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Marisha Wallace
Born (1985-09-29) September 29, 1985 (age 39)
Occupation
  • Actress
  • singer
Years active 2014–present

Marisha Wallace (born September 29, 1985) is an American actress and singer, best known for her work in musical theatre.

Life and career

Wallace appeared in the original Broadway casts of Aladdin (2014) and Something Rotten! (2015) as a member of the ensemble and understudy. In January 2017 she became an alternate Effie White in the West End production of Dreamgirls. Following the departure of Amber Riley from the production, Wallace took over the role, sharing with Karen Mav and Moya Angela. In 2017, she released a Christmas album called Soul Holiday. In 2019, she joined the original London cast of Waitress as Becky. In Summer 2021 she starred in the London Coliseum production of Hairspray as Motormouth Maybelle opposite Michael Ball. For this role she was nominated for the 2021 Black British Theatre Awards as Best Female Actor in a Musical.

In 2022, she played Ado Annie in Oklahoma! at the Young Vic, a performance for which she received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical.

Wallace is the singing voice of Ms. Johnston in Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey on Netflix.

In March 2023, she began playing Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls at the Bridge Theatre for which she was nominated for her second Olivier Award Nomination for Best Actress in a Musical. She left the production in February 2024.

In March 2024, Wallace entered the Celebrity Big Brother house to compete in the twenty-third series. She was the fifth housemate evicted, leaving on Day 16 in a double eviction.

In August 2024 she appeared in a concert staging of Something Rotten! at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

In December 2024, she will make her debut in pantomime as the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood at the London Palladium.

Stage

Year Title Role Notes
2010 Rent Maureen Johnson Palace Theatre
2011 Joanne Jefferson Broadway Palm Theatre
2012 The Book of Mormon Ensemble US Tour
2014 Aladdin Ensemble
u/s Babkak
New Amsterdam Theatre, Broadway
2015 Something Rotten! Ensemble
u/s Bea
St. James Theatre, Broadway
2016 Dreamgirls Effie White Savoy Theatre, West End
2019 Waitress Becky Adelphi Theatre, West End
2021 Hairspray Motormouth Maybelle London Coliseum, West End
2022 Oklahoma! Ado Annie Young Vic Theatre, London
2023 Guys and Dolls Miss Adelaide Bridge Theatre, London
2024 Robin Hood Sheriff of Nottingham London Palladium, West End
Something Rotten! Bea Theatre Royal Drury Lane, West End

Filmography

As herself
Year Title Role Ref.
2021 Feel Good Marsha; season 2 (2 episodes)
2024 Celebrity Big Brother Housemate; series 23

Discography

Albums

List of albums, with selected details and chart positions
Title Details Peak chart positions
UK
Soul Holiday
  • Released: October 26, 2017
  • Labels: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
Tomorrow
  • Released: November 27, 2020
  • Labels: Decca
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
69

Singles

Title Year Album
"Fight Like a Woman (Slay)" 2019 Non-album singles
"The Beginning" 2020
"Tomorrow" Tomorrow

Awards and nominations

Year Work Award Category Result Ref.
2020 Waitress WhatsOnStage Award Best Supporting Actress in a Musical Nominated
2023 Oklahoma! Olivier Awards Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical Nominated
WhatsOnStage Award Best Supporting Performer in a Musical Nominated
2024 Guys and Dolls WhatsOnStage Award Best Performer in a Musical Nominated
Olivier Awards Best Actress in a Musical Nominated
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