Michael Ball

Michael Ball was born in Worcestershire in 1962 and has since established himself as an actor, singer and broadcaster, not only in the West End but also television and radio.

After studying at Guildford School of Acting, he caught his first break starring in The Pirates of Penzance at Manchester Opera House. Starring in The Pirates of Penzance got him cast in the London production of Les Miserables at the Palace Theatre as Marius. Following this, Ball was invited to follow Steve Barton’s original portrayal of Raoul in the second casting of The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre. Other notable roles include playing Alex in Aspects of Love at the Prince of Wales Theatre in 1989, and as Giorgio in Stephen Sondheim’s Passion. 

Ball’s one man show Alone Together, which was originally performed at the Donmar Warehouse was later reprised at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in 2004. 1998 marked a busy year for Ball, performing in The Fiftieth Birthday Concert of Andrew Lloyd Webber at the Royal Albert Hall, Sondheim Tonight at the Barbican and Hey, Mr. Producer: The Musical World of Cameron Mackintosh. He returned to the theatre in 2002 as Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium.

In 2004, Ball sang for the Queen and her guests for a one off special concert performance of Les Miserables at Windsor Castle. The following year, he replaced Michael Crawford as Count Fosco in The Woman in White, a role which took him to the West End and Broadway. In 2007, Ball played Edna Turnblad in Hairspray at the Shaftesbury Theatre, winning an Olivier Award.

Following this, he starred in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street alongside Imelda Staunton at the Adelphi Theatre. Ball was also part of the cast for the 25th Anniversary Concert of Les Miserables at The O2 Arena along with Matt Lucas, Alfie Boe and Samantha Barks. The concert was telecast live to cinemas globally and later released on DVD.

Outside the theatre, Ball has released several solo albums from 1992 - 2014. He has also established himself as a presenter for shows such as This Morning, The Michael Ball Show and The One Show. He also appeared as a Judge in the talent television show Soapstar Superstar for series two in 2007. 

Recently, Ball has starred in Chess at the London Coliseum, and played Javert in Les Misérables - The All-Star Staged Concert at the Gielgud Theatre. In 2021, he reprised his performance as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray at the London Coliseum.

Ball will return to the West End in 2023 to star in Aspects of Love at the Lyric Theatre.