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Courtney Bowman (born 1 February 1995) is an English stage actress and singer.[1] She originated the role of Fatimah in Everybody's Talking About Jamie at the Crucible and Apollo Theatre.[2] She played Anne Boleyn in Six at the Arts Theatre, Lyric Theatre and Vaudeville Theatre[3] and Elle Woods in Legally Blonde at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.[4] Bowman most recently starred in Pretty Woman: The Musical as Kit De Luca at the Savoy Theatre.[5]
Courtney Bowman | |
|---|---|
 Bowman performing in Six in May 2021 at the Lyric Theatre | |
| Born | 1 February 1995 Boston, Lincolnshire, England |
| Alma mater | Guildford School of Acting |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2016–present |
| Signature | |
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On television, she appears in the CBeebies revival of Big Cook, Little Cook (2022–present) as Little Cook Small.[6]
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Bowman was born and raised in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. She is dual-heritage, being half Cape Verdean and describes herself as Afro-European.[7] Bowman attended Boston High School from eleven to eighteen.[8] She then went on to train at the Guildford School of Acting for three years until she graduated in 2016.[9] Bowman also performed at the 10th annual Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year competition held at the Novello Theatre on 15 May 2016,[10] she won the award and £1000 after performing “Me and My Town” from Anyone Can Whistle and “The Driving Lesson” from Heart of Winter by Tim Connor.[11]
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Bowman performed at both Josh Groban on Stage in 2015 as a chorister and at Sam Bailey's 2016 concert Sam Bailey: In Concert as a soloist.[1]
She is currently a client of Belfield & Ward Talent Agency.[12]
In November 2016, Bowman was announced as part of the original cast of Everybody's Talking About Jamie playing at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield during its original string of performances the following year.[13] It was announced in late-June 2017 that Bowman would return in the same role for its West End transfer in late 2017 following its successful run in Sheffield.[14]
Whilst performing the role of Fatimah in Everybody's Talking About Jamie at the Apollo Theatre, a professionally filmed version of the musical, featuring Bowman, was broadcast into more than 600 cinemas worldwide.[15] It was initially administered by entertainment event cinema distributor More 2 Screen on 5 July 2018,[16] while encore screenings took place on 29 January and 13 June 2019.[17][18]
In June 2019, it was announced via Pearson Casting, that alongside Danielle Steers, Bowman would join the cast of Six on 15 October 2019.[19]
From 2019 to 2021, Bowman played Anne Boleyn as part of the principal cast of the West End production of Six. Bowman returned to Six when it opened at the Lyric Theatre after having closed for the COVID-19 pandemic. From late September 2021, she moved to the Vaudeville Theatre where she would complete her Six run; her final performance took place on 14 November 2021.[20]
Bowman performed a solo concert at Pizza Express, Holborn on 15 March 2020[21] and a socially distanced recorded concert at the Arts Theatre on 7 September 2020.[22] She also appeared in two drive-in concerts,[23] a collaborative concert at the Turbine Theatre within the Battersea Power Station complex, and a charity concert at the Actor's Church, Covent Garden.[24] In April 2021, Bowman portrayed Princess Badroulbadour in an online production of Disenchanted!, produced by stream.theatre.[25]
In mid-February 2022, it was announced Bowman would star in a 50 episode revival series of the pre-school cookery show Big Cook, Little Cook as Little Cook Small on CBeebies,[26] airing daily from 28 February 2022.[27] In March 2022, it was announced exclusively via WhatsOnStage that Bowman would portray the leading role of Elle Woods in the revival of Legally Blonde at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.[4] In an interview with The Independent she recounts how the production is distinct from other iterations of the musical, citing subtle differences to the script and lyrics in order for the production to align itself with the present day.[8] She also starred in a revival concert version of Kinky Boots at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in August 2022, portraying the role of Lauren.[28] In late-September it was revealed Bowman would be attending the first-ever MusicalCon fan convention taking place at London's ExCel Centre on 22–23 October 2022.[29] It was announced in October 2022 via the Olivier Awards social channels, that Bowman would host the annual UK Theatre Awards at the Guildhall, London that same month on 23 October 2022.[30]
It was announced by Ambassador Theatre Group Productions in late-October 2022, that Bowman would portray the supporting role of Kit de Luca in the West End production of Pretty Woman: The Musical playing at the Savoy Theatre from mid-November 2022.[31]
Bowman hosted the 2023 WhatsOnStage Awards alongside Laurie Kynaston and her Legally Blonde co-star Billy Luke Nevers on 12 February 2023 at the Prince of Wales Theatre.[32] That evening, she also won the first gender-neutral WhatsOnStage Award for Best Performer in a Musical for her performance as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.[33] In their speech, she thanked her mother, best friend and cast of Legally Blonde.
