Simon Gleeson
Simon Gleeson (born 13 January 1977) is an Australian actor and singer who is best known for playing Jean Valjean in the 2014 Australian revival and in the 2016/17 cast of the West End production of "Les Misérables". He performed in Noël Coward's Hayfever for the Melbourne Theatre Company, and returned to the Melbourne Theatre Company in 2018 to play Sir Robert Chiltern in Oscar Wilde's An Ideal Husband. In the United Kingdom he has performed in plays at The Royal National Theatre and in the West End of London. He has appeared in the popular  BBC soap opera "EastEnders", playing SJ Fletcher's boyfriend Sid Clarke. In 2007 Gleeson appeared in 'Kombat Opera Presents' for BBC television. He appeared with Richard Dreyfuss and Nia Vardalos in 2009's "My Life in Ruins". Early life. Gleeson grew up in The Rock, a small country town in New South Wales with his parents and sister, Sara Gleeson (who is an actress). He completed his secondary education at Xavier College where he was named School Vice Captain and House President. Gleeson trained at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. Career. Gleeson has performed in many musicals and  plays in Australia and in London's West End including "Mamma Mia!", "Eureka", "The Far Pavilions" and "Imagine This". He has performed in plays for Sydney Theatre Company and Royal National Theatre in the UK. In 2013/2014 he was in the original company of "Rupert" for Melbourne Theatre Company and toured the play to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. He portrayed Raoul in the Australian production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical "Love Never Dies", the sequel to Lloyd Webber's highly successful "The Phantom of the Opera". Gleeson has appeared in numerous television series in  Australia and the UK, most notably as "SJ" in "EastEnders" and as a principal cast member of 'Kombat Opera Presents' for BBC television. From 2014 Gleeson played Jean Valjean in the Australian tour of Cameron Macintosh's "Les Miserables". He would remain with the cast throughout 2015 and has been cast in the role for its Manila run. He was nominated for (and won) a Helpmann Award for the role. From 5 December 2016, he has played Jean Valjean in the West End production of "Les Misérables". In 2018, Gleeson joined "The Production Company" for their production of "Oklahoma!" as  Curly McLain alongside Anna O’Byrne. Gleeson released his debut album, titled "Elements" in 2015. The track list consists of: Nominations and awards. In 2014, Gleeson was awarded a Helpmann Award for his role as Jean Valjean in the Australian tour of "Les Miserables". He has been nominated for a Helpmann Award twice before for Sky in "Mamma Mia!", and Raoul in "Love Never Dies" and has been nominated several times for a Green Room Award. In London he was nominated for a Whatsonstage.com Award for "The Far Pavilions". Gleeson has also been nominated for a Glug Award. Simon Gleeson Simon