Packed to the Rafters star Zoe Ventoura gets ‘dream role’ in Chicago musical after splitting from husband Daniel MacPherson
Zoe Ventoura landed her “dream role” as Velma Kelly in the musical “Chicago,” which will tour Australia next year.
The 42-year-old ‘Packed to the Rafters’ star will return to her roots when she takes the stage at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre, where she made her musical debut 15 years ago.
The actress, who is taking on the role of a character made famous by Catherine Zeta-Jones, said she “still pinches,” Insider reported on Saturday.
“It’s a dream role and I trained to be a dancer so I’ve come full circle,” she told the publication.
“To go back to my dance roots and musical theater and to play this role – on this show, with this incredible cast – I can’t believe it.”
Zoe Ventoura, 42, (pictured) landed her ‘dream role’ as Velma Kelly in the musical Chicago, which will tour Australia next year
She went on to say she was “really, really excited” to have this unique opportunity.
Set in the city of the same name in the “Jazz Age” of the 1920s, “Chicago” tells the story of two rival vaudevillian murderesses who are incarcerated in the Cook County Jail.
Velma, Zoe’s character, is a nightclub star who was arrested for killing her husband and sister when she found out they were having an affair.
Zoe’s big new role comes after she and ex-husband Daniel MacPherson announced their split in December 2020.
At that time, they shared almost identically worded posts on Instagram, which showed that they had mutually decided to separate.
The Packed to the Rafters star will return to her roots when she takes the stage at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre, where she made her musical debut 15 years ago.
The actress took on the role of a character made famous by Catherine Zeta-Jones (pictured) and said she “still pinches,” Insider reported on Saturday
Alongside a photo of the couple standing with their backs to the camera as the sun sets, Daniel wrote, “With the utmost respect for each other, Zoe and I have parted ways.”
“Together we will continue to work wholeheartedly to raise our beautiful boy Austin.” He is and will always be our number one priority.
“We ask for your respect and will not comment further.”
They have proven to be notoriously confidential about their only child, keeping him out of the public eye and keeping the pregnancy and birth a secret.
Former Neighbors star Dan married Zoe in an intimate ceremony in Noosa, Queensland, in 2015.
Zoe’s big new role comes after she and ex-husband Daniel MacPherson, 43, (left) announced their split in December 2020