It’s hard not to immediately fall in love with Audrey Leybourne as she shuffles onstage, lightly leaning on a cane.
She’s 90 years old and probably one of the oldest contestants ever to appear on Britain’s Got Talent. But if you think she’s about to whip out her knitting sticks and try to impress the judges with some speedy handiwork, you’re wrong, wrong, wrong.
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That’s because she’s been in the entertainment industry, working as an actress, since her 20s, and let’s just say the years haven’t done anything to dull her wit or spirit. Her vivid personality is in full force during the short question-and-answer period before her audition, when she tells the judges she never married, but she’d experienced love – with 22 men!
And after her stunning performance, you can’t help but think she’s gained dozens more gentleman admirers, as well as millions of adoring fans. She launches into her audition piece, “I Wanna Be Loved By You”from the movie “Some Like It Hot,” with all the fire and pizzazz of a seasoned, stage veteran.
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This retired entertainer’s recent appearance on Britain’s Got Talent follows 70 years of stage and film productions, including “Oliver,”“My Fair Lady”and “Crazy For You.”And even though she’s officially retired, she’s not ready to be put out to pasture just yet.
This past holiday season, for example, she appeared as a teapot in “Beauty and the Beast”at the Grand Opera House in York. With such a long and distinguished pedigree, everyone had to know they were in for a treat!
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Simon Cowell is absent during her performance, but he’s cheering her on in spirit. Or rather, in the form of a cardboard cutout that the other judges haul out to save his spot on the panel. And it’s a shame he missed it, David says, because “I think he would be gentleman number 23!â€
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In a backstage interview, Audrey calls her experience on BGT “quite amazing and quite wonderful!â€
That audience was so warm and lovely. And we had a good laugh, and my pianist Mitch Jones was excellent. And really, I am so glad that I came. I didn’t expect to do at all well. Not at all well, but I feel like I didn’t do too badly.
Well, that’s an understatement, since all the judges voted for her to move forward to the next round. Check out her crowd-pleasing solo in the clip below, and share if you agree Audrey’s proof that age is just a number!
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