Ruthie Henshall

Current Role

Ruthie Henshall is an established West End star who has played many roles in many different productions. She has performed in a string of first-class shows such as Oliver!, Chicago and Cats. She is currently starring as the lead in the new production, Marguerite, alongside Julian Ovenden (as 'Armand') and Alexander Hanson (as 'Otto'). The show is directed by Jonathan Kent and will be showing until November 1st, 2008. She is currently married to Tim Howar and they have two children. Tim is a musician in the rock band Van Tramp.

Early Life

Ruthie Henshall was born in Bromley in London, her father was a journalist and later became the editor of the East Anglian Daily Times. Earlier in her life she had dreams of becoming a ballet dancer, and received formal training. For this reason she was chosen as a judge on ITV's Dancing On Ice in 2008. At the age of 19 she studied at Laine Theatre Arts Drama School and performed in the production A Chorus Line. From 1980 to 1990 her career really began to advance when she was cast in Cats, Miss Saigon and Les Misérables. In 1993 she starred as a leading role in the Gerswhin musical Crazy for You. She has appeared in other productions such as She Loves Me and has even starred as Nancy in Sam Mendes' revival of Oliver! in 1996. She then took on the role of Roxie Hart in a revival of Chicago and a musical adaption of Peggy Sue Got Married. As well as being an actor and dancer she is also a talented singer and has released several albums including, The Ruthie Henshall Album, Pilgrim and Love Is Here To Stay. Furthermore she acted in Andrew Lloyd Webber's esteemed production of The Woman In White in 2005.

Career Highlights

In 1993 Ruthie Henshall performed her first leading role in Crazy for You at the Prince Edward Theatre, earning her the first Olivier nomination of her career. In 2004 she starred in her first feature film, an adaption of A Christmas Carol with Kelsey Grammar, directed by Arthur Allan Seidelman.

Interesting Facts

• Ruthie Henshall dated Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex
• Her husband Tim Howar is in a rock band
• She has two children, Lily and Dolly

Awards

• She has received four Olivier Award nominations
• In 1994 she won the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical