Christie Brinkley made her debut on the London stage last night as Roxie Hart in Chicago - and landed a standing ovation and a huge bouquet of flowers after bringing the house down.
Wearing a skimpy black silk playsuit, the mother-of-three looked decades younger than her 57 years as she strutted her stuff as the murderous vaudeville star after taking over from Sarah Soetaert in the role.
The star was meant to start in her role three days ago, but had to postpone her debut when her mother Marjorie Hudson fell ill.
However, she arrived in the UK last Saturday after confirming on her official Facebook that her mother was on the mend and started rehearsals at the Cambridge Theatre on Monday.
Writing ahead of the curtain rise last night, she said: 'I am working with yet another bunch of amazingly talented performers and the whole crew from the stage door to the dressing room are so sweet and really lovely! I am a very luck person...(.and so are my parents who thankfully, are both doing well!!!)'
At the weekend, she'd posted on her Twitter: 'From New England to Jolly Old England. ....I send you all good CHEER! Tally Ho and Pip Pip! My parents are on the mend,(thank you all for your kindness!)...
'I am off to rehearse on the West End tomorrow! Arrived last night..here I am on the way from the airport to London town!'
The original Uptown Girl Christie has transferred from the Broadway version of the musical.
She has transferred to the West End with her Broadway co-star Amra-Faye Wright, who joins the cast at the Cambridge Theatre as Velma Kelly.
Starring alongside them is Robbie Williams's best friend Jonathan Wilkes as Billy Flynn.
At the time when she had to delay her start, she said: 'I am very sorry for the inconvenience and changes to the schedule in London,' she said in a statement.
'I thank my producers and new cast mates for being so flexible and understanding and look forward to giving it my all in dedication to my loving, generous and supportive parents who set me on this Broadway adventure, which now leads me to London's prestigious West End, when my Dad said "take it".'
Bob Fosse musical Chicago opened in the U.S. in 1976 and first opened in the West End in 1979.
It was then revived in 1997 - and has been on ever since.
Over in New York where she made her Broadway debut, Christie has been heaped with critical praise for her part in the show, which sees her belt out the murderous chorus girl's signature tune Roxie as well as Funny Honey and My Own Best Friend.
One of the most famous faces in the world, Christie began modelling in the 70s and quickly became one of the most famous cover girls in the world.
She starred in the music video for Uptown Girl and made her acting debut in 1983 opposite Chevy Chase in the film National Lampoon's Vacation.
More recently she made a guest appearance in TV fashion comedy Ugly Betty.
Christie and her American co-star will take their final bows in the UK version of Chicago meanwhile on 6 August.
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Wearing a skimpy black silk playsuit, the mother-of-three looked decades younger than her 57 years as she strutted her stuff as the murderous vaudeville star after taking over from Sarah Soetaert in the role.
The star was meant to start in her role three days ago, but had to postpone her debut when her mother Marjorie Hudson fell ill.
However, she arrived in the UK last Saturday after confirming on her official Facebook that her mother was on the mend and started rehearsals at the Cambridge Theatre on Monday.
Writing ahead of the curtain rise last night, she said: 'I am working with yet another bunch of amazingly talented performers and the whole crew from the stage door to the dressing room are so sweet and really lovely! I am a very luck person...(.and so are my parents who thankfully, are both doing well!!!)'
At the weekend, she'd posted on her Twitter: 'From New England to Jolly Old England. ....I send you all good CHEER! Tally Ho and Pip Pip! My parents are on the mend,(thank you all for your kindness!)...
'I am off to rehearse on the West End tomorrow! Arrived last night..here I am on the way from the airport to London town!'
The original Uptown Girl Christie has transferred from the Broadway version of the musical.
She has transferred to the West End with her Broadway co-star Amra-Faye Wright, who joins the cast at the Cambridge Theatre as Velma Kelly.
Starring alongside them is Robbie Williams's best friend Jonathan Wilkes as Billy Flynn.
At the time when she had to delay her start, she said: 'I am very sorry for the inconvenience and changes to the schedule in London,' she said in a statement.
'I thank my producers and new cast mates for being so flexible and understanding and look forward to giving it my all in dedication to my loving, generous and supportive parents who set me on this Broadway adventure, which now leads me to London's prestigious West End, when my Dad said "take it".'
Bob Fosse musical Chicago opened in the U.S. in 1976 and first opened in the West End in 1979.
It was then revived in 1997 - and has been on ever since.
Over in New York where she made her Broadway debut, Christie has been heaped with critical praise for her part in the show, which sees her belt out the murderous chorus girl's signature tune Roxie as well as Funny Honey and My Own Best Friend.
One of the most famous faces in the world, Christie began modelling in the 70s and quickly became one of the most famous cover girls in the world.
She starred in the music video for Uptown Girl and made her acting debut in 1983 opposite Chevy Chase in the film National Lampoon's Vacation.
More recently she made a guest appearance in TV fashion comedy Ugly Betty.
Christie and her American co-star will take their final bows in the UK version of Chicago meanwhile on 6 August.