In September 2023, it was announced Courtney would star in Canterbury's annual pantomime, a production of Aladdin, playing at the Marlowe Theatre as the Spirit of the Ring.[34] This ran from November 2023 to January 2024, and earnt Bowman a nomination for 'Best Magical Being' at The Pantomime Awards, in association with Stagecoach.[35]
In April 2024, Courtney took part in the 10th anniversary concert of the musical Cool Rider at The London Palladium, adapted from the 1982 film Grease 2, and portrayed the role of Sharon.[36]
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| Year | Production | Role | Venue | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | The Wind in the Willows | Horse/Ensemble | Theatre Royal, Plymouth / UK Tour | [37] |
| 2017 | Blondel | Martha | Union Theatre, London | [38] |
| 2017-2019 | Everybody's Talking About Jamie | Fatimah / Cover Pritti Pasha | Crucible Theatre / Apollo Theatre | [2] |
| 2019-2021 | Six | Anne Boleyn | Arts Theatre / Lyric Theatre / Vaudeville Theatre | [3] |
| 2022 | Legally Blonde | Elle Woods | Regent's Park Open Air Theatre | [4] |
| 2022–2023 | Pretty Woman | Kit De Luca | Savoy Theatre | [31] |
| 2023–2024 | Aladdin | Spirit of the Ring | Marlowe Theatre | [34] |
| 2024 | Closer To Heaven | Shell Christian | The Turbine Theatre | [39] |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Broadcasting Channel | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Olivier Awards 2018 | Fatima | ITV | [40] |
| Children In Need 2018 | BBC One | [41] | ||
| 2019 | Musical Sing-a-Long 2019 | AVROTROS | [42] | |
| 2021 | Musicals: The Greatest Show | Anne Boleyn | BBC One | [43] |
| This Morning | ITV | [44] | ||
| 2022–present | Big Cook, Little Cook | Little Cook Small | CBeebies | [6] |
| 2023 | EastEnders | Yasmin | BBC One | [45] |
Radio
| Year | Title | Role | Radio Station | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | WhatsOnStage Awards 2020 with Elaine Paige and Paddy O’Connell | Herself | BBC Radio 2 | [46] |
| Magic With The Musicals LIVE | Anne Boleyn | Magic FM | [47] | |
| 2021 | Musicals: The Greatest Show | BBC Radio 2 | [43] |
Podcast
| Year | Title | Episode | Role | Presenter | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | The Queendom Podcast | 20 | Herself | Josh Mitchell | [48] |
| 2021 | Now Or Nevers | 1 | Billy Luke Nevers | [49] | |
| 2022 | In The Frame | 6 (Season 7) | Andrew Tomlins | [50] | |
| 2023 | The Mayor of Musical Theatre | 3 | Ian Bowkett | [51] | |
| Robbie's Backstage Bants | 59 | Robbie Davies | [52] | ||
| 2024 | Your 5 Minute Call | 15 | Amber Davies | [53] |
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| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | The Stephen Sondheim Society Mercury Musical Developments | Student Performer of the Year | — | Won | [54] |
| 2022 | Black British Theatre Awards | Best Female Actor in a Musical | Legally Blonde | Nominated | [55] |
| BroadwayWorld UK Awards | Best Leading Performer in a New Production of a Musical | Nominated | [56] | ||
| WhatsOnStage Awards | Best Performer in a Musical | Won | [57] | ||
| 2024 | The Pantomime Awards | Best Magical Being | Aladdin | Nominated | [35] |
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