Ellis was born in 1979 in Haughley, a small village near Stowmarket, Suffolk, where she grew up with her older brother Andrew. Ellis attended Stowmarket High School and in 1995, she joined the team of Starmakers at the age of 16, with which she was involved until 1997. In 1996 and 1997, as a member of Starmakers, Ellis performed musical numbers such as "Memory" from Cats and "Sun and Moon" from Miss Saigon.Following this, Ellis returned to formal stage training at Laine Theatre Arts.
In 1999 Ellis sang on a recording for Children in Need and did a jingle for Capital Radio. In 2004 she worked with Queen lead guitarist Brian May to record an orchestral version of the song "No-One but You (Only the Good Die Young)", originally a Queen song and featured in the musical We Will Rock You.[7]
In 2000, Kerry became a member of the My Fair Lady cast and became second understudy to Martine McCutcheon for the lead role of Eliza Dolittle, which she got to play on five occasions. During 2000 Ellis also understudied Marti Webb in Magic Of The Musicals.
In 2002, Ellis originated the role of Meat in We Will Rock You, and played this role for two years, making appearances for performances such as "Party in the Park", "Party in the Palace" and Parkinson. Ellis left the cast of We Will Rock You on 17 April 2004 and went on to play Ellen in Cameron Mackintosh's UK tour of Miss Saigon. On 7 June 2005 she joined the cast of Les Misérables at the Queen's Theatre, portraying the character Fantine.
In 2006, Ellis joined the cast of West End's new production of Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, as the temporary standby for Idina Menzel, who originated the lead role. She took the role of Elphaba over full-time after Menzel's pre-planned departure on 30 December 2006. Effectively, Ellis is the first British actress to play the role of Elphaba. For this role, Ellis won "Best Takeover in a Role" at the 2008 Theatregoer's Choice Awards.
On 7 June 2008 Ellis temporarily departed the Apollo Victoria Theatre, where she was succeeded by Alexia Khadime. She transferred to the Broadway production of Wicked with performances starting from 17 June 2008. Ellis replaced actress Stephanie J. Block on Broadway, making her the first Elphaba to transfer from the West End to Broadway. For her run in the Broadway production Ellis won the Broadway.com Audience Award for "Favorite Breakthrough Performance (Female)". Ellis left the Broadway Company on 9 November 2008 and she was replaced by Marcie Dodd.
Ellis returned to the West End production on 1 December 2008 and completed her time with Wicked on 9 May 2009, when Alexia Khadime returned.
On 12 May and 13 2008, Ellis performed alongside Idina Menzel, Adam Pascal and Josh Groban in a special performance of Chess in Concert at the Royal Albert Hall.
Ellis performed her rock version of "Defying Gravity" at the Royal Variety Performance 2008 on 11 December at the London Palladium in the presence of senior members of the Royal family.
Ellis recently worked with Steve Sidwell to produce new recordings of the Wicked songs "I'm Not That Girl" and "No Good Deed". It was expected that a teaser CD of her forthcoming debut album, produced by Brian May in the time since Ellis left We Will Rock You and featuring drum tracks by Taylor Hawkins, would become available in June before she left for Broadway.
The teaser CD was released on 7 July 2008 as Wicked In Rock and features rock versions of Wicked songs "I'm Not That Girl", "Defying Gravity" and a remastered version of her We Will Rock You song, "No One But You". The CD is on sale in London musical shop, Dress Circle, at the Gershwin Theatre and is available on the British iTunes. A limited edition 12" vinyl has also been released to purchase from Dress Circle.
During her time performing as Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway, Ellis recorded a song for Scott Alan entitled "Behind these Walls". This song is featured on his album Keys.
In January 2009, Ellis sang with Mazz Murray and Peter Johansson in the Champions of Rock concert at De Geerhallen in Norrköping, Sweden.
In March 2009, Ellis and other West End actors recorded songs for a musical treatment of Terry Pratchett's Only You Can Save Mankind.
On 15th and 16th May 2009, Ellis performed with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra alongside Mazz Murray, MiG Ayesa and Ricardo Afonso at the Symphonic Queen Spectacular at the Bournemouth International Centre's Windsor Hall. She is set to perform similar concerts in Weybridge on 1st August and Romsey on 15th August 2009 plus possibly others around the country from July through to September.
During June 2009 Ellis performed 4 shows called "The Great British Songbook" at the Shaw Theatre.
Ellis performed with John Barrowman at the Henley Festival on 10 July 2009.
Kerry appeared in OK! magazine on 23rd June alongside Patina Miller talking about "The Great British Songbook" and her time in Wicked.
On June 20, 21, 25 and 26 June 2009, Kerry performed her first solo concerts at The Shaw Theatre, Euston Road, London. The Great British Songbook celebrated the work of many of our leading contemporary composers and lyricists, including Queen, Coldplay, The Feeling and Goldfrapp. The series was devised by Neil Marcus and the Arranger and Musical Director was Steve Sidwell.
Ellis has also done the workshops for Way Beyond Blue, written by Imogen Stubbs and directed by Trevor Nunn and the title role in Helen of Troy, directed by Gary Griffin.
