Frances Ruffelle
Frances Ruffelle was born on August 29, 1965 in London, and trained at the Sylvia Young Theatre School (founded by her mother). Ruffelle began performing at the age of seven, and appeared in the children' musical Gavin the Monster when she was sixteen. A couple of years later she originated the role of Dinah in the first West End production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express. From there she moved on to create Eponine in Les Miserables. Ruffelle played the role in the original casts of both the London and Broadway productions of this show, winning four major awards. In 1988 she appeared in Mack and Mabel in Concert (along with such performers as George Hearn, Debbie Shapiro, Denis Quilley, and Georgia Brown) and Save the Children--Christmas Carols and Festive Songs (with Elaine Paige, Michael Ball, Lon Satton, Claire Moore, Julia McKenzie, Dave Willetts, and many others); three years later she starred as Yonah in Stephen Schwartz' West End musical Children of Eden, and also appeared in the musical Apples. Since then she has released several pop singles, guest-starred on various television shows, and represented the UK in the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest. In 1994, she released her first solo album, Fragile, containing many songs written or co-written by her.
In March of 1998 her second solo album, Frances Ruffelle, was released, containing mostly musical theatre songs. To promote that album she made a return to New York City to perform two cabaret-style performances. She also did some similar shows in London. Frances and her sister Alison appeared on BBCTV's This is Your Life recently when their mother, Sylvia Young was the subject. Frances has completed a film called 'The Road to Ithaca', which was filmed in London and on location in Cyprus. She is said to have a major role in it. No word yet on when exactly it will be released. Frances is working on a third solo album; among the tracks she has recorded is a cover version of the Oasis track "She's Electric". There are a couple rumours that she may make a return to musical theatre in London or New York, but no official word on that yet.
Frances Ruffelle married director John Caird in 1990; a couple of years later, the two separated. They have two children, Eliza and Nathaniel; Ruffelle had a third child, Felix, in mid-1995 with her then-boyfriend Rob Manley. She is currently seeing Tad Barker, director of a musical equipment hire company; Alison Ruffelle is dating his brother, Ras.
For more information about Frances Rufelle please visit The Frances Ruffelle Home Page
