Britainβs Got Talent star Sydnie Christmas has shut down claims that she starred on the West End
The 28-year-old singer received the first Golden Buzzer of Britainβs Got Talentβs new series after wowing the judges with her rendition of βTomorrowβ from the iconic musical Annie, inspired by Celebrity Big Brother and West End star Marisha Wallace.
Social media was abuzz with fans claiming that Christmas had a career in the West End. One comment read: βSydnie Christmas is a professional singer/actress already working in the West End. Thought #bgt was for amateurs, not professionals. Sheβs taken the golden buzzer from someone more deserving.β
Addressing the claims during a discussion with Lorraine Kelly, Christmas clarified her professional singing career. While she admitted that she hasnβt performed on the West End, she expressed her dream of becoming a leading lady on stage.
Lorraine Kelly addressed the complaints at the beginning of the interview, stating: βYou have been grafting away, you have done the cruise ships, but youβve never been on the West End though?β
βYouβve never done any of that,β Kelly continued. βYouβve always wanted to. This is your dream, isnβt it?β
Christmas shared her aspirations: βI just aspire to, I want to be a leading lady. Thatβs the dream! Thatβs the aim.β
Clearly impressed with Christmasβ audition, Kelly offered encouragement: βAnd so you can be, as we saw there. I must admit Iβm with Simon Cowell on this; you absolutely made it your own.β
Christmas revealed her inspiration for the performance: βThe first time I heard that version, Marisha Wallace did it, and I was like, Iβve got to give this a go. The song speaks to so many people. Doing it as an adult, the way Marisha did it, has a totally different meaning.β
Explaining why she decided to appear on Britainβs Got Talent, Christmas said: βJust to open a door. To try. Letβs have it. Letβs give it a go.β
Christmas completed her course at D&B Academy of Performing Arts in London in 2014. She has worked as a singer on cruise ships, including Royal Caribbean International, and appeared on TV in the movie Kick-Ass 2 and the reality show Stage School.
In London, she performed in the musical Lazarus, featuring David Bowieβs music, at the Kingβs Cross Theatre. Her bio for Lazarus included credits such as lead vocalist in the show Star Water for Royal Caribbean Cruiseβs Quantum of the Seas, and roles in Kick-Ass 2 and the short film Can You Keep a Secret. Additionally, Christmas starred in Andrew Lloyd Webberβs Starlight Express in Bochum, Germany, in 2019.
Following her performance on Britainβs Got Talent, Christmas expressed her disbelief: βI was pinching myself. I thought this couldnβt be realβ¦ This doesnβt happen to people like me. I have wanted to do this forever. To be on stage, entertain, perform, and sing.β