Aimie Allen-Atkinson (born 5 June 1987)[2] is an English stage actress and singer.[3] She is known for portraying the role of Katherine Howard in British comedy musical Six on the original UK tour and in the West End production at the Arts Theatre, Lyric Theatre and Vaudeville Theatre, portraying Vivian Ward in the West End production of PrettyWoman, as well as forming part of pop girl group SVN.
Early life
Atkinson was born to parents Faith Allen and Tom Atkinson in Stevenage, England. Her father played part-time in a rock band, which encouraged her to begin singing from a young age.[4] Whilst studying at Collenswood School in Stevenage, Atkinson was part of the Fusion Performing Arts group and took part in many of their productions.[4] Having studied to GCSE level, and then worked as an admin assistant in a music publishing company.[5] She also ran a franchise for the Stagecraft school in Stevenage.[6]
Career
After agreeing with a friend whilst studying at the Arts Educational School that both should apply to the BBC Radio 2 Voice of Musical Theatre competition,[7] Atkinson was told that she could only apply for the amateur competition. After winning that, she joined a final competition against the final professional contestants – those with at least five years of stage experience – and also won that.[8]
Aged 19, Atkinson left Arts Educational and became a full-time stage actress, taking her first professional job in Howard Goodall's Days of Hope at the King's Head Theatre.[7] She then took on various parts, before starting an intensive course in musical theatre at the Royal Academy of Music. After completing two months in RAM and one month in Arts Educational Schools, she left after two months to join the UK touring production of Zorro, playing the part of Luisa.[7] Subsequently, landing a part in a musical as a sassy 40-year-old singer,[4] the producer of the show then asked Atkinson to audition for the role of Daniela in the musical In The Heights, which she subsequently played at the King's Cross Theatre.[6] She has since played Princess Jasmine in Aladdin alongside Priscilla Presley, Serena in Legally Blonde at Kilworth House, and Snow White opposite Jerry Hall at Richmond Theatre. She has also originated the role of Katherine Howard in the West End production of Six.[9]
On 13 February 2020, Atkinson began playing the role of Vivian Ward in the West End production of Pretty Woman: The Musical alongside Danny Mac at the Piccadilly Theatre.[10] The show later officially opened on 2 March 2020,[11] but closed only two weeks later due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[12] Atkinson returned to the show for its reopening at the Savoy Theatre on 8 July 2021.[13] The show closed in June 2023 and announced a UK and Ireland tour.[14]
Atkinson released her debut studio album Step Inside of Love with Jay Records in 2017. As a member of the girl group Goldstone, she competed in Eurovision: You Decide 2018 with the song "I Feel The Love". Atkinson's recordings include:
