South African actress, dancer and singer Amra-Faye Wright (44) is the lead role in the hit musical Chicago at the Adelphi Theatre in London's West End. She was offered the role after the Broadway producers of Chicago, Barry and Fran Weissler, saw her in the lead role in the South African production of Chicago. Only three other South Africans have played starring roles on West End stages: Craig Urbani as Buddy in Buddy Holly, Edward Baker Duly as Riff in West Side Story and Kate Normington as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard.
The Eastern Cape-born actress plays the merry murderess Velma Kelly, the role played by Catherine Zeta-Jones in the movie version of Chicago. Amra-Faye, named for a ship, is the mother of two teenage daughters. In her late 20s, after her marriage to an East London tomato farmer collapsed, she became a dancer at Sun City, headlining the extravaganza Viva Sun City. This was followed by the female lead in the Starburst extravaganza in Korea and roles in South African hits such as the Elvis Las Vegas extravaganza and Grease.
