Jade Davies has built a respected name in British musical theatre through talent, patience and years of hard work. The Welsh actress and singer has performed in major productions including Les Misérables, Wicked, West Side Story, The Phantom of the Opera, My Fair Lady and Elf The Musical.
Her professional journey has taken her from swing and understudy duties to important leading roles. One of her biggest career moments came when she performed as Elphaba in Wicked during the UK and Ireland tour in November 2024.
Away from the stage, Jade also attracts interest because of her family and private life. She is the older sister of Amber Davies, while her previous relationship with Bridgerton actor Luke Newton also brought her into the entertainment spotlight.
However, Jade’s story is much bigger than famous connections. Her own theatre career shows years of dedication behind the scenes before major opportunities arrived.
Quick Bio: Jade Davies
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jade Louise Davies |
| Known As | Jade Davies |
| Profession | Musical theatre actress and singer |
| Nationality | Welsh |
| Home Region | North Wales |
| Industry | Theatre and musical theatre |
| Known For | Wicked, Les Misérables and West Side Story |
| West End Debut | Les Misérables |
| Les Misérables Role | Swing and cover for Cosette |
| Wicked Role | Swing and understudy for Elphaba |
| Elphaba Performance | 7 November 2024 |
| West Side Story Role | Maria |
| West Side Story Venue | Estonian National Opera |
| Other Major Production | The Phantom of the Opera |
| International Credit | My Fair Lady in Italy |
| Other Theatre Work | Elf The Musical, Sister Act, The Wizard of Oz and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang |
| Arena Production | Les Misérables: The Arena Concert Spectacular |
| Sister | Amber Davies |
| Former Partner | Luke Newton |
| Best Known For | Her versatile work as a singer, actress, swing, understudy and musical theatre performer |
Jade Davies’ Early Life and Background
Jade Davies comes from Wales and developed an interest in performing from an early age. Musical theatre became an important part of her ambitions long before she began working professionally.
Growing up in North Wales, she developed the singing, acting and movement skills that would eventually take her to major stages in Britain and Europe.
One musical had a particularly strong influence on her: Wicked.
Seeing the production when she was younger reportedly left a lasting impression on her. Years later, she would find herself working in the same show and eventually stepping into its most famous role.
That journey from watching a musical as a young theatre fan to performing in it professionally gives Jade’s career an interesting full-circle quality.
She later trained professionally before entering the highly competitive musical theatre industry.
Like many stage performers, she did not immediately become a leading name. Her progress came through smaller opportunities, cover roles and demanding jobs that required her to be prepared at all times.
Jade Davies’ Musical Theatre Career
One of the first major milestones in Jade’s career came when she joined Les Misérables in London’s West End.
She worked as a swing and covered the role of Cosette.
For a young performer, being part of a production as established as Les Misérables was a significant achievement. The show demands strong singing, acting and emotional performance from its cast.
A swing role can be particularly difficult.
Instead of preparing for only one fixed part, a swing may need to learn several positions within the production. If another performer is unavailable, the swing must be ready to step in quickly.
This means remembering different staging positions, dance movements, vocal parts and costume changes.
The experience helped Jade develop the flexibility that later became one of the strongest parts of her professional career.
She went on to work in other major productions, including The Phantom of the Opera.
Her theatre credits also expanded to include Sister Act, The Wizard of Oz and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Each production added something different to her experience.
Rather than being known for just one show, Jade gradually built a career across several different musical styles.
West Side Story and Her International Career
Jade’s professional work eventually moved beyond Britain’s theatre scene.
She played Maria in West Side Story at the Estonian National Opera, giving her the opportunity to take on one of musical theatre’s best-known female roles.
Playing Maria represented a major step forward.
The character requires more than a strong singing voice. Maria’s story includes love, hope and tragedy, meaning the performer must carry much of the emotional weight of the production.
Taking on such a role also allowed Jade to show that she could move beyond ensemble and swing responsibilities into leading performances.
Her international theatre experience continued with My Fair Lady in Italy.
Working outside the UK added another dimension to her career. Performing in international venues requires an actress to adjust to new audiences, theatres and production environments.
Jade also appeared in Elf The Musical at London’s Dominion Theatre.
By this stage, her professional CV already included several of the biggest names in musical theatre.
Jade Davies in Wicked and Her Elphaba Performance
A particularly important chapter in Jade Davies’ career began when she joined the UK and Ireland tour of Wicked.
She worked as a swing while also understudying Elphaba.
Elphaba is one of the most demanding female roles in modern musical theatre. The character requires powerful singing, strong acting and the stamina needed to carry much of a long stage production.
The role is also closely linked with Defying Gravity, one of the most recognisable songs in modern theatre.
For an understudy, the pressure can be intense.
An understudy may not know exactly when they will be called upon to perform. They must therefore remain prepared even when another actress normally plays the role.
