Karimloo is best known for playing the Phantom in both The Phantom of the Opera (including in the 25th anniversary concert last October at the Royal Albert Hall, now released on DVD) and the original London production of Love Never Dies.
He has also previously starred in The Phantom of the Opera as Raoul and in Les Miserables as Enjolras (a role he re-created in the 25th anniversary concert of that show at the 02 Arena).
Karimloo will release a new solo album in March via Sony Music entitled "Ramin." He will embark on a U.K. tour, Ramin - In Concert, in May, beginning at London's Royal Festival Hall May 1, then continuing to Southend, Nottingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Glasgow.
| Full given name: | Ramin Karimloo |
| Where you were born/where you were raised: | Born in Tehran, Iran, and raised in Peterborough Ontario and Richmond Hill Ontario. |
| Zodiac Sign: | Virgo |
| Current audition song/monologue: | I’ve been super lucky to be sent sides for auditions so I don’t really have something good to go at the moment. What I do have prepared I wouldn’t say anyway. |
| Something you're REALLY bad at: | Time-keeping |
| First Broadway show you ever saw: | The Phantom of The Opera in Toronto |
| If you could go back in time and catch any performance, what would it be? | Ragtime with Brian Stokes Mitchell or Jesus Christ Superstar with Colm Wilkinson as Judas |
| Current show—other than your own—that you have been recommending to friends: | Matilda and Jerusalem |
| Favorite showtune of all time: | "If Ever I Would Leave You" |
| Some favourite musicals: | Ragtime, Parade, Les Miserables, Last 5 Years |
| Stage or screen stars of the past you would most have loved to perform with: | Heath Ledger, Brando, Olivier |
| Your personal vocal idols, living or dead: | Ray Charles, David Phelps, Steve Tyler, Colm Wilkinson, Johnny Cash, Gordon Downie |
| The one performance – attended - that you will never forget: | Les Miserables in Toronto with Colm Wilkinson. What a cast! |
| Music that makes you cry, any genre: | Country/Bluegrass/Folk |
| MAC or PC? | MAC |
| Most played song on your iPod: | At the moment it’s "Wagon Wheel" by the Old Crow Medicine Show, but overall I think it’s a tie between a song by The Tragically Hip or The Avett Brothers. |
| Most-visited websites: | Well of the ones I can say... I’d say UFC.com |
| Favorite Tweeters | Ricky Gervais or Chael Sonnen |
| Last book you read: | Funny enough, "Les Miserables" |
| Must-see TV shows: | "Sons of Anarchy" "Boardwalk Empire" "Parks and Recreation" "Eastbound and Down" "Entourage" |
| Last good movie you saw: | "Horrible Bosses" |
| Some films you consider classics: | "Godfather 1 and 2," but one of my favourite films is "Carlito’s Way." Sean Penn and Al Pacino are sensational. |
| Performers you would drop everything to go see: | Allison Krauss and Dan Tyminski |
| Pop culture guilty pleasure: | "The Ultimate Fighter" …or …… TOWIE (aka "The Only Way Is Essex"). Sorry! |
| Favorite cities: | Taormina (Sicily), Toronto, New York |
| Favorite sport/team/player: | UFC/MMA, Hockey, American Football. Favorite fighter would be Vitor Belfort, or Randy Couture. |
| First CD/Tape/LP you owned: | Tragically Hip's "Up to Here" |
| Favourite non-theatre musicians/bands/groups: | Ray Charles, Johnny Cash, The Tragically Hip, The Avett Brothers, Allison Krauss and Union Station |
| First stage kiss: | As Marius (understudy to Hadley Fraser) in Les Miz |
| Moment you knew you wanted to perform for a living: | When I didn’t know what else to do. |
| Favourite pre-/post- show meal: | Brown rice, breast of chicken with melted mozzarella. |
| Favorite liquid refreshment: | Coconut Water, Whiskey, Canadian Beer |
| Pre-show rituals or warm-ups: | Play the guitar, stretch, relax and focus on the first scene. |
| List your 5 favourite non-principal Les Miz characters: | Convict 1,2,3,4,5 |
| Worst job you ever had: | I would hate to say what as there are people still working in those jobs no doubt earning a living so it wouldn't be nice on them to say, but not doing what I’m loving to do would be the worst job for me. |
| Leading man role you've been dying to play: | Stanley Kowalski in Streetcar Named Desire would be cool. |
| Leading lady role you wish you could play: Romeo | Mrs. Trunchbull in Matilda |
| Something you are incredibly proud of: | I’m of course proud of my achievements but that means absolutely nothing compared to having my sons put their arms around me every time they see me. |
| More difficult, Phantom or Valjean? | For me, so far it feels like Phantom. |
| Career you would want if not a performer: | Cop |
| Three things you can't live without: | Family, music and sun. |
| "I'll never understand why…" | ... folks get off on spending time sharing their horrible thoughts on the Internet. Do something more exciting and promising. |
| Words of advice for aspiring performers: | Stick to your truths, stick to your ambition, work hard, learn your craft, forget your ego and have fun. Above all, never, never worry about other people’s opinions apart from your director’s, producer’s and your own creativity. That’s what you’re hired for and makes you an individual. You certainly can’t please them all. |
