Siobhan Dillon

Siobhan Dillon
Siobhan Dillon, following her performance as Sandy from the musical Grease, at West End Live 2010.
Background information
Birth name	Siobhan Patricia Dillon
Born	(1984-09-01) 1 September 1984 (age 32)
Origin	Lichfield, Staffordshire, England
Genres	Pop, musicals
Occupation(s)	Singer, actress
Years active	2006–present

Siobhan Patricia Dillon (born 1 September 1984 in Lichfield, Staffordshire) 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 she has performed in the West End, playing the roles of Sandy in the musical Grease at the Piccadilly Theatre as Vivienne Kensington in the musical Legally Blonde at the Savoy Theatre. Sally Bowles in the musical "Cabaret" Molly in the musical "Ghost the musical" at the Piccadilly Theatre, Ellen in "Miss Saigon" also in Londons West End and finally Betty Schaefer in "Sunset Boulevard" with the "English National Opera". Siobhan is now reprising 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.