The Royal Opera is delighted to announce that acclaimed British actor Tamsin Greig will appear as the Duchesse de Crakentorp in Laurent Pelly’s exuberant, larger-than-life production of La Fille du régiment, which returns to the Main Stage this summer.
In previous revivals, the spoken role of Marie’s formidable prospective mother-in-law has been portrayed by a distinguished roll‑call of guest performers, including Dawn French, Ann Widdecombe, Miranda Richardson and legendary soprano Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.
Tamsin Greig is an award-winning actor celebrated for her work across stage, film and television. Her theatre credits include Much Ado About Nothing (Olivier Award and Critics’ Circle Award for Best Actress), God of Carnage (Olivier Award for Best New Comedy), Twelfth Night and Talking Heads Live. On screen, she has appeared in films such as Official Secrets, Tamara Drewe (BIFA nomination), The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Romeo and Juliet, alongside notable television roles in Friday Night Dinner and Green Wing (RTS Award for Best Actress).
Tamsin Greig said:
“I’m thrilled and honoured to have been invited to join The Royal Opera in Laurent Pelly’s exceptional production of Donizetti’s comic opera La Fille du Régiment. I will be taking on the role of Duchess of Crackenthorp, which mercifully, is a non-singing role. I am deeply excited to be working with these fabulous singers, musicians and production team, and equally daunted and giddy to be performing in French.”
Conducted by Yves Abel, Donizetti’s much-loved comic opera features Greig alongside Sara Blanch, who makes her Royal Opera debut as the spirited heroine Marie, opposite Juan Diego Flórez, whose performance as her sweet‑natured boyfriend Tonio in 2007, established him on the international stage (the run is shared with Jonah Hoskins). They are joined by Paolo Bordogna (Sulpice Pingot), Sonia Ganassi (La Marquise de Berkenfield) and Donald Maxwell (Hortensius).
