Pop Idol star Zoe Birkett has revealed she suffered a miscarriage mid-way through the run in The Tina Turner Musical, she told fans on social media on Wednesday.
The singer, 40, who has just finished a stint playing the legendary icon in London’s West End musical, found out she was pregnant in April.
Zoe, who has a daughter Aaria, revealed she lost her baby at 11 weeks, during the last few days of playing her ‘dream role’.
Speaking about her devastating loss, she wrote: Trigger warning. It’s been a wild, traumatic, emotional few months for me lately especially during my final few weeks at Tina musical and I thought it would be good to open up with some honesty as to why.
‘Being pregnant playing this role was one thing, but then losing my baby in my final 3 weeks of playing my dream role was another…
‘The loss of happiness that was so quickly taken from me instantly will live in me forever.
Pop Idol star Zoe Birkett, 40, has revealed she suffered a miscarriage mid-way through the run in The Tina Turner Musical, she told fans on social media on Wednesday
The singer, who has just finished a stint playing the legendary icon in London’s West End musical, found out she was pregnant in April
Zoe, who has a daughter Aaria, revealed she lost her baby at 11 weeks, during the last few days of playing her ‘dream role’
‘My body was changing and I showing pregnant, we were planning a whole different future for our family, and then those words of “I’m sorry your baby has no heartbeat“ still feels like a dizzy out of body experience.
‘Music has always been my healer and the survival mode I had to find to continue the final few weeks of my contract is something I’ll forever be proud of during such a traumatic experience for my body, mind and my family.
‘I was fully supported by family, including the producers, creatives, cast and our wonderful fight director combat Kate to ensure I was safe at all costs.
‘I’ve experienced some things in my life, but there is no pain like it – in every sense of the word.
‘Feeling brave and open to talking about it now which is really helping me find peace and acceptance.
‘I’ve also spoken with some incredible women who have also been through a miscarriage, and it’s a tragedy that is so common.
‘Silver lining is looking into my daughters eyes every day feeling thankful I still have her ❤️’
Zoe shared an emotional montage of finding out when she was pregnant, to excitable snippets of her onstage performing and getting into hair and make-up backstage, while showing off her bump.
Zoe shared an emotional montage of finding out when she was pregnant, to excitable snippets of her onstage performing and getting into hair and make-up backstage, while showing off her bump
She wrote across the video: ‘It’s been hands down the most difficult thing I’ve been through in my life… But it’s important to share and acknowledge how strong I have been’
She wrote across the video: ‘It’s been hands down the most difficult thing I’ve been through in my life… But it’s important to share and acknowledge how strong I have been.
‘Back in April this year we found out I was pregnant with our second child. After chatting for a year about potentially trying again and giving Aaria a brother or sister it happened. We were over the moon!!
‘We chose not to tell our daughter Aaria until the 12 week mark. We shared the special news with our family and plans were being made for our due date around Christmas Day.
‘Due to the nature of the show I was in, I had to tell producers and creatives at Tina immediately so we could devise a safe plan for me.
‘With only two months left of my contract I really wanted to continue as best as I could so with safe help from all the creative team producers, fight director including a full risk assessment we re-choreographed my whole show!! The fights, choreo and altered my costumes.
‘I had no morning sickness whatsoever just like my first pregnancy and to be honest I felt like a superwoman doing all of this at almost 40.
‘Muscle memory came flooding back to my body and at 7 weeks I started to change shape quickly. With only 3 weeks left of my contract and 9 weeks pregnant, I was feeling SO proud of myself for continuing to do the hardest role in theatre.’
She added: ‘At 11 weeks we went for a private scan that revealed our baby had no heartbeat. Within that week I had TWO traumatic miscarriage experiences.
‘Back in April this year we found out I was pregnant with our second child. After chatting for a year about potentially trying again and giving Aaria a brother or sister it happened. We were over the moon!!’, she added
Zoe has been in the spotlight since the age of 16 when her soaring vocals made her the highest placed female in Pop Idol, finishing fourth behind the winner and runner up Gareth Gates and Will Young respectively (pictured in 2001)
‘I took 4 shows off during that week, and went back the next week, was I healed? No of course not. Was I ok? No, of course not. But performing also heals me.
‘The following week I took my final bow as Tina Turner. Those were the hardest two weeks and shows of my life to try and push through, I didn’t want to let anyone down who were coming to see my final shows but most importantly I wanted to END the contract the same was I started it… Strong with my head held high.’
The County Durham-born star, who shot to fame as one of the stars of the hit ITV talent show Pop Idol in 2002, admitted that she battled through to the end of the run, despite the ‘traumatic experience for my body, mind and family’.
‘I’ve experienced some things in my life, but there is no pain like it, in every sense of the word. Feeling brave and open to talking about it now has really helped me to find peace and acceptance. I’ve also spoken to some incredible women who’ve been through a miscarriage and it’s a tragedy that its so common.’
But Zoe warned that there needs to be greater awareness of women struggling in plain sight.
She said: ‘Don’t mistake our survival mode for moving on, we experience real pain daily and mothering my daughter with a broken heart is a super power I didn’t know that I had.’
Zoe has been in the spotlight since the age of 16 when her soaring vocals made her the highest placed female in Pop Idol, finishing fourth behind the winner and runner up Gareth Gates and Will Young respectively.
After releasing a solo single in 2003, Treat her Like a Lady, Zoe then forged a successful career in musical theatre, with roles in Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Hair Rent, the Great British Bake-off Musical, Moulin Rouge and her signature title role in Tina Turner the Musical.
The popular musical set to the explosive soundtrack of Tina Turner’s epic hits including River Deep Mountain High, Simply the Best and What Love Got to do with It, will close this Saturday, September 13th, after a seven year run.
