Valentine Ruth Henshall (born 7 March 1967), known professionally as Ruthie Henshall, is an English actress, singer and dancer, known for her work in musical theatre. She began her professional stage career in 1986, before making her West End debut in ''

Cats The cat (''Felis catus'') is a domestic species of small carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species in the family Felidae and is commonly referred to as the domestic cat or house cat to distinguish it from the wild members o ...

'' in 1987. A five-time

Olivier Award The Laurence Olivier Awards, or simply the Olivier Awards, are presented annually by the Society of London Theatre to recognise excellence in professional theatre in London at an annual ceremony in the capital. The awards were originally known a ...

nominee, she won the 1995

Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical The Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical is an annual award presented by the Society of London Theatre in recognition of achievements in commercial London theatre. The awards were established as the Society of West End Theatre Awar ...

for her role as Amalia Balash in the London revival of ''

She Loves Me ''She Loves Me'' is a musical with a book by Joe Masteroff, music by Jerry Bock, and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick. The musical is the third adaptation of the 1937 play '' Parfumerie'' by Hungarian playwright Miklós László, following the 1940 ...

'' (1994). Henshall's other Olivier nominated roles are Polly Baker in the original London production of '' Crazy for You'' (1993–1994), Roxie Hart in the revival of ''

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = List of sovereign states, Count ...

'' (1997–1998) and the title roles in the original productions of ''

Peggy Sue Got Married ''Peggy Sue Got Married'' is a 1986 American fantasy comedy-drama film directed by Francis Ford Coppola starring Kathleen Turner as a woman on the verge of a divorce, who finds herself transported back to the days of her senior year in high sch ...

'' (2001) and '' Marguerite'' (2008). She made her

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

debut in 1999 as Velma Kelly in ''Chicago'' and returned to the Broadway production to play Roxie Hart in 2010. She also starred as Mrs Wilkinson for two years in the West End production of ''

Billy Elliot the Musical ''Billy Elliot: The Musical'' is a coming-of-age stage musical based on the 2000 film of the same name. The music is by Elton John, and the book and lyrics are by Lee Hall, who wrote the film's screenplay. The plot revolves around Billy, a ...

'' (2014–2016). She returned to television acting in 2021 by appearing as

Miranda Evans '' Doctors'' is a British medical soap opera which began broadcasting on BBC One on 26 March 2000. Set in the fictional West Midlands town of Letherbridge, the soap follows the lives of the staff and patients of the Mill Health Centre, a ficti ...

in the BBC soap opera '' Doctors''.

Early and personal life

Henshall was born on 7 March 1967 in

Orpington Orpington is a town and area in south east London, England, within the London Borough of Bromley. It is 13.4 miles (21.6 km) south east of Charing Cross. On the south-eastern edge of the Greater London Built-up Area, it is south of St ...

, London. Her father, David, was a

journalist A journalist is an individual that collects/gathers information in form of text, audio, or pictures, processes them into a news-worthy form, and disseminates it to the public. The act or process mainly done by the journalist is called journalis ...

, later the editor of the ''

East Anglian Daily Times The ''East Anglian Daily Times'' is a British local newspaper for Suffolk and Essex, based in Ipswich. History The newspaper began publication on 13 October 1874, incorporating the ''Ipswich Express'', which had been published since 13 Augus ...

'', a

Suffolk Suffolk () is a ceremonial county of England in East Anglia. It borders Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south; the North Sea lies to the east. The county town is Ipswich; other important towns include ...

morning newspaper. Henshall once dated Prince Edward for a number of years, before becoming engaged to actor

John Gordon Sinclair John Gordon Sinclair (born Gordon John Sinclair; 4 February 1962) is a Scottish actor, voice actor, singer, and novelist. He is best known for portraying Gregory in the 1981 film '' Gregory's Girl''. There was a Gordon Sinclair already register ...

. After she took the role of Velma Kelly in ''

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = List of sovereign states, Count ...

