Ruthie Henshall
Henshall in 2019
Born
Valentine Ruth Henshall

(1967-03-07) 7 March 1967
Orpington, Greater London, England
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
  • dancer
Years active1986–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2004; div. 2010)​
Children2
Websitewww.ruthiehenshall.com

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 in 1987. A five-time Olivier Award nominee, she won the 1995 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role as Amalia Balash in the London revival of She Loves Me (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 (1997–1998) and the title roles in the original productions of Peggy Sue Got Married (2001) and Marguerite (2008). She made her Broadway 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 (2014–2016). She returned to television acting in 2021 by appearing as Miranda Evans in the BBC soap opera Doctors.

Early and personal life

Henshall was born on 7 March 1967 in Orpington, London.[1] Her father, David, was a journalist, later the editor of the East Anglian Daily Times, a Suffolk morning newspaper. Henshall once dated Prince Edward for a number of years,[2] before becoming engaged to actor John Gordon Sinclair. After she took the role of Velma Kelly in Chicago on Broadway, they broke up.[3] She met actor and singer Tim Howar, her male co-star lead in the West End production of Peggy Sue Got Married. The couple married in 2004 and have two daughters, Lily and Dolly. The couple separated in August 2009 and later divorced in January 2010.[1]

Career

Prior to making her stage debut at the age of 19, Henshall trained at Laine Theatre Arts in Epsom, Surrey.[4] Her debut performance was in the Cascade Revue at the West Cliff Theatre in Clacton-on-Sea.[5] In the late 1980s and early 1990s, she took part in a touring production of A Chorus Line as Maggie.[4] Her West End debut came shortly thereafter when she was cast in Cats, making appearances as Jemima, Demeter, Griddlebone and Grizabella.[6]

In 1988, at the age of 21, Henshall was cast in Miss Saigon as one of the bargirls, showing at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. She then went on to originate the role of Aphra in Children of Eden at the Prince Edward Theatre. The summer of 1989 saw her at the Chichester Festival Theatre performing in plays by Shakespeare, Molière as well as a role in the musical Valentine's Day, based on You Can Never Tell by George Bernard Shaw.[4]

In 1992, at the age of 25, Henshall was cast as Fantine in Les Misérables. Her first starring role came in the 1993 trans-Atlantic transfer of the Broadway production Crazy for You which opened at the Prince Edward Theatre. Her performance earned her the first of five Olivier Award nominations.[4] In 1995, Henshall starred in She Loves Me, winning the Olivier as Best Actress in a Musical.[7] That same year, she performed a concert of Gershwin songs at London's Royal Festival Hall. Later, in October, she recreated her role of Fantine for the 10th Anniversary Concert performance of Les Misérables at the Royal Albert Hall. In 1996, she took on the role of Nancy in producer Cameron Mackintosh's hit revival of Oliver! at the London Palladium. In 1997, Henshall originated the role of Roxie Hart in the West End transfer of the Broadway revival of Chicago. For this role, she received her third Olivier nomination for Best Actress in a Musical, which went to her co-star Ute Lemper.

Henshall was cast in the title role of the stage musical adaptation of the Francis Ford Coppola film Peggy Sue Got Married,[8] 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.[9]

Henshall has also appeared at the Chichester Festival Theatre, has toured Britain in the revue The Magnificent Musicals, and has performed in Hey, Mr. Producer!, a celebration of the works of Cameron Mackintosh.[10][11] Her solo recordings include The Ruthie Henshall Album, Pilgrim, and Love Is Here to Stay, a collection of Gershwin tunes.[12] She succeeded the role of Marian Halcombe from Maria Friedman in Andrew Lloyd Webber'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, Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg. The show opened on 7 May 2008 at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, London, but closed early on 13 September 2008.[13]

Henshall's Broadway credits include Stephen Sondheim's Putting It Together, Chicago (as both Velma and Roxie), and off-Broadway The Vagina Monologues. In 2000 she guest-starred in an episode of Law & Order titled "Panic"; she played an author named P.K. Todd. Her first feature film, a musical version of A Christmas Carol with Kelsey Grammer, aired on NBC in the United States in November 2004 and was released as a commercial attraction to theatres in the UK and Europe.[6] In January 2006 she appeared in the four-part BBC Television series The Sound of Musicals.

