Oh boy….it just isn’t SuBo’s week, is it? Theater legend Elaine Paige — the Evita star idolized by Scottish songbird Susan Boyle — has revealed that she has no “pride” for Boyle, who she dismissed as “virus who has spread across the world in a nanosecond.”
Well…that was harsh. Paige made the reference while talking about Susan’s sudden rise to stardom after her jaw-dropping audition on Britain’s Got Talent last March.
Susan Boyle clapsed international success when she performed one of Elaine Paige’s signature tunes, “I Dreamed A Dream,” on Britain’s Got Talent. She went on to cover the song on her debut album of the same name — which has sold more than 1 million copies in the US since its release in November.
Eh — none of it really impresses Elaine. She refuses to grovel at the feet of a YouTube celeb.
“I don’t particularly feel any pride for her – I’m sure she is proud of what she has done. It’s all about turning someone into an immediate celebrity at the expense of longevity and working hard and experience,” Paige told The Daily Mail during the South Bank Awards in London this week.
“Susan Boyle is doing terribly well considering she literally came to the attention of the world overnight with the advent of YouTube,” she added. “She was like a virus really that spread across the world in a nanosecond. She is a girl with no experience of anything to do with theatrics, the music business, or art in any way. She has done terribly well to be a major star overnight with YouTube….”
Glad to hear you aren’t bitter, Elaine….(Insert Rolling Eyes…..) The sharp-tongued Cats actress continued firing off at Boyle when reporters asked whether the shy Scot has what it takes to maintain a long-lasting career in the industry.
“She is a major star because of YouTube. Longevity is gained through knowledge, experience and effort so it will remain to be seen,” Elaine replied curtly. “When I started, YouTube didn’t exist but even then with 15 years of experience prior to my success with Evita it was difficult, so I admire the way she handled her sudden success,” she further remarked. “Britain’s Got Talent and The X Factor just take a bunch of people from real life who think they can sing and try and turn them into overnight ’stars’ with a couple of songs. Ha ha. It’s not entertainment…..It’s all about turning someone into an immediate celebrity at the expense of longevity and working hard and experience.”