'' on Broadway, they broke up. She met actor and singer Tim Howar, her male co-star lead in the West End production of ''

''. The couple married in 2004 and have two daughters, Lily and Dolly. The couple separated in August 2009 and later divorced in January 2010.

Career

Prior to making her stage debut at the age of 19, Henshall trained at Laine Theatre Arts in Epsom, Surrey. Her debut performance was in the ''Cascade Revue'' at the West Cliff Theatre in

Clacton-on-Sea Clacton-on-Sea is a seaside town in the Tendring District in the county of Essex, England. It is located on the Tendring Peninsula and is the largest settlement in the Tendring District with a population of 56,874 (2016). The town is situated ...

. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, she took part in a touring production of ''

A Chorus Line ''A Chorus Line'' is a 1975 musical with music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Edward Kleban, and a book by James Kirkwood Jr. and Nicholas Dante. Set on the bare stage of a Broadway theater, the musical is centered on seventeen Broadway dancers ...

'' as Maggie. Her West End debut came shortly thereafter when she was cast in ''

'', making appearances as Jemima, Demeter, Griddlebone and Grizabella. In 1988, at the age of 21, Henshall was cast in ''

Miss Saigon ''Miss Saigon'' is a stage musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, with lyrics by Boublil and Richard Maltby Jr. It is based on Giacomo Puccini's 1904 opera ''Madame Butterfly'', and similarly tells the tragic tale of a doomed rom ...

'' as one of the bargirls, showing at the

Theatre Royal, Drury Lane The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, commonly known as Drury Lane, is a West End theatre and Grade I listed building in Covent Garden, London, England. The building faces Catherine Street (earlier named Bridges or Brydges Street) and backs onto Dr ...

. She then went on to originate the role of Aphra in '' Children of Eden'' at the

Prince Edward Theatre The Prince Edward Theatre is a West End theatre situated on Old Compton Street, just north of Leicester Square, in the City of Westminster, London. History The theatre was designed in 1930 by Edward A. Stone, with an interior designed by Marc ...

. The summer of 1989 saw her at the

Chichester Festival Theatre Chichester Festival Theatre is a theatre and Grade II* listed building situated in Oaklands Park in the city of Chichester, West Sussex, England. Designed by Philip Powell and Hidalgo Moya, it was opened by its founder Leslie Evershed-Mart ...

performing in plays by

Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

Molière Jean-Baptiste Poquelin (, ; 15 January 1622 (baptised) – 17 February 1673), known by his stage name Molière (, , ), was a French playwright, actor, and poet, widely regarded as one of the greatest writers in the French language and world ...

as well as a role in the musical ''Valentine's Day'', based on '' You Can Never Tell'' by

George Bernard Shaw George Bernard Shaw (26 July 1856 – 2 November 1950), known at his insistence simply as Bernard Shaw, was an Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist. His influence on Western theatre, culture and politics extended from ...

. In 1992, at the age of 25, Henshall was cast as

Fantine Fantine (French pronunciation: ) is a fictional character in Victor Hugo's 1862 novel ''Les Misérables''. She is a young '' grisette'' in Paris who becomes pregnant by a rich student. After he abandons her, she is forced to look after their chi ...

in ''

Les Misérables ''Les Misérables'' ( , ) is a French historical novel by Victor Hugo, first published in 1862, that is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century. In the English-speaking world, the novel is usually referred to by its origin ...

''. Her first starring role came in the 1993 trans-Atlantic transfer of the Broadway production '' Crazy for You'' which opened at the

. Her performance earned her the first of five

nominations. In 1995, Henshall starred in ''

'', winning the Olivier as Best Actress in a Musical. That same year, she performed a concert of Gershwin songs at London's

Royal Festival Hall The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,700-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge, in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is a Grade I li ...

