Ruthie Henshall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ruthie Henshall
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Henshall in 2019
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| Born |
Valentine Ruth Henshall
7 March 1967 Orpington, London, England
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| Years active | 1986–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Tim Howar
(m. 2004; div. 2010) |
| Children | 2 |
Valentine Ruth Henshall (born 7 March 1967), known as Ruthie Henshall, is an English actress, singer, and dancer. She is famous for her work in musical theatre. Ruthie started her professional stage career in 1986. She made her first appearance in London's West End in the musical Cats in 1987.
Ruthie has been nominated five times for the Olivier Award, which is a very important theatre award. She won the 1995 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role as Amalia Balash in She Loves Me. She also played Polly Baker in Crazy for You and Roxie Hart in Chicago. Ruthie made her first appearance on Broadway in New York in 1999, also in Chicago. She played Mrs Wilkinson in the West End show Billy Elliot the Musical for two years. In 2021, she started acting on TV again in the BBC show Doctors.
Contents
Ruthie Henshall's Early Life and Family
Ruthie Henshall was born on 7 March 1967, in Orpington, London. Her father, David, was a journalist and later became the editor of a newspaper called the East Anglian Daily Times.
Ruthie used to date Prince Edward for several years. Later, she was engaged to an actor named John Gordon Sinclair. They broke up after she took on the role of Velma Kelly in Chicago on Broadway.
She met actor and singer Tim Howar when they were both starring in the West End show Peggy Sue Got Married. Ruthie and Tim got married in 2004. They have two daughters named Lily and Dolly. The couple separated in 2009 and later divorced in 2010.
Ruthie Henshall's Amazing Career on Stage
Before she started her stage career at 19, Ruthie trained at Laine Theatre Arts in Epsom, Surrey. Her very first performance was in a show called Cascade Revue.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, she toured with a show called A Chorus Line. Soon after, she made her West End debut in Cats. In this show, she played several different characters like Jemima and Grizabella.
Big Roles in Famous Musicals
In 1988, when she was 21, Ruthie was cast in Miss Saigon at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. She then played the role of Aphra in Children of Eden. In 1992, Ruthie played Fantine in Les Misérables.
Her first main role was in 1993 in Crazy for You. This performance earned her her first Olivier Award nomination. In 1995, Ruthie starred in She Loves Me and won the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical. That same year, she performed a concert of Gershwin songs. She also played Fantine again for the 10th Anniversary Concert of Les Misérables.
In 1996, she took on the role of Nancy in Oliver!. In 1997, Ruthie was the first person to play Roxie Hart in the West End revival of Chicago. She received her third Olivier nomination for this role.
More Stage Successes
Ruthie Henshall played the main character in the musical Peggy Sue Got Married in London in 2001. Even though the show didn't run for long, she was nominated for another Olivier Award.
She has also performed at the Chichester Festival Theatre and toured Britain in a show called The Magnificent Musicals. Ruthie has released solo albums, including The Ruthie Henshall Album and Pilgrim.
From 2005 to 2006, she played Marian Halcombe in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Woman in White. In 2008, she starred in a new musical called Marguerite, which also earned her an Olivier nomination.
Return to Chicago and Other Projects
Ruthie returned to play Roxie in Chicago in London in 2009. She felt more comfortable in the role the second time, saying that anyone playing Roxie should be in their forties because they have more life experience. She also played Roxie in the Broadway production of Chicago.
In 2011, Ruthie played Elvira in the play Blithe Spirit. She also appeared in the HBO comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm and a legal drama called The Case.
In 2012, Ruthie played a billionaire named Stephanie Gaunt in the CBBC series Wizards vs Aliens. She also co-wrote a book called So You Want to Be in Musicals?. In 2014, she started playing Mrs Wilkinson in Billy Elliot the Musical. She was the last actress to play this role before the show closed.
In 2020, Ruthie took part in the TV show I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here. She finished in 11th place. In 2021, she began appearing in the BBC soap opera Doctors as Miranda Evans. In 2022, Ruthie starred in the musical Passion in Manchester.
Ruthie Henshall's TV and Film Appearances
Ruthie has appeared in several TV shows and films.
- In 2000, she was a guest star in an episode of Law & Order.
- Her first feature film was a musical version of A Christmas Carol in 2004.
- In 2006, she appeared in the BBC TV series The Sound of Musicals.
- From 2008 to 2009, Ruthie was a judge on the ITV show Dancing on Ice. This caused some discussion because she didn't have ice skating experience.
- She has also been a contestant on shows like All Star Family Fortunes, I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, Celebrity Chase, and Celebrity Mastermind.
- In 2023–2024, she had a recurring role in the soap opera Coronation Street.
Ruthie Henshall's Olivier Award Nominations
Ruthie Henshall has been nominated five times for the Laurence Olivier Award, which is the most important theatre award in the UK. She won once.
- 1993: Nominated for Best Actress in a Musical for Crazy for You
- 1995: Won Best Actress in a Musical for She Loves Me
- 1998: Nominated for Best Actress in a Musical for Chicago
- 2002: Nominated for Best Actress in a Musical for Peggy Sue Got Married
- 2009: Nominated for Best Actress in a Musical for Marguerite
Ruthie Henshall's Music Albums
Ruthie has released several solo albums:
- I've Loved these Days
- The Ruthie Henshall Album
- Pilgrim
- Ruthie Henshall Sings Gershwin
She has also contributed guest vocals to other albums and appeared on cast recordings for many of the musicals she has been in, such as Children of Eden, Crazy for You, She Loves Me, Les Misérables, and Chicago.
Images for kids
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Ruthie Henshall
See also
In Spanish: Ruthie Henshall para niños
