From Cats to Coronation Street to Cabaret: the roles and the recordings that have defined Ruthie’s career.
☆ Olivier Award nomination · ★ Olivier Award win (She Loves Me, 1995)
Theatre
2023–24
42nd Street
Dorothy Brock
Toronto · London · Leicester
- 2023/24 Princess of Wales Theatre, Toronto
- 2023 Sadler’s Wells, London
- 2023 Curve, Leicester
1997–2018
Chicago ☆
Roxie Hart · Velma Kelly · Mama Morton
West End & Broadway
“A mega-watt talent shining in all its dazzling brilliance.”BBC Radio 4
- 1997 Adelphi Theatre, London (Roxie Hart) ☆
- 1999 Shubert Theatre, New York (Velma Kelly)
- 2000 Adelphi Theatre, London (Velma Kelly)
- 2010 Ambassador Theatre, New York (Roxie Hart)
- 2010 Cambridge Theatre, London (Roxie Hart)
- 2018 Phoenix Theatre, London (Mama Morton)
The only British actress to have played all three leading female roles in Chicago.
2014–2016
Billy Elliot the Musical
Mrs Wilkinson
Victoria Palace Theatre, London
Billy Elliot Live! DVD
2008
Marguerite ☆
Marguerite
Theatre Royal Haymarket, London
“Ruthie Henshall…is at her luscious-voiced peak!”Susannah Clapp, The Observer — 25 May 2008
2005
The Woman in White
Marian Halcombe
Palace Theatre, London
“Ruthie Henshall inherits the role of Marian Halcombe and finally gets the opportunity to prove her dramatic mettle. We’ve long known her abilities in light musical comedy but here she is a robust presence.”Mark Shenton, The Stage — 13 October 2005
2003–2004
Fosse
Leading Lady
UK Tour
“The kind of brilliant, high-voltage stage personality that can light up whole cities.”Joyce McMillan, The Scotsman — 4 December 2003
2001
Peggy Sue Got Married ☆
Peggy Sue
Shaftesbury Theatre, London
“For the clean-cut firecracker Ruthie herself, the night is a triumph, finding fun in future talk, poignancy in her own past and added power in her lungs.”The Daily Mail — 21 August 2001
1989–2000
Miss Saigon
Ellen
London · New York
- 1989 Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London
- 2000 Broadway Theatre, New York
Ruthie joined the ensemble before taking over the role of Ellen, which she also played on Broadway and on the Complete Symphonic Recording.
1999
Putting It Together
Younger Woman
Ethel Barrymore Theatre, New York
“Henshall is here revealed to Broadway as a performer of major gifts, who can suggest a cockney tart one minute, Julie Andrews herself the next.”Charles Isherwood, Variety — 22 November 1999
1997
Oliver!
Nancy
London Palladium
1992–1995
Les Misérables
Fantine
London
- 1992 Palace Theatre, London
- 1995 Royal Albert Hall, London (10th Anniversary Concert)
Reprised at the celebrated tenth-anniversary concert at the Royal Albert Hall, filmed for television.
1994
She Loves Me ★
Amalia Balash
Savoy Theatre, London
Olivier Award — Best Actress in a Musical
“Ruthie Henshall is that rare commodity: a British gal with the kind of galvanic voice and personality rarely encountered this side of 42nd Street. She is the jewel in the crown of a show encrusted with gems.”Clive Hirschhorn, Sunday Express
1992–1994
Crazy for You ☆
Polly Baker
Prince Edward Theatre, London
“Miss Henshall can belt her way through showstoppers like a trouper, then melt your heart with eternal love songs in a way the great Ethel could never do.”Jack Tinker, Daily Mail
1987–1988
Cats
Jemima, Demeter, Jellylorum, Griddlebone, Grizabella
New London Theatre
Her West End debut.
1987
A Chorus Line
Maggie
UK Tour
Television
2023/24
Coronation Street
Estelle Harrington
ITV
Coronation Street
Estelle Harrington
ITV
2020
I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!
Herself (contestant)
ITV
I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!
Herself (contestant)
ITV
2014
Dancing on Ice
Herself (judge)
ITV
2011
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Ally
HBO
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Ally
HBO
2011
The Case
Series regular
BBC
2010
Law & Order
P.K. Todd
NBC
Law & Order
P.K. Todd
NBC
Concerts
Ongoing
Ruthie Henshall in Concert
Herself
UK · USA · Australia · Japan · China tours
1995
Les Misérables 10th Anniversary Concert
Fantine
Royal Albert Hall, London
Recordings
☆ Olivier nomination
★ Olivier Award win (She Loves Me, 1995)