. Later, in October, she recreated her role of Fantine for the 10th Anniversary Concert performance of ''Les Misérables'' at the

Royal Albert Hall The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall on the northern edge of South Kensington, London. One of the UK's most treasured and distinctive buildings, it is held in trust for the nation and managed by a registered charity which receives no govern ...

. In 1996, she took on the role of Nancy in producer

Cameron Mackintosh Sir Cameron Anthony Mackintosh (born 17 October 1946) is a British theatrical producer and theatre owner notable for his association with many commercially successful musicals. At the height of his success in 1990, he was described as being "th ...

's hit revival of ''

Oliver! ''Oliver!'' is a Coming-of-age story, coming-of-age Musical theatre, stage musical, with book, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart. The musical is based upon the 1838 novel ''Oliver Twist'' by Charles Dickens. It premiered at the Wimbledon Theatre ...

'' at the

London Palladium The London Palladium () is a Grade II* West End theatre located on Argyll Street, London, in the famous area of Soho. The theatre holds 2,286 seats. Of the roster of stars who have played there, many have televised performances. Between 1955 a ...

. In 1997, Henshall originated the role of Roxie Hart in the West End transfer of the Broadway revival of ''

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = List of sovereign states, Count ...

''. For this role, she received her third Olivier nomination for Best Actress in a Musical, which went to her co-star

Ute Lemper Ute Gertrud Lemper (; born 4 July 1963) is a German singer and actress. Her roles in musicals include playing Sally Bowles in the original Paris production of ''Cabaret'', for which she won the 1987 Molière Award for Best Newcomer, and Velm ...

. Henshall was cast in the title role of the stage musical adaptation of the

Francis Ford Coppola Francis Ford Coppola (; ; born April 7, 1939) is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. He is considered one of the major figures of the New Hollywood filmmaking movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Coppola is the recipient of five ...

film ''

'', which opened in London in August 2001 to mixed reviews. Although it closed after a run of just eight weeks, she was once again nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for her performance. Henshall has also appeared at the

, has toured Britain in the revue ''The Magnificent Musicals'', and has performed in ''

Hey, Mr. Producer! ''Hey, Mr. Producer!'' was a concert honoring theatre producer Cameron Mackintosh, performed in June 1998 as a benefit for the Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB) and the Combined Theatrical Charities. Staged by Bob Avian, it was pr ...

'', a celebration of the works of

. Her solo recordings include ''The Ruthie Henshall Album'', ''Pilgrim'', and ''Love Is Here to Stay'', a collection of Gershwin tunes. She succeeded the role of Marian Halcombe from Maria Friedman in

Andrew Lloyd Webber Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber (born 22 March 1948), is an English composer and impresario of musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 21 musical ...

's '' The Woman in White'', from July 2005 until February 2006. She was also cast in the title role in Marguerite, a new musical from the pens of Michel Legrand,

Herbert Kretzmer Herbert Kretzmer (5 October 192514 October 2020) was a South African-born English journalist and lyricist. He was best known as the lyricist for the English-language musical adaptation of ''Les Misérables'' and for his long-time collaboration ...

Alain Boublil Alain Boublil (born 5 March 1941) is a French musical theatre lyricist and librettist, best known for his collaborations with the composer Claude-Michel Schönberg for musicals on Broadway and London's West End. These include ''La Révolution ...

and

Claude-Michel Schönberg Claude-Michel Schönberg (born 6 July 1944, in Vannes) is a French record producer, actor, singer, songwriter, and musical theatre composer, best known for his collaborations with lyricist Alain Boublil. Major works include ''La Révolution Fran� ...

. The show opened on 7 May 2008 at the

Theatre Royal Haymarket The Theatre Royal Haymarket (also known as Haymarket Theatre or the Little Theatre) is a West End theatre on Haymarket in the City of Westminster which dates back to 1720, making it the third-oldest London playhouse still in use. Samuel Foot ...

