Ruthie Henshall

Born as Valentine Ruth Henshall in London in 1967, Ruthie Henshall is a five-time Olivier-nominated West End actress. She will play Dorothy Brock in 42nd Street at Sadler’s Wells in 2023.

After training at Laine Theatre Arts, Henshall made her West End debut in Cats at the then-named New London Theatre in 1987. During her two-year tenure, she played multiple cats, including Jemima, Demeter, Griddlebone, and Grizabella. Following Cats, she was then part of the original West End casts of Miss Saigon and Children of Eden.

In 1992, Henshall took over the role of Fantine in Les Miserables. A year later, she originated the role of Polly Baker in the West End production of Crazy for You, earning an Olivier Award nomination.

Henshall became an Olivier Award-winning actress in 1995, after playing Amalia Balash in She Loves Me. Following this, she took over as Nancy in Oliver! alonsgide Robert Lindsay as Fagin; Roxie Hart in Chicago; and Peggy Sue Got Married — the latter two credits saw Henshall pick up two more Olivier nominations.

In the 21st century, Henshall’s played Velma Kelly in Chicago (2003) and took over from Maria Friedman as Marian Halcombe in The Woman in White (2004). She also starred in the short-lived Marguerite, a new musical from Les Miserables creators Herbert Kretzmer, Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg. Although Marguerite only ran for eight weeks, she earned her fifth Olivier nomination.

After a decade away, Henshall returned to Chicago in 2009 as Roxie. She also starred in Blithe Spirit in 2011 alongside Alison Steadman as Madame Arcati. She also played Mrs. Wilkinson in Billy Elliot for two years — she stayed with the show until its 2016 closing.

After seven years away from the West End, Ruthie Henshall returns to play Dorothy Brock in 42nd Street. She'll star alongside Adam Garcia as Julian Marsh, and Nicole-Lily Baisden as Peggy Sawyer.