Britain’s Got Talent star Sydnie Christmas revealed the ‘soul destroying’ struggle she has endured to make it as a singer before finally getting her big break on the ITV show.
The gym receptionist, 28, from Kent wowed Simon Cowell with her rendition of Tomorrow on Saturday night and the music boss admitted Sydnie had even made him suddenly like the Annie show tune.
Amanda Holden was so blown away by Sydnie’s performance she pushed her Golden Buzzer, which awards the hopeful with a spot in the Britain’s Got Talent live final.
And to receive praise from Simon and Amanda, as well as Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli, was a life changing moment for Sydnie, who has spent her entire career doubting she was taking the right path following years of painful rejection.
Now her luck has changed after Amanda compared the songstress to superstar Adele because of her wit and emotive storytelling – and it all still feels like a dream to Sydnie, whose surname is really ‘Christmas.’
Britain’s Got Talent star Sydnie Christmas revealed the ‘soul destroying’ struggle she has endured to make it as a singer before finally getting her big break on the ITV show
The gym receptionist wowed Simon Cowell with her rendition of Tomorrow on Saturday night, with the music boss admitting Sydnie had even made him suddenly like the Annie show tune
Amanda Holden was so blown away by Sydnie’s performance she pushed her Golden Buzzer, which awards the hopeful with a spot in the Britain’s Got Talent live final
In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, Sydnie said: ‘The reaction from the judges didn’t seem real. It was validation… I have shown all these people how I feel and what I want to do.
‘I was pinching myself. I thought this couldn’t be real… this doesn’t happen to people like me. I have wanted to do this forever. To be on stage, entertain, perform and sing… singing is my thing. I have been trying to make that happen my entire career.
‘It’s so heartbreaking when I can’t imagine doing anything else… ever since I was a little girl. When you’re not allowed to do that dream because people aren’t letting you… that is soul destroying.
‘I went on Britain’s Got Talent in the hope that if I was to get on because it is a process I could just give it a go… I’ve been doing auditions for so many years and I thought, I haven’t got a lot to lose now.
‘I am getting older, so the chances were looking quite slim for me that I was going to get anything. I thought to myself, sod it, let’s give it a go… and then everything went so well, which I didn’t expect at all.’
After graduating from D&B Academy of Performing Arts in London nine years ago, Sydnie has worked on cruise ships including the Royal Caribbean International where she starred as Rizzo in Grease, as well as featuring in show Starlight Express.
But as a self-confessed perfectionist who is constantly striving for more, Sydnie still longs to be a leading lady and is even preparing to continue as her own act.
She explained: ‘The thought of doing Britain’s Got Talent made me feel sick because I’m stepping out on stage very vulnerable trying to be myself… “Hi everyone, my name is Sydnie”… that feeling was terrifying.
After graduating from D&B Academy of Performing Arts nine years ago, Sydnie has worked on cruise ships including the Royal Caribbean International where she starred as Rizzo in Grease
Sydnie has appeared in stage show Starlight Express but hopes to one day make it as a solo act or leading lady after auditioning for roles her entire adult life
‘It’s something I have never done before, and it didn’t hit me until I was waiting backstage to go on and it’s nerves like no other. It’s alright doing an audition probably that I know I’m not going to get but you keep going anyway, praying that you’ll get a yes.
‘I have done a couple of shows abroad mainly but my ideal goal and dream is to make it in London… I have always been the understudy or in the ensemble and have never been right for the roles.
‘The dream right now is to a really good job on Britain’s Got Talent… I just hope it’s positive. It would make a nice change for good things to happen with my career.’
She was the first of nine Golden Buzzers this series after her audition at the London Palladium moved Amanda to tears.
Performing in front of her two nans, who were overjoyed seeing their granddaughter succeed, Sydnie says it was a moment beyond her wildest dreams.
She said: ‘I didn’t expect to get Amanda’s Golden Buzzer. I am really, really critical of myself, if I’m watching a performance of me, I nitpick on things. I am harsh on myself. I’m a perfectionist.
‘When I went on stage, all I wanted to do was a good job. The fact that I got the buzzer… oh my God, I didn’t expect that at all. I would like to say it was a dream come true, but it wasn’t even in my dreams… it was beyond my wildest dreams.’
Following Sydnie’s audition, Amanda said, ‘For me she had the same vibes as Adele in that she was humble and had a sense of humour, I said to Simon, she was a clown, but you could see it meant so much to her on the day.’
But Sydnie admits she struggles to comprehend being compared to Adele, saying: ‘That is the most amazing thing to hear, to be anything like Adele is just the chef’s kiss… do you know what I mean? Jesus Christ, thank you Amanda.’
- Britain’s Got Talent returns with a brand-new series on Saturday at 19:30 and Sunday at 19:40 on ITV1 and ITVX
