Velma Kelly is one of the two main antagonists and anti-heroines of the musical Chicago and its 2002 film adaptation. She is imprisoned on the suspicion of murdering her husband and sister (which she privately acknowledges) and is also the chief rival of the equally villainous Roxie Hart, who shot her lover dead in a fit of rage and then claimed self-defense. Kelly was not part of the original 1927 play "Roxie Hart", but was invented solely for the 1975 musical adaptation.
She was portrayed by Chita Rivera in the 1975 musical and by Catherine Zeta-Jones - who also portrayed Katja Petrokovich in Red 2 and Victoria Siebert in Side Effects - in the 2002 movie adaptation.
History[]
Kelly began as a singer and dancer who did a double-act with her sister, Veronica. One night, after seeing her sister and husband performing the "Spread Eagle" together, Velma was consumed with rage and murdered them both. She is subsequently sent to prison and becomes something of a celebrity, albeit also an infamous one. Like Roxie, Velma never expresses or even seems capable of feeling remorse for her lethal actions.
When Roxie begins to steal her thunder Velma becomes deeply resentful and attempts to sabotage Roxie's attempts at getting herself acquitted. She nearly succeeds, but Roxie is nevertheless ultimately acquitted. Velma herself is acquitted around the same time and in both the play and the movie, offers to bury the hatchet with Roxie. Roxie reluctantly agrees and the two go on to become big-shots together.
Quote[]
- "Well I was in such a state of shock I completely blacked out. I can't remember a thing. It wasn't until later when I was washing the blood off my hands I even knew they were dead!"
- ―Velma during the Cell Block Tango
Trivia[]
- Catherine Zeta-Jones appeared as Sala in the 1996 movie "The Phantom".
- Catherine Zeta-Jones appeared as Patricia Whitmore in the 2012 comedy musical film "Rock of Ages".
- Catherine Zeta-Jones appeared as Victoria Siebert in the 2013 film "Side Effects".
- Catherine Zeta-Jones appeared as Katja Petrokovich in the 2013 sequal film "Red 2".
- Catherine Zeta-Jones appeared as Rose Winters in the 2016 fim "Dad's Army".
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