Sarah Dawn Finer (born 14 September 1981) is a Swedish singer, songwriter and actress. She is also known for playing Lynda Woodruff, a character created by Edward af Sillén to be a parody spokesperson of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) in Melodifestivalen and the Eurovision Song Contest.

Background

Finer was born and grew up in Sweden. Her father, David Finer, is English, while her mother, Francine Lee Mirro-Finer is Jewish American. Her sister Zoie and half-brother Rennie Mirro are also singers. Her paternal grandmother Dorothy Irving was a music coach and professor in Stockholm. In 1989, she appeared on Swedish television as a child actor, and as a result she toured Sweden with her sister Zoie and other children. In 1994, she had a principal part in the Bert TV series and was also in a soul gospel choir for seven years. While working as a backing vocalist behind several famous singers, she also attended the Adolf Fredrik's Music School, a high-profile song-and-chorus school in Stockholm, where she was also president of the students' union.

Solo music career

Finer's first, self-titled, EP consisting of six songs was released in 2006. Her first full-length debut album A Finer Dawn, released 30 May 2007, debuted at number two on the Swedish album charts. The singles from the album were "I Remember Love", "Stockholm by Morning" and "A way back to love". Her next album Moving On was released on 26 August 2009. The album included the title single "Moving On" and "Does She Know You?" and "Standing Strong". The album Moving On debuted at Number 1 on iTunes in its digital release on 17 August 2009. The CD version was released on 26 August 2009, debuting at Number 1 in the Swedish Charts. Both the singles "I Remember Love" and "Moving On" were the most played songs on Swedish radio in 2007 and 2009. Her 3rd album "Winterland" also sold gold and debuted at Number 2 on the Swedish charts. She made a holiday special live from Hamburger Börs 2010 for SVT, and went on a critically acclaimed tour with "Winterland" in 2011. Her fourth album was "Sanningen Kommer Om Natten" 2011, which received 5/5 in DI Weekend by Jan Gradvall, after which she went on a critically acclaimed live tour with 2012. She received a songwriting award/scholarship from SKAP in 2012. She has recorded duets with Moneybrother, Peter Jöback, Mauro Scocco, Tommy Körberg, Fatboy, Samuel Ljungbladh and Patrik Isaksson.

Musicals

She played Sally Bowles in ”Cabaret” both at Stockholm Stadsteater 2015-2016 and at Uppsala Stadsteater in 2014, and was nominated for "Best Actress in a leading role" for her role as Lucy in Jekyll & Hyde at Chinateatern 2008. She also starred as Joanne in the rock musical Rent in 2001, 2002 and 2003 at Göta Lejon, a tour with Riksteatern and at Göteborgs Operan. She then starred in the musical Godspell at Parkteatern/Stockholms Stadsteater 2002.

Shows

Finer was featured in Ugglas revy with Magnus Uggla at Chinateatern 2010; Livet with Jonas Gardell in 2002 and 2003; Happy Holidays at the Grand Hôtel with her half-brother Rennie Mirro and Karl Dyall in 2012; and Humorator in 2006 with Mikael Tornving, Henrik Hjelt and Ulf Kvensler. She was SVT's Christmas host for 2012. Finer was one of three hosts of the radio/television music aid show Musikhjälpen in December 2013. She is the current host of the Swedish musical game show Så ska det låta.

Melodifestivalen and Eurovision participation

Discography

Albums

EPs

Singles

Filmography