARD, and, in 1974, appeared in COLE, another of the Mermaid Theatre's excellent anthology productions. McKenzie's biggest break came two years later with yet another celebratory revue—SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM—in which she co-starred with Millicent Martin, David Kernan, and Ned Sherrin. A surprise hit in London, the show was also well-received in New York where it ran for 384 performances. During the '80s, McKenzie gave a ‘dazzling performance’ as Lily Garland in On The Twentieth Century, won Variety Club and Olivier Awards for her portrayal of Miss Adelaide in Guys And Dolls at the National Theatre, and resumed her association with Sondheim in Follies and Into The Woods. The '90s could well be another Sondheim decade for McKenzie. In 1993 she played Mrs. Lovett at the Royal National Theatre in their highly acclaimed production of Sweeney Todd, and directed the New York premiere of PUTTING IT TOGETHER, a revue based on the composer's songs. The show tempted Julie Andrews back to the New York musical stage for the first time since Camelot (1960). Julia McKenzie has also worked extensively in the straight theatre and on television where she was voted Favourite Comedy Performer three times in the '80s for her appearances in sitcoms such as MAGGIE AND HER, FRESH FIELDS, and FRENCH FIELDS.