WHEN it comes to musical theatre, Broadway and West End star Marisha Wallace is at the top of her game.
However, the talented star is taking on a whole new challenge as one of the stars taking part in Celebrity Big Brother 2024.
Who is Marisha Wallace?
Born in Goldsboro, in North Carolina on September 29, 1985, Marisha Wallace is an American actress, best known for her work in musical theatre.
She has enjoyed a very successful career both on Broadway, and in the West End.
So when I learned to sing musical theatre, I already knew how to do it: I knew how to make people cry with my voice.
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Marisha's early years were spent singing in her local church, where she honed her craft.
Speaking to The Guardian, she said: “It’s totally a type of theatre.
“You have a paying audience [the congregation giving to the church donation plate] and you’re being asked to elicit an emotional response with your voice.
"So when I learned to sing musical theatre, I already knew how to do it: I knew how to make people cry with my voice.”
After getting her big break, Marisha’s career has gone from strength to strength and even received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress for her work as Ado Annie in Oklahoma!.
On TV, she is known for being the singing voice of Ms. Johnston in Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey on Netflix.
However, it hasn't always been plain sailing for Marisha, as she previously revealed that she thought she had "lost her singing voice forever".
Speaking to the Daily Mail, she said: "I went to the ear, nose and throat clinic and [they discovered] I had a cyst on my vocal cord.
"They said that the only thing they could do to save my voice was surgery, and even then I may never sing again."
Thankfully the surgery was a success and she's been singing ever since.
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Looking for a new opportunity, in February 2024 it was revealed Marisha had signed up to Celebrity Big Brother.
What is Marisha Wallace known for?
Marisha earned her stripes in Broadway shows Aladdin and Something Rotten before becoming alternate lead Effie White in Dreamgirls, following in the footsteps of Glee star Amber Riley.
After this she joined the original cast of Waitress as Becky, in the West End.
This was followed by a role in the London Coliseum production of Hairspray, where she played Motormouth Maybelle opposite Michael Ball.
Following her powerful performance, she was nominated for the 2021 Black British Theatre Awards as Best Female Actor in a Musical.
Since 2023, Marisha has played Miss Adelaide in the West End’s Guys and Dolls.
Is Marisha Wallace married and does she have children?
Marisha was married to an Australian man for seven years, but she has not disclosed his identity and they are now divorced.
But she does have a boyfriend, who has worked with stars like Madonna.
Explaining more she told the Daily Mail: "He’s a bodyguard. It’s like Whitney Houston in the movie.
"He was Ariana Grande’s. And for Tom Cruise. And for Madonna. And he’s lovely."