My Top 5 Showtunes: Lauren Samuels

Lauren Samuels shot to fame as a contestant on Andrew Lloyd Webber's TV show Over the Rainbow. Since appearing on the show her theatre credits have included Grease, The Last Five Years and We Will Rock You. She is currently starring in Bend It Like Beckham at the Phoenix Theatre.

We caught up with Lauren and asked her: "If you were stranded on a desert island, which five showtunes could you not live without?"

"The Phantom of The Opera" from The Phantom of the Opera

This was the first big show that my mum took me to see. The music is still as haunting and beautiful as it was 25 years ago and it fills me with happy memories.

"Once You Lose Your Heart" from Me and My Girl

I sang this song in a festival of arts at the age of 15 and won! It also later gained me a place at Guildford School of Acting where I trained! It reminds me of singing lessons when I was younger. I haven't sung it for years, but it is such a lovely song.

"Left Behind" from Spring Awakening

I saw this show in the West End not long after graduating from drama school and it instilled me with so much passion and drive for the industry I was just about to join. I saw it 3 times! I could name the whole album, but this song made me cry and still gives me tingles even now when I hear it.

"Climbing Uphill" from The Last 5 Years

I was obsessed with this album at drama school and always dreamed of playing Cathy. When I was lucky enough to play the role in 2011 this song gave me nightmares! I was SO nervous about forgetting the lyrics but grew to really love it and now can't listen to it without a huge smile spreading across my face.

"Nocturnes" from Love Story

I played Jenny in a production of Love Story last summer and before that had never heard the music before. Well what can I say, I developed such a huge passion and love for it and this was by far my favourite song. It is sung at such a poignant and beautiful moment in the show I cried every night on stage! Howard Goodall's beautiful music is a wonder to sing. I'm so lucky to be singing even more of it in Bend It Like Beckham!

Bend It Like Beckham is running at the Phoenix Theatre. Click here for more information and to book tickets.