, London, but closed early on 13 September 2008. Henshall's Broadway credits include

Stephen Sondheim Stephen Joshua Sondheim (; March 22, 1930November 26, 2021) was an American composer and lyricist. One of the most important figures in twentieth-century musical theater, Sondheim is credited for having "reinvented the American musical" with sho ...

's '' Putting It Together'', ''Chicago'' (as both Velma and Roxie), and

off-Broadway An off-Broadway theatre is any professional theatre venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, inclusive. These theatres are smaller than Broadway theatres, but larger than off-off-Broadway theatres, which seat fewer th ...

The Vagina Monologues ''The Vagina Monologues'' is an episodic play written in 1996 by Eve Ensler which developed and premiered at HERE Arts Center, Off-Off-Broadway in New York and was followed by an Off-Broadway run in at Westside Theatre. The play explores c ...

''. In 2000 she guest-starred in an episode of ''

Law & Order ''Law & Order'' is an American police procedural and legal drama television series created by Dick Wolf and produced by Wolf Entertainment, launching the '' Law & Order'' franchise. ''Law & Order'' aired its entire run on NBC, premiering ...

'' titled "Panic"; she played an author named P.K. Todd. Her first feature film, a musical version of ''

A Christmas Carol ''A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas'', commonly known as ''A Christmas Carol'', is a novella by Charles Dickens, first published in London by Chapman & Hall in 1843 and illustrated by John Leech. ''A Christmas ...

'' with

Kelsey Grammer Allen Kelsey Grammer (born February 21, 1955) is an American actor and producer. He gained notoriety and acclaim for his role as psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane on the NBC sitcom ''Cheers'' (1984-1993) and its spin-off ''Frasier'' (1993-2004), ...

, aired on

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are l ...

in the United States in November 2004 and was released as a commercial attraction to theatres in the UK and Europe. In January 2006 she appeared in the four-part BBC Television series ''

The Sound of Musicals ''The Sound of Musicals'' was a 2006 four part BBC series starring several different musical theatre actors and some other professional singers who performed acts from different musicals. Each week the standard cast was joined by a celebrity gues ...

''. In 2008, Henshall replaced

Natalia Bestemianova Natalia Filimonovna Bestemianova or Bestemyanova (russian: Наталья Филимоновна Бестемьянова, born 6 January 1960) is a Soviet and Russian former competitive ice dancer who competed for the Soviet Union. With her part ...

as a judge on the

ITV1 ITV1 (formerly known as ITV) is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the British media company ITV plc. It provides the Channel 3 public broadcast service across all of the United Kingdom except for t ...

show ''

Dancing on Ice ''Dancing on Ice'' is a British television series presented by Phillip Schofield alongside Holly Willoughby from 2006 to 2011, who then returned in 2018, and Christine Bleakley from 2012 to 2014. The series features celebrities and their prof ...

'' alongside

Robin Cousins Robin Cousins, MBE (born 17 August 1957) is a British former competitive figure skater who was BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 1980. He was the 1980 Olympic champion, the 1980 European champion, a three-time World medalist (1978–19 ...

Karen Barber Karen Barber (born 21 June 1961 in Manchester) is a British ice dancer Ice dance (sometimes referred to as ice dancing) is a discipline of figure skating that historically draws from ballroom dancing. It joined the World Figure Skating Cham ...

Nicky Slater Nicholas Mark Slater (born 6 April 1958) is a former ice dancer and TV and theatrical performer. Personal life Slater's parents, Joan Dewhirst Slater and John Slater, competed together in ice dancing, winning silver at the 1952 and 1953 World ...

and

Jason Gardiner Jason Gardiner (born 6 November 1971) is an Australian choreographer, singer, and theatre producer best known for his role as a caustic and controversial judge on the ITV shows ''Dancing on Ice'', ''Born to Shine'' and '' Stepping Out''. Ga ...

