West End performer Elaine Paige said she is still in "complete disbelief" that she has been given a Damehood in the King's Birthday Honours for services to music and to charity.The music star was born Elaine Bickerstaff in north London in 1948 and became an overnight star with her portrayal of Eva Peron in Andrew Lloyd Webber's hit musical Evita.After the show debuted in 1978, Dame Elaine, who had been nominated alongside her co-star David Essex, won the Olivier Award for performance of the year

West End performer Elaine Paige said she is still in "complete disbelief" that she has been given a Damehood in the King's Birthday Honours for services to music and to charity.The music star was born Elaine Bickerstaff in north London in 1948 and became an overnight star with her portrayal of Eva Peron in Andrew Lloyd Webber's hit musical Evita.After the show debuted in 1978, Dame Elaine, who had been nominated alongside her co-star David Essex, won the Olivier Award for performance of the year in a musical.