In 2008, Henshall replaced Natalia Bestemianova as a judge on the ITV1 show Dancing on Ice alongside Robin Cousins, Karen Barber, Nicky Slater and Jason Gardiner. Her appointment to The Ice Panel caused some controversy as she was the only judge with no experience in ice skating.[14] She returned for a second series in 2009. Following the conclusion of the 2009 series, Henshall said on Angela and Friends 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 entitled From Broadway to Hollywood at London's Cadogan Hall in the summer of 2009.[15]

She returned to the role of Roxie in Chicago at the Cambridge Theatre, 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 in the West End, after playing the role in several regional theatre engagements.[16][17][18]

In 2011 she also appeared as a theatre actor in an episode of the HBO comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm 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.[19][20]

In February 2012 it was announced that Henshall will headline a concert of Side by Side by Sondheim in Australia. Henshall took a purely acting role as billionaire Stephanie Gaunt in the CBBC 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.[21] In 2014, it was announced that she would play Mrs Wilkinson in Billy Elliot the Musical from 12 May. After two years in the production, she became the final actress to take on the role before the show's closure.[22]

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.[23] In March 2021, she began appearing in the BBC soap opera Doctors as Miranda Evans.[24][25]

In 2022, Henshall starred in the revival of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's musical Passion at the Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester, playing Fosca. [26]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1992 Get Back Rita Henderson Episode: "We Can Work It Out"
2000 Law & Order P.K. Todd Episode: "Panic"
2011 Curb Your Enthusiasm Ally Episode: "The Hero"
2011 The Case Valerie Mornay 5 episodes
2012 Wizards vs Aliens Stephanie Gaunt Episode: "Friend or Foe: Parts One and Two"
2014 Billy Elliot the Musical Live Mrs. Wilkinson Live recording of Billy Elliot the Musical
2018 Isabella Amanda Short film
2020 I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Herself Contestant
2021 Doctors Miranda Evans Recurring role
2022 Olivier Awards Guest Presenter 1 episode
2022 Shakespeare and Hathaway: Private Investigators Beattie Delemar Episode: “If Music Be the Food of Love”
2023 Coronation Street Estelle Harrington Recurring role

Stage credits

  • A Chorus Line (UK tour, 1987) as Maggie
  • Cats (London cast, 1987–1989) as Jemima, Demeter, Jellyorum, Griddlebone, Grizabella
  • Bernadette (Concept album, 1989) Performer
  • Miss Saigon (Original London cast, 1989–1990) as Bar Girl, Ellen
  • Children of Eden (Original London cast, 1991) as Aphra
  • Henry VIII (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
  • Les Misérables (London cast, 1992) as Fantine
  • Godspell (Studio cast, 1993) Performer
  • Crazy for You (Original London cast, 1993–1994) as Polly Baker
  • She Loves Me (London revival cast, 1994) as Amalia Balash
  • Annie (Studio cast, 1995) Performer
  • Miss Saigon (Studio cast, 1995) as Ellen
  • Les Misérables (London concert cast, 1995) as Fantine
  • Crazy for You (Toronto cast) as Polly Baker
  • Oliver! (London cast, 1996) as Nancy
  • Divorce Me, Darling! (Chichester Festival cast, 1997) as Polly Brockhurst
  • Chicago (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
  • Chicago (Broadway cast, 1999) as Velma Kelly
  • Putting It Together (Broadway revival, 1999) as The Younger Woman
  • The Vagina Monologues (Original Off-Broadway production, 2000)
  • Miss Saigon (Broadway cast), (Broadway cast replacement, 31 December 2000 – 28 January 2001) as Ellen
  • Peggy Sue Got Married (Original London Production, 2001) as Peggy Sue
  • The Vagina Monologues (London cast, 2001–2002)
  • The Boy from Oz (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, New York, 2006) as Emma
  • Stairway to Paradise (New York City Center, 2007)[27]
  • Marguerite (Original London production, 2008) as Marguerite
  • Chicago (Cambridge Theatre, 2009) as Roxie Hart
  • Blithe Spirit (Apollo Theatre, 2011) as Elvira
  • Side by Side by Sondheim (Theatre Royal, Sydney, 2012) Headliner[11][28]
  • Guys and Dolls (Concert version, Cadogan Hall, 2012) as Adelaide
  • Billy Elliot (West End cast, Victoria Palace Theatre, 2014–2016) as Mrs.Wilkinson
  • Chicago (West End revival, Phoenix Theatre, 2018) as Mama Morton[29]
  • 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, winning once.

Publications

  • Henshall, Ruthie; Bowling, Daniel (2012). So You Want to Be in Musicals?. London: Nick Hern Books. ISBN 9781848421509.