. Her appointment to ''The Ice Panel'' caused some controversy as she was the only judge with no experience in ice skating. She returned for a second series in 2009. Following the conclusion of the 2009 series, Henshall said on ''

Angela and Friends ''Angela and Friends'' is a British talk show which was produced by Crackit Productions for Sky1. The show aired at 12pm, Monday to Friday, and was presented by actress Angela Griffin, who was joined by three "friends" in each show to discuss t ...

'' the Sky1 TV programme that she was glad that she was away from ''Dancing on Ice''. Her replacement for the 2010 series was Emma Bunton. Henshall performed two evening concerts with

Kim Criswell Kim Criswell (born July 19, 1957) is an American musical entertainer and actress. Life and career Criswell was born in Hampton, Virginia, United States, and grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee. After she graduated from Hixson High School in subur ...

entitled ''From Broadway to Hollywood'' at London's

Cadogan Hall Cadogan Hall is a 950-seat capacity concert hall in Sloane Terrace in Chelsea in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England. The resident music ensemble at Cadogan Hall is the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO), the first L ...

in the summer of 2009. She returned to the role of Roxie in ''Chicago'' at the

Cambridge Theatre The Cambridge Theatre is a West End theatre, on a corner site in Earlham Street facing Seven Dials, in the London Borough of Camden, built in 1929–30 for Bertie Meyer on an "irregular triangular site". Design and construction It was de ...

, London, on 14 December 2009 and completed her run on 24 April 2010. This was the second time Henshall played the role in London, having created it in 1997. She stated in an interview that she felt more comfortable in the part the second time around, being in her forties. She has stated that, "Anyone who plays the role of Roxie should be in their forties, as they have lived and learned". She has also recently played Roxie in the Broadway company of ''Chicago''. In March 2011, Henshall took the role of Elvira in the classic play ''

Blithe Spirit Blithe Spirit may refer to: * ''Blithe Spirit'' (play), a 1941 comic play written by Noël Coward * ''Blithe Spirit'' (1945 film), a British comedy film based on the play * ''Blithe Spirit'' (2020 film), a British-American comedy film based on th ...

'' in the West End, after playing the role in several regional theatre engagements. In 2011 she also appeared as a theatre actor in an episode of the HBO comedy ''

Curb Your Enthusiasm ''Curb Your Enthusiasm'' is an American television sitcom produced and broadcast by HBO since October 15, 2000, and created by Larry David, who stars as a semi-fictionalized version of himself. It follows David's life as a semi-retired televi ...

'' that aired 14 August, as well as a lawyer in ''The Case'', a 5-part legal drama that aired from 31 October to 4 November on BBC One. In February 2012 it was announced that Henshall will headline a concert of ''

Side by Side by Sondheim ''Side by Side by Sondheim'' is a musical revue featuring the songs of Broadway and film composer Stephen Sondheim. Its title is derived from the song "Side by Side by Side" from ''Company''. History The musical had its origins when David ...

'' in Australia. Henshall took a purely acting role as billionaire Stephanie Gaunt in the

CBBC CBBC (initialised as Children's BBC and also known as the CBBC Channel) is a British free-to-air public broadcast children's television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is also the brand used for all BBC content for children aged 7–16 ...

series '' Wizards vs Aliens'' in 2012. Henshall and Daniel Bowling (director of musicals) have written a book, ''So You Want to Be in Musicals?'', published in 2012. In 2014, it was announced that she would play Mrs Wilkinson in ''

'' from 12 May. After two years in the production, she became the final actress to take on the role before the show's closure. In 2020, it was confirmed that Henshall would be participating in the twentieth series of '' I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here''. She was eliminated on 29 November, finishing in 11th place. In March 2021, she began appearing in the BBC soap opera '' Doctors'' as Miranda Evans. In 2022, Henshall starred in the revival of

and

James Lapine James Elliot Lapine (born January 10, 1949) is an American stage director, playwright, screenwriter, and librettist. He has won the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical three times, for ''Into the Woods'', '' Falsettos'', and '' Passion''. He ...

