Elaine Paige was born in Barnet, Hertfordshire. She then trained at the Aida Foster Stage School and while she was still a student she made her first professional appearance in the Anthony Newley/Leslie Bricusse musical The Roar of the Greaspaint. In the West End, her first appearance was in Hair in 1969 followed by Jesus Christ Superstar and Rock Carmen among others as well as work with Joan Littlewood's Actor's Workshop. Her first leading West End role was that of Sandy in Grease in 1973. Her second as Rita in Billy a year later. In 1978 Elaine was chosen by Hal Prince for the role of Eva Peron in Evita for which she won the Society of West End Theatre Award for the Performance of the Year in a Musical.:)!!! She was the first actress to perform "Memory" ~a major hit record for her, when she played Grizabella in the original London production of Cats in 1981. She has performed the music of Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson on the London stage once before when she starred as Carabosse in Abbacadabra in 1983. She has made many television appearances around the world. Her first solo concert tour of Great Britain and Ireland in 1985 was a sell-out. She has also toured Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the Far East. Her four WEA albums have been best-sellers: 'Stages,' 'Cinema' and 'Love Hurts' are all platinum records.
