Scottish singer Susan Boyle to make film debut

Published
1

Singer Susan Boyle smiles as poppy's fall over her at a photocall during the launch of the Poppy Scotland appeal in Glasgow, Scotland in this file photo taken October 24, 2012. — Reuters (File) Photo
Singer Susan Boyle smiles as poppy's fall over her at a photocall during the launch of the Poppy Scotland appeal in Glasgow, Scotland in this file photo taken October 24, 2012. — Reuters (File) Photo

Scottish singer Susan Boyle will get her first turn on the big screen in the British holiday period film "The Christmas Candle," the movie's producers said on Thursday.

Boyle, 51, will back up Samantha Barks, Hans Matheson and Lesley Manville in the Christmas film that began production this week on location in the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man.

The film, based on the novella by Max Lucado, tells the tale of an enchanted Christmas candle in Gladbury, a dull village that must confront the dawning of the 20th century and a new, skeptical minister.

There was no information on what role the singer will play.

"Everyone on set is a delight to work with and it's a fantastic experience to be part of the team," Boyle said in a statement.

"I'm really enjoying getting dressed in the period costumes and stepping back in time and although it's very cold filming on location, I'm wearing long johns under my bustle," she added.

The singer became an overnight international sensation in 2009 after appearing on variety show "Britain's Got Talent" and performing a flawless rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream" from the musical "Les Miserables."

Her rendition has been viewed hundreds of millions of times on YouTube, and her life story from unknown Scot to multi-million-selling recording artist has itself been made into a musical.

Barks was most recently in the 2012 film production of "Les Miserables." Matheson's credits include 2010's "Clash of the Titans" while Manville is best known for 2010's "Another Year."

"The Christmas Candle," directed by John Stephenson, is produced by Impact and Big Book Media and will be distributed in the United Kingdom by Pinewood Productions.

Opinion

Editorial

Mideast outreach
Updated 12 Aug, 2026

Mideast outreach

OVER the past few days, Pakistan has been going the extra mile to assure Iran that the Makkah Joint Defence ...
Nutrition emergency
12 Aug, 2026

Nutrition emergency

MALNUTRITION has become one of the biggest obstacles to Pakistan’s development. Around 40pc of children under five...
Housing deficit
12 Aug, 2026

Housing deficit

THE federal cabinet’s zoning directive has the potential to be the most consequential decision in the redefinition...
Equal citizens
Updated 11 Aug, 2026

Equal citizens

Religious minorities continue to face mob violence, attacks on their places of worship, forced conversions and social and economic exclusion.
Tel Aviv’s subterfuge
Updated 11 Aug, 2026

Tel Aviv’s subterfuge

These verbal gymnastics indicate that Tel Aviv has no intention of ending its occupation of the Strip.
Abandoned after floods
11 Aug, 2026

Abandoned after floods

THREE years after the 2022 floods submerged a third of Pakistan, more than 134,000 verified affected families in...