's musical ''Passion'' at the Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester, playing Fosca.

Filmography

Stage credits

* ''

'' (UK tour, 1987) as Maggie * ''

'' (London cast, 1987–1989) as Jemima, Demeter, Jellyorum, Griddlebone, Grizabella * ''Bernadette'' (Concept album, 1989) Performer * ''

'' (Original London cast, 1989–1990) as Bar Girl, Ellen * '' Children of Eden'' (Original London cast, 1991) as Aphra * ''

Henry VIII Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is best known for his six marriages, and for his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. His disa ...

'' (Chichester Festival Theater, 1991) as Lady in Waiting * ''The Sisterhood'' (Chichester cast, 1991) as Martine * ''Valentine's Day'' (Chichester cast, 1991) as Mabel * ''Follow the Star'' (Chichester Festival Theatre, 1991–1992) as Mary * ''

'' (London cast, 1992) as

* ''

Godspell ''Godspell'' is a musical composed by Stephen Schwartz with book by John-Michael Tebelak. The show is structured as a series of parables, primarily based on the Gospel of Matthew, interspersed with music mostly set to lyrics from traditional hym ...

'' (Studio cast, 1993) Performer * '' Crazy for You'' (Original London cast, 1993–1994) as Polly Baker * ''

'' (London revival cast, 1994) as Amalia Balash * '' Annie'' (Studio cast, 1995) Performer * ''

'' (Studio cast, 1995) as Ellen * ''Les Misérables'' (London concert cast, 1995) as Fantine * '' Crazy for You'' (Toronto cast) as Polly Baker * ''

'' (London cast, 1996) as Nancy * ''

Divorce Me, Darling! ''Divorce Me, Darling'' is a musical written by Sandy Wilson. Set 10 years after the events depicted in Wilson's much better-known '' The Boy Friend'', it is a pastiche of 1930s musicals (in particular those of Cole Porter) rather than the "Roari ...

'' (Chichester Festival cast, 1997) as Polly Brockhurst * ''

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = List of sovereign states, Count ...

'' (London and Broadway revival cast, 1997–1998, 1999, 2010) as Roxie Hart * '' Ziegfeld Follies of 1936'' (New York concert cast, 1999) Roles originated by

Gertrude Niesen Gertrude Niesen (July 8, 1911 – March 27, 1975) was an American torch singer, actress, comedian, and songwriter who achieved popular success in musicals and films in the 1930s and 1940s. Early years Niesen was born aboard ship as her Swe ...

* ''Chicago'' (Broadway cast, 1999) as Velma Kelly * '' Putting It Together'' (Broadway revival, 1999) as The Younger Woman * ''

'' (Original Off-Broadway production, 2000) * ''

'' (Broadway cast), (Broadway cast replacement, 31 December 2000 – 28 January 2001) as Ellen * ''

'' (Original London Production, 2001) as Peggy Sue * ''The Vagina Monologues'' (London cast, 2001–2002) * ''

The Boy from Oz ''The Boy from Oz'' is a Australian jukebox musical based on the life of singer and songwriter Peter Allen, featuring songs written by him. The book commissioned for the musical is by Nick Enright, based on Stephen MacLean's 1996 biography of ...

'' (New York workshop, 2002) as Liza Minnelli * ''Chicago'' (London cast, 2003) Velma Kelly * '' Fosse'' (UK Tour, 2003) * '' The Woman in White'' (Original London production, 2004–2005) as Marian * ''The Other Woman'' (

Ensemble Studio Theatre The Ensemble Studio Theatre (EST) is a non-profit membership-based developmental theatre located in Hell's Kitchen, New York City. It has a dual mission of nurturing individual theatre artists and developing new American plays. Overview The E ...

