We sat down for an exclusive interview with Helen Dallimore, an acclaimed Australian actress, singer, director and writer whose career has spanned theatre, musical theatre, film and television across Australia and the UK.
Best known to British audiences as the original West End Glinda in Wicked, Helen created the role in the London production opposite Idina Menzel and Adam Garcia. As Wicked celebrates its 20th anniversary, Helen returns to London to share her unique perspective on the extraordinary legacy of Wicked — from being an unknown Australian actress making her West End debut and appearing in her first-ever musical, to helping create the distinctly British version of Glinda that audiences have come to know and love.
You were stepping into your first musical when you became the original West End Glinda, so what do you remember about the moment you realised this completely new role was going to become such a huge part of your career?
I knew the moment I got the call from my agent that my life was about to change. It was such a coveted role, in such an already iconic show and I had worked very hard in the months of auditions to hone my version of Glinda. I relished the challenge of creating her and when I found out I was going to play her, it was a career-defining achievement.
What was it like developing Glinda alongside Idina Menzel and Adam Garcia, and were there any moments in rehearsals when you realised the original cast was creating something special?
We were so lucky because we all got on like a house on fire. Adam and I, both being Australians, felt like brother and sister very quickly – always making each other laugh. And Idina and I became very close friends. With roles like that, you really need to trust each other and connect in such a deep way. She was incredibly generous as a person and as a performer. I think the audience could see the love we had for each other.
Glinda has become such an iconic character, but you helped establish the version British audiences first fell in love with; what elements of the character did you particularly want to make your own?
Her voice and her accent needed to be created from scratch. I thought that a kind of ‘Sloane Ranger’ accent epitomised a privileged, entitled, English version of Glinda. And I’m a big one for physical comedy, so my Glinda had a clumsiness – always trying to be graceful and failing. Not that far from myself, if I’m honest!
Twenty years on, what is the most unexpected memory from the original production that still makes you laugh or smile?
Miriam Margoyles, who played Madame Morrible, used to love my number ‘Popular’. Every night she would watch from the wings and when I came off stage, she would be there grinning and clapping and say ‘Marvelous, darling! Just wonderful!’ She and I have remained the greatest of friends.
Having watched countless actors take on Glinda over the past two decades, are there any ways the character has evolved that have surprised you, or anything you still recognise from the version you created?
I have never seen the show here in London! I’ve seen it a few times in Australia, but they do in in American accent there, so it’s quite different from the UK version. I can’t wait to see it on Sunday for the 20th anniversary, I’ll be so curious to see if anything has trickled down over the years from the version I created.
If you could sneak backstage at the original Wicked for one night and relive any moment from those early performances, which moment would you choose and why?
My entrance in the bubble, singing ‘No one Mourns the Wicked’. I mean, it’s pretty hard to beat an entrance like that!