No-One But You
Kerry Ellis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
An angel reaching for the sky
Is it raining in heaven -
Do you want us to cry'
And everywhere the broken-hearted
On every lonely avenue
No-one could reach them
No-one but you
Only the good die young
They're only flying too close to the sun
And life goes on
Without you
Another tricky situation
A get to drawning in the blues
And I find myself thinkin'
Well - what would you do'
Yes! - it was such an operation
Forever paying every due
Hell, you made a sensation
You found a way through - and
One by one
Only the good die young
They're only flyin' too close to the sun
We'll remember -
Forever
And now the party must be over
I guess we'll never understand
The sense of your leaving
Was it the way it was planned'
And so we grace another table
And raise our glasses one more time
There's a face at the window
And I ain't never, never sayin' goodbye
One by one
Only the good die young
They're only flyin' too close to the sun
Cryin' for nothing
Cryin' for no-one
No-one but you
The lyrics of Kerry Ellis's song No One But You describe the aftermath of a tragedy, possibly the death of someone close. The singer begins with a mournful image of an angel reaching for the sky, asking if it's raining in heaven and if the deceased would want those left behind to cry. The rest of the first verse paints a picture of broken-hearted people everywhere, each of them unreachable except for the person who has died. The chorus repeats the phrase "one by one, only the good die young" and suggests that those who have died were "only flying too close to the sun". This idea is echoed in the second verse, which describes another difficult situation and asks what the departed person would do in such circumstances. It's suggested that they "made a sensation" and "found a way through".
The tone shifts in the final verse, which reflects on the "sense of your leaving" and acknowledges that the people left behind will probably never fully understand it. However, there's a glimmer of hope as the singer raises a glass to the departed and declares that they'll never say goodbye. The song ends with a repeat of the chorus, this time with the addition of the line "cryin' for nothing, cryin' for no-one", underscoring the feeling of loss and confusion that the lyrics evoke.
Line by Line Meaning
A hand above the water
Someone is drowning and their hand is above the water surface calling for help.
An angel reaching for the sky
An angel is trying to reach the heavens.
Is it raining in heaven -
Do you want us to cry'
Is the deceased person in heaven crying, and do they want the living people to cry too?
And everywhere the broken-hearted
On every lonely avenue
No-one could reach them
No-one but you
Everyone who is broken-hearted and alone is unreachable, except for the person being addressed in the song.
One by one
Only the good die young
They're only flying too close to the sun
And life goes on
Without you
People will die one by one, and even if they are good, they still die young by approaching dangerous things recklessly, and life moves on without them.
Another tricky situation
A get to drawning in the blues
And I find myself thinkin'
Well - what would you do'
Another difficult situation has arisen, and the singer is feeling low. They wonder how the deceased person would handle this situation.
Yes! - it was such an operation
Forever paying every due
Hell, you made a sensation
You found a way through - and
What the deceased person did was remarkable and extraordinary. They had to pay the price and endure hardships to accomplish it.
We'll remember -
Forever
The singer will never forget the deceased person and will remember them for eternity.
And now the party must be over
I guess we'll never understand
The sense of your leaving
Was it the way it was planned'
The mourning period must end, but the singer cannot comprehend why the person had to leave. They wonder if it was predestined.
And so we grace another table
And raise our glasses one more time
There's a face at the window
And I ain't never, never sayin' goodbye
The singer is attending another gathering to honor the deceased person, and they see a reflection of the person in the window. They will never say goodbye to them.
Cryin' for nothing
Cryin' for no-one
No-one but you
The singer is crying, but no one knows why they are crying except for the deceased person they are mourning.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRIAN MAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dav2403
I still don't get all you "fan" questioning Brian decisions like Queen was YOUR band.
Freddie was a genius, no doubt, but without Brian...?
He was AT LEAST 50% of Queen and song like this one prove that he is a Great musician.
Therefore... if HE says she's good enough to let her sing Queen's song...
Who are you to argue?
Regarding her abilities, though, she's known as "The Lady of West End"; I don't recall successful Musical being sung by crap singers!
@craigallen1201
Listened to the original on the way back from a friend's funeral, tragically young at 41. The song came on through shuffle and had to pull off the road as it brought me to tears. This is an incredible version and a great performance by Kerry Ellis. I have now watched several Queen songs which she has covered with Brian, and she does a fantastic interpretation of the songs, not trying to mimic Freddie, but carrying the essence of the song.
@wailelealoha
SO sorry for your loss. I see it was a few years ago now, but I know such losses stay in our heart forever. I am sure your friend is proud of you for how you have carried on. Be well and safe!
@Bens_Views
My father in laws funeral this was played.
@fst-timer7107
Amazing how being slammed into such sadness can make you come out the other side feeling a little lighter.
Hope time has been kind to you and his loved ones.
@Brian77Gilmour
the spirit of Freddie is there
@freddiemercury9159
Forever Freddie mercury
@dottoanimations461
A real tearjerker. Even though it was so many years ago, you can still see Brian holding back tears.
@augusbm3436
Of course... That was their last song with John.
@kathygraham5371
He had lost Freddie , his brother, and knew he was losing John, too. I’m sure he could feel it. Their lives together had come to a tragic end. But then along came Paul Rogers and then magical incredible Adam who would never replace Freddie but helped keep the SOUND and music of QUEEN alive. Adam is an incredible talent who showcases Freddie as his icon and he shows such incredible respect to Freddie’s legacy. God bless the Band and this song has such a powerful message. Thank you to Sir Bri for writing this treasure. 💖🕊️🌹
@matheusrozindo2514
Everybody misses Fredie , but He was like Elvis , MJ, too marvelous tô be an old man ❤