Siobhan Dillon

Siobhan Patricia Dillon (born 1 September 1984) is an English actress and singer, who rose to fame when she performed in the British talent show-themed television series How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? on BBC One in 2006.

Since then, Dillon has performed in the West End, playing the roles of Sandy in Grease at the Piccadilly Theatre, Vivienne Kensington in Legally Blonde at the Savoy Theatre, Sally Bowles in Cabaret, Molly in Ghost the Musical at the Piccadilly Theatre, Ellen in Miss Saigon, and Betty Schaefer in Sunset Boulevard with the English National Opera.

Siobhan reprised this role at the Palace Theatre in New York City.

Dillon's mother owned her own business in advertising after being a drama teacher.

Her father is Irish from Dún Laoghaire.

For her ninth birthday Dillon asked her parents for singing lessons, and had vocal training with singing teacher Richard Paul up to the age of 16.

Siobhan attended The Friary School in Lichfield where she performed in shows, but as she did not think she would become a singer, she turned to the fashion world.

She was a member of Lichfield Operatic Society and in October 2001 performed the title song from the musical Whistle Down the Wind as part of the society's show, Whistle Down the West End at The Friary School Theatre in Lichfield.

After Michael Parkinson heard a tape of her singing, he asked her to sing at his charity cricket ball in 2003, where she got a standing ovation.

Prior to appearing on How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? Dillon was in the middle of a BA Hons degree in Product Design and Development for the Fashion Industry, Accessories pathway at Cordwainers College, University of the Arts London.

Dillon was 21 years old when she appeared on the BBC television show, How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?.

She reached the final of the show and finished in third place behind Helena Blackman and winner Connie Fisher.

Despite being one of the favourites during the first round of auditions, Dillon initially did not make the final ten after an illness had affected her vocals during the final stages.

However, after finalist Emilie Alford dropped out of the competition, Dillon, being the last person eliminated during the selection process returned to the show and was given the nickname, "Second Chance Maria".

In week one of the live shows Dillon sang the Shania Twain hit, "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!".

In week two she sang the Tina Arena song, "Chains".

In the lead up to the third week's show, David Ian talked to the girls about fitness and stamina and sent them on a fitness test mission with Olympic track and field athlete Iwan Thomas, requiring the Marias to complete an assault course.

Dillon completed the course in the fastest time of under two minutes.

On the show she sang the Pointer Sisters hit, "Jump!".

Zoe Tyler then asked her to sing the final lines from her audition piece, "I Could Have Danced All Night".

In week four she sang "Songbird" by Christine McVie, which resulted in her being named the unofficial "Maria of the night".

Andrew Lloyd Webber chose her to perform "Truly Scrumptious" with the children from the musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

In the fifth week, when there were two live shows, she sang "All That Jazz" from the musical Chicago accompanied by six male dancers.

Dillon successfully got through to the second live show of the evening but faced the second sing off with Aoife Mulholland.

They sang "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina" from the musical Evita.

Lloyd Webber saved Dillon because he believed she "had the strongest voice which could carry eight shows a week".

In the run-up to the final in week six, the three finalists and Lloyd Webber went to Salzburg in Austria and visited some of the locations made famous by The Sound of Music, including Leopoldskron Palace and Nonnberg Abbey, to give the finalists a chance to understand the real Maria von Trapp.

On the final night she performed two songs, "Anyone Who Had a Heart" and "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music.

She was eliminated during the night's first public vote, which meant she came third overall.

Dillon made her West End theatre debut in 2007 playing Patty Simcox in the musical Grease.

Her first appearance in the show was on 25 July 2007 at the Piccadilly Theatre in London.

Show producer, David Ian said of Dillon, "I knew that Siobhan was something special when I first saw her for The Sound of Music, and I am very pleased that she will be joining the cast of Grease."

On 16 November she performed on the BBC's Children in Need 2007 live broadcast as part of the cast of Grease.

Dillon was also the understudy for the characters of Sandy and Marty and played both roles several times during her run in the show.

She finished the role on 14 June 2008.

In July 2008 she was cast in the tour of Can't Smile Without You, a new musical based on an original idea by Bill Kenwright and featuring the hit songs of Barry Manilow, alongside Chesney Hawkes and I'd Do Anything contestant Francesca Jackson.

It opened at the Churchill Theatre, in the London Borough of Bromley on 28 August 2008 and toured in England and Scotland until 29 November.

Dillon won a record deal with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s company the Really Useful Group (RUG) after How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?.

Dillon returned to the production on 25 January 2010 this time taking over the lead role of Sandy from Emma Stevens.

She played her final performance on 24 July 2010 and was succeeded by Over the Rainbow contestant Lauren Samuels.