Meredith Braun

As a child in Remuera, Auckland,{{cite news | last = Matheson | first = John | title = Coveted role to Meredith | url = http://www.webfantastic.co.uk/meredith/test/coveted.html | via = actorz.ru | date = 1987 | access-date = 22 October 2018}} Braun appeared in numerous stage productions plus occasional television shows (The Haunting of Barney Palmer){{cite web | title = The Haunting of Barney Palmer (1987) | url = http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7240e829 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181103074344/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7240e829 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 3 November 2018 | website = bfi.org.uk | publisher = British Film Institute | access-date = 22 October 2018}} and advertisements.

Her mother studied at the Royal College of Music in the 1950s and at the age of 16 Braun moved from New Zealand to London.{{cite news | last = Fernandez | first = Ligia | title = 5 Questions For... Meredith Braun | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120625042450/http://www.broadwaycafesociety.com/5quesmain.htm | archive-date = 25 June 2012 | url = http://www.broadwaycafesociety.com/5quesmain.htm | work = Broadway Cafe Society | date = March 2012 | accessdate = 24 March 2018}} In 1989, Braun earned a place at London's prestigious Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts.{{cite news | last = Churchill | first = Penny | title = Country houses in Kent and Hampshire: A Hampshire gem near Bedales | url = https://www.countrylife.co.uk/property/country-houses-for-sale-in-kent-and-hampshire-85259 | work = Country Life | date = 7 April 2016 | accessdate = 24 March 2018}}

She began her West End career six months later with a lead role in short-lived musical Bernadette at the Dominion Theatre. Cameron Mackintosh then cast her as Eponine in Les Miserables, a role she played in both London and Manchester. In 1993, she was cast as Betty Schaeffer in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical version of Sunset Boulevard. Having been part of an audition process that involved 300 other potential actresses, Lloyd Webber said of Braun "When I saw Meredith and heard her I knew she was going to be a star".

Further shows in the West End included starring as Christine in The Phantom of the Opera plus Out of the Blue with Michael McCarthy{{cite web | title = Out of the Blue: Cast | url = http://www.lilyrose.org/obcast.html | accessdate = 18 April 2015 | website = lilyrose.org }}{{Cite AV media notes |title=Out of the Blue |others= Cast: Simon Burke, David Burt, Greg Ellis, Lynden Edwards, James Graeme, Paulette Ivory, Michael McCarthy, Andrew Newey, Charles Shirvell, Andrew Wale |year=1994 |last1=Braun |first1=Meredith | last2 = Tokura | first2 = Shun-Ichi | last3 = Sand | first3 = Paul | author-link2 = List of musicals by composer: M to Z#T |publisher=Stage Door Records | asin = B0042FXIKS |id=Barcode: 5055122190257 | url = http://www.stagedoorrecords.com/stage9025.html }} and Killing Rasputin. Between 2000 and 2001, Braun starred as Lily in the RSC's production of The Secret Garden at both the Theatre Royal Stratford and the Aldwych Theatre, London.

Between 1995 and 1997, Braun returned home to her native Auckland, landing numerous roles in one of New Zealand's leading professional theatre companies, the Auckland Theatre Company. She came with the prestige as one of the starring names within New Zealand's theatre industry at the time.

Braun also appeared as Belle in Disney's 1992 holiday film The Muppet Christmas Carol opposite Michael Caine and the cast of The Muppets,{{cite web | title = The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) | url = https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7bd7d6d9 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170602101613/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7bd7d6d9 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2 June 2017 | website = bfi.org.uk | publisher = British Film Institute | access-date = 24 October 2018}} and has done a number of television roles in the United Kingdom.

After a ten-year absence from performing, Braun released her debut solo album Someone Else's Story in 2012 - a mix of contemporary show songs and classical crossover material. The album features musical direction and arrangements by Paul Bateman (musical director for Sarah Brightman and Lesley Garrett), and was released on Stage Door Records on March 26, 2012.{{cite news | last = Gans | first = Andrew | title = Sunset Boulevard star Meredith Braun at work on debut solo recording | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121021194227/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/153090-Sunset-Boulevard-Star-Meredith-Braun-at-Work-on-Debut-Solo-Recording | archive-date = 21 October 2012 | url = http://www.playbill.com/news/article/153090-Sunset-Boulevard-Star-Meredith-Braun-at-Work-on-Debut-Solo-Recording | work = Playbill | date = 27 July 2011 | access-date = 20 April 2012}}

In 2017, Braun released her second solo album When Love Is Gone featuring a new recording of the song of the same name she performed in The Muppet Christmas Carol marking the film's 25th anniversary. The album was released by Stage Door Records in November 2017.{{cite news | last = Hewitt | first = Phil | title = New album from Meredith Braun | url = https://www.chichester.co.uk/whats-on/music/new-album-from-meredith-braun-1-8317680 | work = Chichester Observer | date = 5 January 2018 | access-date = 24 March 2018}}

Braun is currently the course director for The University of Chichester Conservatoire's BA (Hons) Musical Theatre (Music) Course, having previously been a lecturer for Musical Theatre Triple Threat course.{{cite web |url=https://www.chi.ac.uk/people/meredith-braun/ |title=Meredith Braun |author= |website=chi.ac.uk |access-date=2023-12-09}}

{{BLP primary sources|section|date=August 2021}}

Braun has three children by her first husband, musical director David White,{{cite news | last = Staff writer | title = Meredith Braun: "'Someone Else's Story' is full of stories, each song is a journey" | url = http://www.todomusicales.com/content/content_english/3666/meredith-braun-someone-elses-story-is-full-of-stories-each-song-is-a-journey/ | work = todoMUSICALES | date = 16 March 2012 | access-date = 24 October 2018}}

:See also:

::{{cite web | title = David White, BA, FRAM: Musical Theatre - Specialist Musical Theatre Coach and Vocal Coach | url = https://www.ram.ac.uk/about-us/staff/david-white | website = ram.ac.uk | publisher = Royal Academy of Music | access-date = 24 October 2018}} twins born 1997–1998, and a son, Tiger Braun-White, a cellist, born 2003–2004.{{cite web | last = Meredith Braun - Official "Team Braun" | title = Tiger Braun-White - Debut Cello Recital in aid of Skylight | url = https://www.facebook.com/events/307523733070448/ | website = facebook.com/meredithbraunofficial | publisher = Facebook | date = 18 December 2017 | access-date = 24 October 2018}} Her second husband, Bill Rea, is a marine architect.{{cite news | title = Welcome To Rea McAllister Yachts | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181023164026/https://www.yachtworld.com/reamcallisteryachts/reamcallisteryachts_0.html | archive-date = 23 October 2018 | url = https://www.yachtworld.com/reamcallisteryachts/reamcallisteryachts_0.html | website = yachtworld.com/reamcallisteryachts | publisher = Rea McAllister Yachts Ltd | accessdate = 24 October 2018}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{IMDb name|id=nm0105825|name=Meredith Braun}}
• {{Official|www.meredithbraun.co.uk}}
• [http://www.londonmusicalsonline.com/londonlesmis/lmperformer.php?PerfID=merbra London Musicals Online]

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Category:1973 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century New Zealand women singers

Category:Academics of the University of Chichester

Category:New Zealand film actresses

Category:New Zealand musical theatre actresses

Category:New Zealand television actresses

Category:Musicians from Auckland

Category:20th-century New Zealand women singers

Category:New Zealand emigrants to the United Kingdom