CHERYL could be set for a huge acting career after being heralded by one of the West End’s leading show creators.
The star is currently in the throes of a mammoth arena tour with Girls Aloud but could be set to make a return to the West End stage.
However, before reuniting with her pop bandmates, the singer turned her hand to acting when she took over the role of Jenny in 2.22: A Ghost Story.
Created by Danny Robins, the star behind the Uncanny podcast and TV series, the play has become notorious for casting a wide variety of celebrities without necessarily having any acting experience.
Amid accusations of stunt casting, Danny has now staunchly defended former X Factor judge Cheryl and declared her “instantly brilliant” when it came to her stage performance in the spooky play.
She received rave reviews throughout her run in the stage show where she was able to help pack out theatres each night.
He has insisted the star could be destined for a new career in the acting world once her current run with Girls Aloud comes to an end.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun backstage at his Uncanny theatre show at Drury Lane, Danny said of Cheryl: ” She was like a duck to water and just instantly brilliant.
“From the first day you could feel that she had, you know, real talent.
“I think, if she wanted it, she’s got a huge acting career ahead of her.”
Danny admitted that she became convinced to come on board for the role, for which she is understood to have been paid £750,000, after watching a previous iteration of the performance.
He told us: “I think she was ready for a new challenge.
“I was introduced to Cheryl and I just remember thinking she’d be great in the play and then we were like ‘Cheryl, do you want to come and watch the play and see if you like it?’
“Then she ended up doing it, which was amazing and brilliant and a lot of that’s been quite fortuitous.
“I think, you know, like, our director just had a feeling about how Lily Allen would be great on stage. And we approached her and it was the right moment for her, the right time, and she wanted to do something different.”
Danny also hit back at social media critics who have blasted the play for stunt casting and insisted that such claims are “not true”.
He added: “I think stunt casting is, is when you cast someone just desperately to sell seats who isn’t any good.
“We are casting people who are exciting and brilliant on stage.”
Danny went on to liken each incarnation of Jenny as “Doctor Who regenerating” and insisted that there was room on the bill for an out of work politician or ex-footballer.
He laughed: “We’ve taken TV presenters, we’ve taken pop stars – who knows, would we take a footballer?
“Would we take a politician?
“There might be some politicians out of work looking for a new job after the election, and it’d be intriguing to.”
