Helen George looked incredible as she stepped out in a dazzling baby blue Cinderella-style gown, paired with glass-effect heels, to promote the theatrical show The King and I.

The lavish production will star the former Strictly Come Dancing contestant as Anna Leonowens for a six-week run in January – but it is believed that she won’t be leaving Call The Midwife behind to do so, as her character in the BBC show still has unfinished business.

Helen, who recently announced she’d split from fellow Call The Midwife actor Jack Ashton over the summer, stunned at London’s Savoy Hotel this afternoon.

Her ankle-length gown, complete with dramatic satin ruffles, might have looked glamorous, but according to the 39-year-old starlet, that’s nothing compared to the drama of the dress she’ll be modelling in The King and I.

She recently revealed to Alex Jones on The One Show: “The dress weighs 40 pounds, it is huge. I am starting to rehearse in the petticoat, but no one can get close to me because it comes out so far!”

She also added that she can scarcely believe her “luck” after being invited to take on the lead role in the “classical” musical – one Helen never thought she’d “have the opportunity to play”.

“Theatre is my first love, and I am so excited to be returning to the stage for this beautiful, majestic production of The King and I,” she marvelled.

“Anna is such a strong, passionate and determined character, and I’m going to relish bringing her to life every night, as well as giving audiences all over the UK the chance to see this peerless Broadway and West End musical right on their doorstep.”

The multi-award winning production has previously broken box office records and achieved standing ovations at every show, so it’s already beloved by the British public – and producers are hoping Helen can add her own distinctive touch of magic to the role.

Meanwhile, fans of Helen as nurse Trixie Franklin in Call The Midwife need not worry that her days on the popular BBC drama are numbered.

She has been filming her scenes for the 13th series alongside the likes of Linda Bassett as Nurse Phyllis Crane, Laura Main as Shelagh Turner and Judy Parfitt as Sister Monica Joan.

The latest series, which is set way back in 1969, is expected to be gripping, as it addresses “complex medical and personal situations on the midwifery and district nursing rounds”.

Today, the Birmingham-born star looked miles away from her nurse persona, with her perspex heels mimicking Cinderella’s glass slippers.

She recently split from her Call The Midwife co-star Jack Ashton, with whom she has two young daughters, spelling the sad end to a seven year relationship.

In a statement earlier this year, Jack confirmed the news with the words: “Some months ago, we separated. Our two beautiful girls remain the focus and I respectfully ask for privacy for this next chapter.”

Interestingly, the pair’s onscreen relationship broke down years earlier, as nurse Trixie became engaged to Jack’s character, vicar Tom Hereward, back in 2014, before they called things off in series four.

Helen and Jack are now co-parenting their girls, Wren and Lark, while Jack is appearing as ex-convict Lenny Sampson in Waterloo Road.



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