Discography

Year Title Role Notes
1990 The Making of Miss Saigon Ellen
1995 Les Misérables: The Dream Cast in Concert Fantine
1998 Hey, Mr. Producer! Herself
2001 Putting It Together: Direct from Broadway The Young Woman Final performance
2003 Some Enchanted Evening: Richard Rodgers Tribute Gala Herself
2004 Broadway – The Golden Age, By the Legends Who Were There
A Christmas Carol Mrs. Scrooge (Scrooge's Mother)
2005 Voices For Darfur Herself Charitable performance
2006 Lesley Garrett: Music from the Movies

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 Album

Cast recordings

References

  1. 1 2 "I'm a Celebrity: Who is Ruthie Henshall? Singer's age, husband and when she dated Prince Edward revealed". Smooth. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  2. ↑ "Henshall talks of love for prince". BBC News. 17 August 2008. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
  3. ↑ Jardine, Cassandra. "Ruthie Henshall: 'I felt that I was losing my mind' ", The Daily Telegraph, 12 September 2008.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Biography". ruthiehenshall.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
  5. ↑ "History", West Cliff Theatre. Accessed 17 January 2021
  6. 1 2 "Ruthie Henshall". The Agency Group, Ltd. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
  7. ↑ "Olivier Award: Best Actress in a Musical". Awardsandhonors.com. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
  8. ↑ "Ruthie Henshall Signed Up to Star as Peggy Sue". WhatsOnStage.com. 29 March 2001. Archived from the original on 16 June 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
  9. ↑ "Olivier Awards 2002: The nominations". BBC News. 17 January 2002. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
  10. ↑ "RuthieHenshall.net". Archived from the original on 7 August 2009. Retrieved 19 November 2009.
  11. 1 2 "Ruthie Henshall Theatre Credits". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
  12. 1 2 "Ruthie Henshall: Albums, Songs, Bios, Photos". Amazon.com. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
  13. ↑ Shenton, Mark (21 August 2008). "Marguerite to Shutter Early; Girl With a Pearl Earring to Play Haymarket Next". Playbill. Archived from the original on 14 September 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
  14. ↑ "Dancing on Ice – New judge Ruthie Henshall speaks out". MyParkMag.co.uk. 11 January 2008. Archived from the original on 7 March 2008. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
  15. ↑ Gans, Andrew (19 June 2009). "Ruthie Henshall, Maria Friedman and Kim Criswell to Play Cadogan Hall". Playbill. Archived from the original on 19 September 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
  16. ↑ Gray, Christopher."'Blithe Spirit': Milton Keynes Theatre and Apollo Theatre, London, next month" Archived 24 March 2012 at the Wayback MachineThe Oxford Times, 16 February 2011
  17. ↑ Woolman, Natalie."Ruthie Henshall to star in Blithe Spirit", thestage.co.uk, 31 August 2010
  18. ↑ BWW News Desk."Ruthie Henshall Joins Bathurst, Steadman & Norris in London-Bound Blithe Spirit", BroadwayWorld, 31 August 2010
  19. ↑ Best British TV."BBC Drama: The Case" bestbritishtv.com, 18 October 2011
  20. ↑ BBC News."Ruthie Henshall hosts charity show at Ipswich Regent", bbc.co.uk, 18 November 2011
  21. ↑ Ruthie Henshall; Daniel Bowling (2012). So You Want to Be in Musicals?. Nick Hern Books. ASIN 1848421508.
  22. ↑ "West End's Billy Elliot to close in April 2016". London Theatre. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  23. ↑ "Ruthie Henshall Is Second Star To Leave I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!". Huffington Post. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  24. ↑ "Mad Eye Mandy". Doctors. 25 March 2021. BBC. BBC One.
  25. ↑ Timblick, Simon (16 March 2021). "Doctors spoilers: Musical theatre fave Ruthie Henshall guest stars!". What's on TV. Future plc. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  26. ↑ "Ruthie Henshall: 'When I hit 50, I didn't feel the need to cartwheel anymore'". The Stage. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  27. ↑ "Mining a Rich Vein of Sequins in Revues" by Ben Brantley, The New York Times, 12 May 2007
  28. ↑ "Stage Credits at Ruthie Henshall.com". Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
  29. ↑ "Sarah Soetaert, Josefina Gabrielle & Ruthie Henshall to join Cuba Gooding Jr in Chicago". Best of Theatre. 16 February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  30. ↑ "Recordings RuthieHenshall.com". Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
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