PHEDRE Star Dominic Cooper 'Feared' His Mamma Mia! Role

ContactMusic reports that British stage and screen actor Dominic Cooper considered turning down an audition for the film version of the stage hit Mamma Mia! - because he didn't think he would be good enough to sing Abba songs in the film. The movie has become the highest grossing picture of all time in the U.K. last year and received two Golden Globe nominations.

But Cooper nearly missed out on his role as Sky in the Abba-themed hit, because he didn't want to embarrass himself during the audition process. He told the entertainment website, "I was always very keen on it, it was just I didn't have any belief in my ability to sing Abba hits. And it was great that the director had confidence that I could do that. So I sent off the tapes. (I was) kind of desperate to not go in and make a fool of myself and I thought 'oh, why not? You have to give it a go'. And I got the phone call saying I got it." To read more news on ContactMusic.com click here.

Dominic Cooper is currently starring in the role of Hippolytus in the National Theatre's revival of Phèdre. Co-starring Helen Mirren in the title role and directed by Nicholas Hytner, Artistic Director of the National Theatre, Jean Racine's 1677 classic tragedy is based on a Greek myth about a queen who falls passionately in love with her stepson in her husband's absence. To read an exclusive BroadwayWorld interview with Cooper about his work on Mamma Mia!, go here.

Dominic Cooper is quickly emerging as one of the most exciting young talents in the industry. He is best known for his lauded performance as Dakin in the critically-acclaimed play, The History Boys, which garnered him both Drama Desk and Evening Standard Award nominations. After reprising the role in the highly-praised film adaptation of The History Boys, Dominic was nominated for the "Best Newcomer Award" by the British Independent Film Awards, "Best Supporting Actor" by the London Film Critics Circle and was named one of Rolling Stone Magazine's "Breakout Performances" for 2006.

Upon completion of his professional training at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), Dominic landed a role in Mother Clap's Molly House at the prestigious National Theatre under resident director Nicholas Hytner. Subsequently, he starred in the Royal Shakespeare Company's A Midsummer Night's Dream, before rejoining Hytner at the National Theatre for His Dark Materials and The History Boys. Winner of three Olivier Awards including Best New Play, The History Boys tells the story of a group of British students and their professors as they prepare for life and the pursuit of higher learning. Written by Alan Bennett, The History Boys was made into a Fox Searchlight film and the stage production toured Japan, Australia, and New Zealand before landing on Broadway in 2006, where it was the recipient of six Tony Awards, including Best Play.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

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