Call the Midwife’s Helen George wows audience with her transformation as she stars in The King and I

The much-loved actress Helen George is dazzling audiences with her incredible transformation in her latest acting role away from her popular portrayal of Nurse Trixie Franklin in BBC‘s Call the Midwife. The 39-year-old star has taken on the role of Anna in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s production of The King and I, currently showing at London‘s Dominion Theatre.

Helen’s appearance in The King and I is a world away from her iconic 1960s blonde bob as she dons darker tones and longer locks for her portrayal of Anna. Set in 1860s Bangkok, the musical tells the captivating story of the unconventional and tempestuous relationship between the King of Siam and Anna Leonowens, a British schoolteacher.

Playing the role of Anna, Helen takes on the task of educating the King’s numerous wives and children. The musical, on for a limited six-week run, has been receiving rave reviews.

Transitioning from her nurse’s uniform and fashionable 1960s outfits in Call the Midwife, Helen has had to adapt to singing in corsets and wearing enormous and heavy dresses for her role as Anna. She states that the corsets are surprisingly helpful for her singing performance, providing support. However, she admits that the dresses are physically demanding due to their size and weight.

The role of Anna is not unfamiliar to Helen, but she still had to undergo physical training to ensure she was fit for the demanding role. She compared the physical preparation to that of an athlete, emphasizing the need to warm up and take care of oneself.

In addition to her stage performance, Helen is also currently delighting fans on-screen as Call the Midwife airs its 13th season on BBC One. In the latest episodes, Helen’s character Trixie Franklin has settled into married life with Matthew Aylward (Olly Rix).

However, tensions arise as Trixie’s dedication to her profession causes friction in her relationship with Matthew. This is evident when he urges her to consider her “other responsibilities” as a wife and stepmother while she tends to a patient in labor.

The stress and anxiety caused by Matthew’s behavior lead Trixie to overlook the fact that her patient had not fully delivered her placenta, resulting in a critical condition for the patient. Fortunately, the patient recovers, and Trixie’s job remains intact. This incident serves as a turning point in Trixie’s relationship with Matthew.

Call the Midwife continues to captivate audiences every Sunday on BBC One at 8pm. For more news and gossip about Call the Midwife, visit our dedicated page on MyLondon.