Michael Ball OBE: A simple complicated man

A man who can only be described as musical theatre royalty, Michael Ball made his West End debut in 1985 as Marius in the original cast of Les Misérables. He went on to play the lead role of Alex Dillingham in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Aspects of Love in both the West End and on Broadway. He’s appeared in a long string of musicals covering all parts of the repertoire – The Phantom of the Opera, Sweeney Todd, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Chess, Sunset Boulevard, even going full drag for Hairspray. He's recorded 27 albums, including 6 number 1s, not including the 12 cast recordings he’s a part of. He’s twice won the Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical, and in 2015 was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his services to musical theatre.In this lively and heartfelt interview, Michael reflects on his illustrious career, from his breakout role as Marius to his current portrayal of Javert in the Australian arena tour. He shares behind-the-scenes stories about the show's early development, the camaraderie among its global cast, and how the evolving production has stayed relevant over four decades. Michael opens up about personal challenges, including a battle with stage-related anxiety early in his career, and how he overcame it with support from Cameron Mackintosh and others. We also hear about his success as a solo artist, his collaborations with Alfie Boe, and his ventures into songwriting. With warmth and humour, he discusses some of his memorable roles, his thoughts on fame and creative control, and the deep satisfaction he finds in all aspects of his work.