Leah Barniville: The BGT semi-finalist on Simon Cowell, Cork, and playing Cinderella at the Everyman

Leah Barniville on living in Cork, leading the cast of Cinderella, and that memorable experience of getting to the semi-final of Britain’s Got Talent, writes Colette Sheridan

Leah Barnville stars as Cinderella at the Everyman panto. 

“It was always clear that I was going to be on the stage,” says Leah Barniville, who stars as Cinderella in the Everyman pantomime in Cork. However, the 23-year-old Dubliner could never have dreamt that she would make it through to the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent in 2017 with a standing ovation from the audience and from the four judges, including Simon Cowell. Barniville, who was only 15 at the time, sang Parla Piu Piano from The Godfather at the thrilling live event in Birmingham.

Zach O'Brien and Leah Barniville in Cinderella at the Everyman.