The Greatest Showman’s Keala Settle has opened up about her co-star Hugh Jackman’s support after she suffered a “mini stroke” days before she performed at the Oscars in 2018.
Best known for singing This Is Me in the hit musical film, Keala sat down with the Loose Women ladies on Wednesday to discuss her health journey.
Keala was rushed to hospital due to the cardiac “episode” just eight days before she took to the Academy Award stage and said she had to be fitted for her red carpet gown on the stroke ward.
She learned she would require surgery to treat a diagnosed cerebrovascular disease and said Hugh Jackman called her every day after the operation.
She told the panel: “He called me every day in hospital after everything happened and said, ‘I’m so glad you’re feeling better - do you want to go on tour with me?’”
“We call each other ‘egg’. He’s from Australia, my family are from New Zealand and saying ‘egg’ is sort of condescending, but also a tongue in cheek friend thing.”
Keala started The Greatest Showman theatre tour in Glasgow, after spending months in rehabilitation to relearn how to talk, read, write - and sing.
She said: “I came out of surgery and started singing again and was trying to find some semblance of normal life.
“We started in Glasgow and I said I’m only doing a couple of cities, because I’m too scared.
“Hugh said fine. Then the next morning he said, ‘do you want to have lunch? Long story short he said, can you just stay on the tour?”
Keala is now heading for the West End stage and will play the role of Nurse in the hit musical & Juliet at the Shaftesbury Theatre.
The show is a modern twist on Romeo & Juliet and is set to the music of producer Max Martin.
Simon Cowell has admitted he is obsessed with the movie The Greatest Showman and organised a meeting with Hugh Jackman to chat about it, making the surprise confession to singer Loren Allred as she auditioned for this year's Britain's Got Talent.
The American was the voice behind Never Enough in the 2018 musical film and Simon couldn't help but gush about his love for her version of the hit.
When he discovered who the auditionee was he quickly revealed his love for the Michael Gracey-directed film.
Simon said: "I love the movie. I love it so much I organised a meeting with Hugh Jackman."
"Oh my god. I’m obsessed with your version of the song, literally incredible."
He continued: "Everyone’s tried to cover that song but in my opinion no one’s come close to your version. The soundtrack was so huge and yours was the best song on it. I honestly don’t get that excited during auditions but I’m very excited."
