Verity Anne Meldrum

Verity Anne Meldrum was a musical theatre actor and singer who starred in several West End musicals. She died of cancer in 2009 at the age of 58.

Cats Credits
London - 02/1987 - Grizabella

Obituary
Obituary by Francine Brown:

My friend, the musical actor and singer Verity Anne Meldrum, who has died of cancer aged 58, was a stalwart of West End musicals, and starred in some of the best-known productions of the past 30 years. As well as working in theatre, film and radio, she was a talented chanteuse/vocalist and also spent time as a theatre educator.

Verity was born in Kingston-upon-Thames and grew up in Surbiton, south-west London, with her parents, Geoff (a renowned cameraman) and Anne, and her older brother, Thane. She won a scholarship to the Guildford School of Acting.

Verity lived in London for many years. Her West End debut was with the original London cast of Godspell, starring David Essex. Her extraordinarily beautiful voice was soon recognised and she was recalled many times by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Hal Prince during casting for the title role of Evita. Eventually the part went to Elaine Paige, and Verity, naturally disappointed, found a creative outlet for her feelings; working with the composer Carl Davis, she wrote the lyrics for a song cycle, The Room, which she performed for BBC television.

She continued to appear on tour and in West End productions, including the role of Grizabella in Cats at the New London Theatre; as the lead vocalist in Song and Dance with Wayne Sleep; and in Cameron Mackintosh's Oliver! at the London Palladium. Her last roles included the Queen in a touring production of Roald Dahl's The BFG.

No one who knew Verity will forget the infectious laughter that echoed backstage wherever she went. She never stopped singing. Only months before she died, she recorded a final CD. She is survived by her partner, Simon Carley, her mother and brother.