Celebrities Performing on the West End Stages

John Lithgow will star as Roald Dahl in Giant at the Harold Pinter Theatre.

Why You Know John: John Lithgow is known for his performance in the films The World According to Garp, Terms of Endearment, Killers of the Flower Moon, Interstellar, Footloose, and Twilight Zone: The Movie as well as in the tv shows Perry Mason, The Crown, Dexter, and 3^rd Rock From the Sun. He has previously been seen on stage in Hillary and Clinton, A Delicate Balance, The Columnist, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Sweet Smell of Success, M. Butterfly, Requiem for a Heavyweight, and The Changing Room.

Ewan McGregor stars in My Master Builder at Wyndham’s Theatre.

Why You Know Ewan: Ewan McGregor is known for his roles in Moulin Rouge!, Big Fish, Christopher Robin, and Salmon Fishing in Yemen. Of course, he is also known for playing the Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi in the prequel trilogy Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, and Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. The London theatre scene has seen him in productions such as Little Malcom and HIs Struggle Against the Eunuchs, Guys and Dolls, and Othello.

Jonathan Bailey stars in Richard II at the Bridge Theatre.

Why You Know Jonathan: Jonathan Bailey is most recently known for his role as Fiyero in the film version of Wicked, also starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, as well as his role as Anthony Bridgerton in the hit romantic series Bridgerton. Other film and tv credits include Broadchurch, Groove High, and Leonardo. He has previously been seen on the stage in the Company revival, The Last Five Years revival, The York Realist, Cock, and Othello. Bailey actually began his acting career as a child actor in the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Chris O’Dowd stars in The Brightening Air at the Old Vic Theatre.

Why You Know Chris: Chris O’Dowd is an Irish actor and comedian famous for his role as Roy Trenneman in the comedy series The IT Crowd. He has also starred in films like Bridesmaids, Gulliver’s Travels, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, The Clover Paradox, and Friends With Kids. Additionally, he created and starred in the tv series Moone Boy on Sky 1. In 2014 he made his Broadway debut in an adaptation of Of Mice and Men, which got him nominated for a Tony Award.

Vanessa Williams stars in The Devil Wears Prada at the Dominion Theatre.

Why You Know Vanessa: Vanessa Williams is well known as an actress, singer, dancer, producer, and former beauty queen. Some of her most popular tv credits include her roles as Wilhelmina Slater in Ugly Betty and Renee Perry on Desperate Housewives. She has performed on the stage previously in Kiss of the Spider Woman, a revival of Into the Woods, The Trip to Bountiful, and POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive. Some of her most popular songs include “Save the Best for Last,” “Darlin’ I,” and “Dreamin’.”

Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Rory Kinnear, Jane Krakowsi, Denis O’Hare, and Martha Plimpton star in Here We Are at the National Theatre. 

Why You Know Jesse: Jesse Tyler Ferguson is known for playing Mitchell Pritchett  in the hit comedy series Modern Family from 2009-2020, for which he received five Emmy Award nominations. He has previously been seen on Broadway in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Fully Committed, and Take Me Out which won him a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play. He also has been in several of the Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park productions including A Midsummer Night’s Dream, A Winter’s Tale, The Merchant of Venice, and The Tempest.

Why You Know Rory: Rory Kinnear, not to be confused with his father Roy Kinnear, is known for playing Bill Tanner in the James Bond films Quantum of Solace, Skyfall, Spectre, and No Time to Die. Other film work includes Bank of Dave, Bank of Dave 2: The Loan Ranger, Broken, The Imitation Game, Men, and The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. Some of his tv credits include Black Mirror, Penny Dreadful, and Years and Years. On the stage he has won two Olivier Awards for his portrayal of Sir Fopling Flutter in The Man of Mode and Iago in Othello.

Why You Know Jane: Jane Krakowski is known for her performance as Jenna Maroney in 30 Rock as well as for her roles in the tv shows Ally McBeal and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. She has previously been seen on Broadway in She Loves Me, Nine, Once Upon a Mattress, Tartuffe, Company, Face Value, Grand Hotel, and Starlight Express.

Why You Know Denis: Denis O’Hare is an American actor known for his tv roles in American Horror Story and the HBO series True Blood. His supporting roles in films such as Milk, The Proposal, Changeling, and Dallas Buyers Club are also of note. Audiences have enjoyed him on the stage in Take Me Out and Sweet Charity. 

Why You Know Martha: Martha Plimpton is known as an actress, former model, and member of the Carradine family. She is known for films like The Goonies, Mass, The Mosquito Coast, Beautiful Girls, and Frozen II. Some of her tv credits include Raising Hope, The Real O’Neals, and notable guest star appearances in The Good Wife and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. She has previously performed on Broadway in The Coast of Utopia, Shining City, Top Girls, Pal Joey, and a revival of A Delicate Balance. Her other stage credits include The Glass Menagerie, The Sisters Rosensweig, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and The Playboy of the Western World.

Tamsin Greig stars in The Deep Blue Sea at Theatre Royal Haymarket starting May 7, 2025.

Why You Know Tamsin: Tamsin Greig is a British actress known for her tv roles in series such as Black Books, Green Wing, Episodes, Friday Night Dinner, