Legally Blonde The Musical is coming to Ireland this summer and you won’t want to miss one of the most fun spectacles on stage.
Ahead of the show coming to Ireland, Amber Davies sat down with VIP Magazine for a chat about what we can expect. While she says she’s not as high-energy as Elle Woods, she certain puts a smile on our face. She has an infectious energy that has us walking out with a bounce in our step.
The Welsh actor got her start in the public eye when she won Love Island in 2017, but quickly returned to her real love of musical theatre. She made her stage debut in 2019 in 9 to 5 and has gone on to lead Bring It On: The Musical, Pretty Woman: The Musical and originated the role of Jordan Baker in The Great Gatsby on the West End.
Amber discusses the loyal fanbase Legally Blonde The Musical has, why she tries to stay off social media and her favourite wigs.
Hi, Amber, how are you? This is not your first time in Ireland.
I’m good! No, not my first time. I love it here.
You’ll be back in July for Legally Blonde: The Musical, where you play Elle Woods. What is it like taking on such an iconic role?
It’s an honour. It’s honestly a pleasure to play such a beautiful soul of a character every night. I can’t help but be happy all the time.
This isn’t the first time you’ve played an already iconic character! You’ve been in Pretty Woman and The Great Gatsby. Does that help you differentiate yourself from Reese Witherspoon and Julia Roberts?
They’re my biggest inspiration when it comes to these roles. I watched the films, I watched Pretty Woman, I watched Legally Blonde, Gatsby, Back to the Future. I watch it as my homework. So I like to honour the original in every possible way I can, whilst bringing an authentic, genuine side to it. But the script for the musical is written so wonderfully that as long as you deliver it authentically, you’re on the right track.
It’s such a fun musical to watch! How fun is it to perform it every night?
There’s always an underlying adrenaline because my first time on the stage in the opening number, I actually do a quick change on stage every night. That never gets old because there’s a risk. And I love a risk. And it’s only not happened once in over 100 shows. So we’ve got a great success rate. But I mean, for me personally, I love theatre. I love fashion. And this is a combination of the two. So I’m in a dream world. I’m in dreamland.
How do you decompress on tour?
I sleep really well because Elle has a lot more energy than me. She’s very high energy. And at the start of the tour, it took me a while to wind down because the vibes and the energy we get from the audience at the end are amazing. Now, as soon as my head hits that pillow, I’m a goner. I am.
The show is all over social media. Does going viral add to the energy of the show?
I’m an Instagram girly. I would say I’m a millennial, so I’m more towards the Insta. I do like TikTok. I try to stay away from looking at Legally Blonde content on TikTok because it can be a bit overwhelming, because it’s just relentless. So I stick to dogs and comedy videos on TikTok memes.I am a meme sender. I will send about 10 memes to my friends a day. It’s very important. Like, just to let you know, I’m thinking of you. So I’m going to send you this funny video, but you don’t have to respond.
Amber, do you ever rest? You went from Pretty Woman to The Great Gatsby to Strictly Come Dancing, which you joined in the 11th hour and then onto Legally Blonde!
I am not a rester. I’m really not. I’m just like my mother. My mum has always been a doer. I feel like if I stop, that’s when we’re in the danger zone. So I just have to keep going on the treadmill until I crash and burn, which sometimes does happen. I can crash and burn. But other than that, I just stay on the treadmill. I love it. I absolutely love it. I love being busy.
Amber, you’re not a blonde in real life. And we love the blonde wig. You’ve worn some iconic wigs over the years…
My Jordan Baker wig! I would have loved to have kept that wig. But I don’t know where that went. That was going to mysteriously go missing at one point in Gatsby. That’s been my favourite wig, though. Apart from the blonde Elle Woods wig. Our designers did a cracking job on that. It’s really heartbreaking when I do stage door after a show and the little kids look at me like I’ve broken their heart and they’re like, “She’s not even blonde.” I can see the disappointment in their eyes.
Amber, you’re turning 30 this year. What would you tell your younger self?
I would tell my younger self that kindness is more important than anything. I think that what I’ve learned in this industry is that talent will only get you so far, and it’s actually how you treat others. That is the most important thing. I was so well behaved, in college. I did a lot of locking myself in my room and making sure I knew every lyric and knew everything. And yes, that will get you so far. But it’s actually who you are as a person, and to trust your heart and your upbringing.
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What has Elle taught you?
Elle has taught me to show patience and kindness to those who have done you wrong, because we are all living this life for the first time, and people make mistakes and people grow. Normally, it’s not on you. It’s on them.
Finally, before we let you go, for anyone who hasn’t seen Legally Blonde: The Musical before, what can they expect?
It’s a feast for the eyes. You will feel every emotion. You’ll feel sadness, happiness. You’ll laugh your socks off. The talent on the stage is unbelievable, like my co-stars are one of the best casts I’ve worked with. And it’s just not one to miss, really. The choreography, the costumes, the direction, the songs. I know I’m in it, but it is one of the best shows around right now.
Legally Blonde The Musical will arrive at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre from the 7th to 18th July 2026
