Abi Finley's Biography

Abi Finley from Prestwich was 23 when she entered the BBC's How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria, which was won by Connie Fisher.

She has an MA in Acting and Musical Theatre from the Central School of Speech and Drama.

Abi is a very good friend of another contestant in How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria, Aoife Mulholland. In fact, it was Aoife who beat her in a sing off, but Abi Finley was as friendly as ever, saying of Aoife:

"It was the right decision. She's as talented as she's beautiful. She's perfect for the role."

Abi Finley comes from a religious Jewish background and her mother Deborah does not watch How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria live as it goes out on Saturday night - Shabbos - the Jewish sabbath.

Abi Finley is a laid back character and on How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria, she explained "I'm here to have a good time ...I don't do anger. I don't do worry."

Abi went to King David Yavneh school in Manchester and Leeds University, where she studied English. She has two sisters, Marian and Bex.

Abi sang Nobody Does It Better in the first round of How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?

The Manchester Evening News interviewed Abi Finley and she said:

"The Sound of Music was the musical that I grew up on. At the age of three I watched the video religiously every single day. And then we’d to go to Heaton Park and I’d run over the hills, spinning round. If there were ever any steps about, I’d always be on them doing Do-Re-Mi. It took me hours to walk up any staircase – going back and forth."

Since How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria, Abi Finley was cast as Fiona in Sir Tim Rice's Blondel at the Pleasance Theatre, as well as being selected to tour with Fame.