Amber Davies in the touring production of Legally Blonde. Picture: Marc Brenner
Amber Davies is taking some time off from starring in the Made at Curve UK and Ireland touring production of Legally Blonde The Musical due to ill health.
The former Love Islander turned musical theatre star and recent Strictly finalist was forced to pull out of a performance halfway through at Milton Keynes Theatre this week, with the show’s alternate Elle Woods – musical theatre and Tik Tok star, Hannah Lowther (SIX, West End, Heathers The Musical, The Other Palace) – stepping in for the rest of the show.
Davies announced on Instagram that she would be taking a break from the show after talking to her doctor. Referring to her battle with a “lingering illness”, Davies said: “This is the last thing I want, but there’s no other way. I fear if I keep pushing through I will be battling with this for longer than I need to be.”
After a stream of media reports speculating about the situation and suggesting a ‘feud’ between Davies and Lowther, Davies added on her social media: “Just to clear things up, I’m not leaving Legally, I’m not taking a break and there is no feud… I’m simply just finishing off a set of antibiotics for a chest infection that’s been lingering for over a month.
“What we love and choose to do as a career is so unbelievably taxing on the body, and we are very much not invincible. Sickness happens, we are human. And disappointed to see a narrative ran on women who work their ASSES OFF.
“I will be back on stage as soon as I possibly can. I love my Legally Blonde company so much and very grateful to have such a supportive team especially Hannah Lowther.”
A WhatsOnStage Award winner for her performance in The Great Gatsby last year, Davies had already been cast as Elle Woods when she became a last minute Strictly star when actress Dani Dyer was forced to pull out of the BBC show due to injury. Lowther will now continue in the starring role until further notice.
Directed by Curve’s artistic director Nikolai Foster, the new staging of the popular show launched at Leicester’s Curve Theatre in February. The tour, co-produced by Curve and ROYO, is currently due to continue to 7 January 2027.
Angela Thomas
SHARE THIS POST:
Comments are closed.