Betty Buckley

American singer and actress. Buckley has starred in numerous theatrical productions, but is probably best known for her role as "Grizabella" in the Broadway musical "Cats." She received the 1983 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical, and her definitive, soaring rendition of "Memory" made it her signature song. With a voice that is able to pierce the soul, Buckley is described as the quintessential leading lady of the American musical theatre, and her name has become synonymous with Broadway itself. Betty Lynn Buckley was only two years old when she sang for her church congregation; at age three, she began dance lessons with her aunt, Mary Ruth Diltz. It was an experience at age 11, however, which inspired her the most; she attended a production of "The Pajama Game" and fell in love with the theatre. She trained herself, honing her vocal techniques by listening to the recordings of vocalists like Judy Garland and Ella Fitzgerald. At age 15, she made her professional debut in a production of "Gypsy," and one year later, she was performing in 16 shows a day as a member of the "Six Flags Over Texas" musical revues. She attended Texas Christian University, where she majored in journalism and was head cheerleader. In 1966, she won the title of Miss Fort Worth and was a runner-up for Miss Texas. In 1967, she performed at the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City and was spotted by a talent agent. She was quickly signed by the International Famous Agency, but returned to Texas where she received her degree. While touring Asia with a USO troupe in 1968, she was profoundly affected by the wounded soldiers. She began writing for the Fort Worth Press, setting aside her dreams for Broadway. In January 1969, Buckley relocated to New York, and landed her first job in the musical "1776." A multi-talented performer, she began widening her focus in the mid-1970s; her first film project was the horror classic "Carrie," 1976. She gained widespread recognition for her role on the television series "Eight Is Enough," 1977. She has recorded many albums, including 1987’s "Betty Buckley" and 2000’s "Heart to Heart," and has expanded into the field of directing. Her interpretation of Norma Desmond in the London production of "Sunset Boulevard" during the ’90s prompted her peers to nominate her for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Buckley led the London company of Sunset Boulevard for a year, and then she was invited by Lloyd Webber to bring her Norma Desmond home to Broadway, which she did on July 4, 1995. She had a serious clash with Andrew Lloyd Webber, who fired her from his Broadway production because of her "diva temperament." In June 1996, she made her solo debut at Carnegie Hall, playing to a sold-out crowd in a performance that benefited Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Buckley is a humanitarian who tirelessly works for women’s issues, child welfare and AIDS-related charities. Link to Wikipedia biography