That preparation led to a major moment on 7 November 2024, when Jade performed as Elphaba during the Cardiff run of the production.
The performance was especially meaningful because she was appearing in Wales.
It also connected back to her earlier love of Wicked. A musical that had inspired her as a young performer had now become one of the biggest achievements of her professional career.
Her Elphaba performance also showed why swings and understudies are such an important part of theatre.
They may not always receive the same level of publicity as principal performers, but productions depend heavily on their ability to step into major roles.
Jade Davies and Les Misérables: The Arena Concert Spectacular
Jade later returned to the musical that had played such an important role in the beginning of her career.
She joined the company of Les Misérables: The Arena Concert Spectacular, an international version of the famous production presented in large venues.
The return created an interesting connection between the early and later stages of her career.
She had first worked in Les Misérables while establishing herself professionally. Years later, she was once again part of the musical, this time during a major international arena production.
The global tour eventually reached its conclusion at Radio City Music Hall in New York in August 2026.
For Jade, being part of the production added another major international credit to an already varied theatre career.
It also showed how long-term careers in musical theatre can develop.
A performer may return to the same production years later with far more experience and a completely different professional position.
Jade Davies’ Private Life and Family
Interest in Jade Davies’ private life has grown alongside her theatre career.
One of the main reasons is her close family connection to Amber Davies.
Amber became widely known after winning Love Island in 2017. She later moved successfully into professional musical theatre, building a stage career of her own.
The sisters therefore share much more than a family name.
Both have developed careers in an industry that requires demanding rehearsal schedules, auditions and regular live performances.
Their journeys have been different, but their shared interest in musical theatre has remained an important part of their public story.
Jade has generally kept much of her personal life away from constant media attention.
Unlike many reality television personalities or social media celebrities, her public profile has remained strongly connected to her professional theatre work.
Jade Davies and Luke Newton
Jade also received public attention because of her previous relationship with Luke Newton.
Newton is best known internationally for playing Colin Bridgerton in Netflix’s popular drama Bridgerton.
Their relationship attracted more interest as Newton’s television profile increased.
However, the relationship eventually came to an end, and Jade continued focusing on her own professional work.
It is important not to define her simply through the famous people around her.
Jade had already developed a serious musical theatre career through auditions, training and stage performances.
Her credits in Les Misérables, Wicked and West Side Story show a professional history that stands separately from her personal relationships.
Why Jade Davies’ Career Is Different
The most interesting thing about Jade’s career is how gradually it has developed.
She did not become famous overnight.
Instead, she worked through the less visible but essential parts of professional theatre.
Swing work taught her to be ready for different roles. Understudy work required patience and preparation. International productions gave her broader stage experience.
Eventually, those years of work produced opportunities such as playing Elphaba.
Her story is therefore a useful reminder that many successful theatre careers are built behind the scenes before audiences notice them.
Not every performer begins with their name above the title.
Sometimes the journey starts with learning several roles, covering another actress and waiting for the moment when preparation meets opportunity.
For Jade, one of those moments arrived in Cardiff in November 2024.
Conclusion
Jade Davies has built a career through persistence rather than instant fame. Her journey has taken her from swing and understudy work to international productions and major leading opportunities.
Her performance as Elphaba in Wicked became one of the most memorable moments of that journey, while her return to Les Misérables showed how far her career had developed since her early West End years.
Her connections to Amber Davies and Luke Newton have naturally created public interest in her private life, but they do not define her professional story.
At its heart, Jade’s journey is about musical theatre. Years of preparation, versatility and determination have helped the Welsh actress create an identity of her own on some of the biggest stages in the industry.
Also read: Don Ora: Inside Rita Ora’s Brother’s Career, Education and Life Away From the Spotlight
(FAQs)
Who is Jade Davies?
Jade Davies is a Welsh musical theatre actress and singer. She has appeared in productions including Les Misérables, Wicked, West Side Story, The Phantom of the Opera, My Fair Lady and Elf The Musical.
Is Jade Davies Amber Davies’ sister?
Yes. Jade is the older sister of Amber Davies, who won Love Island in 2017 and later became a professional musical theatre performer.
Did Jade Davies play Elphaba in Wicked?
Yes. Jade was a swing and Elphaba understudy on the UK and Ireland tour of Wicked. She performed as Elphaba on 7 November 2024 during the Cardiff engagement.
Was Jade Davies in Les Misérables?
Yes. She made her professional West End debut in Les Misérables, working as a swing and covering Cosette. She later returned as part of Les Misérables: The Arena Concert Spectacular.
Was Jade Davies in a relationship with Luke Newton?
Jade was previously publicly linked with Bridgerton actor Luke Newton. Their relationship later ended.
What is Jade Davies famous for?
She is best known for her musical theatre career, particularly her work in Wicked, Les Misérables, West Side Story and other major British and international stage productions.