, New York, 2006) as Emma * ''Stairway to Paradise'' (

New York City Center New York City Center (previously known as the Mecca Temple, City Center of Music and Drama,. The name "City Center for Music and Drama Inc." is the organizational parent of the New York City Ballet and, until 2011, the New York City Opera. and t ...

, 2007) * '' Marguerite'' (Original London production, 2008) as Marguerite * ''Chicago'' (Cambridge Theatre, 2009) as Roxie Hart * ''

'' (Apollo Theatre, 2011) as Elvira * ''

'' (Theatre Royal, Sydney, 2012) Headliner *''

Guys and Dolls ''Guys and Dolls'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. It is based on " The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" (1933) and "Blood Pressure", which are two short stories by Damon Runyon, and also b ...

'' (Concert version, Cadogan Hall, 2012) as Adelaide * ''

Billy Elliot ''Billy Elliot'' is a 2000 British coming-of-age comedy-drama film directed by Stephen Daldry and written by Lee Hall. Set in County Durham in North East England during the 1984–1985 miners' strike, the film is about a working-class boy w ...

'' (West End cast, Victoria Palace Theatre, 2014–2016) as Mrs.Wilkinson * ''Chicago'' (West End revival, Phoenix Theatre, 2018) as Mama Morton * ''Children Of Eden'' (30th anniversary concert, Cadogan Hall, 2021) as The Snake * '' Passion'' (Hope Mill Theatre, revival, 2022) as Fosca

Olivier nominations

Henshall has been nominated five times for the UK's most prestigious theatre award, the

Laurence Olivier Award The Laurence Olivier Awards, or simply the Olivier Awards, are presented annually by the Society of London Theatre to recognise excellence in professional theatre in London at an annual ceremony in the capital. The awards were originally known a ...

, winning once. *1993 Best Actress in a Musical for '' Crazy for You'' – nominated *1995 Best Actress in a Musical for ''

'' – won *1998 Best Actress in a Musical for ''

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = List of sovereign states, Count ...

'' – nominated *2002 Best Actress in a Musical for ''

'' – nominated *2009 Best Actress in a Musical for '' Marguerite'' – nominated

Publications

Discography

Solo albums

* ''I've Loved these Days'' * ''The Ruthie Henshall Album'' * ''Pilgrim'' * ''Ruthie Henshall Sings Gershwin''

Guest vocals and compilations

*''I Love Musicals'' *''Sondheim – The Stephen Sondheim Album'' *''Showstoppers: Dudu Fisher'' *''Brent Barrett: The

Kander and Ebb Kander and Ebb were a highly successful American songwriting team consisting of composer John Kander (born March 18, 1927) and lyricist Fred Ebb (April 8, 1928 – September 11, 2004). Known primarily for their stage musicals, which include ' ...

Album''

Cast recordings

* 1991: '' Children of Eden (Original London cast)'' * 1993: '' Crazy for You (Original London cast)'' * 1994: ''

(1994 London revival cast)'' * 1995: ''

(1995 studio cast)'' * 1995: ''

10th Anniversary Concert'' * 1997: ''

(1993 London studio cast)'' * 1998: ''

(1994 London cast)'' * 1998: ''

(1997 Chichester cast)'' * 1998: '' Annie (London studio cast)'' * 1998: '' Chicago – The Musical (1998 London cast)'' * 1998: ''

'' * 1999: ''

(1995 studio cast – highlights)'' * 2001: '' Ziegfeld Follies of 1936'' * 2004: ''

(Original soundtrack from the Hallmark TV production)'' * 2008: '' Marguerite (Original London cast recording)''

References

External links

* * * *
Behind the Stage Door with Ruthie Henshall on Magic at the Musicals

In the Spotlight with Ruthie Henshall on Magic at the Musicals
{{DEFAULTSORT:Henshall, Ruthie 1967 births 20th-century English actresses 21st-century English actresses Actresses from Kent English female dancers English musical theatre actresses Laurence Olivier Award winners Living people Musicians from Kent People from Bromley I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (British TV series) participants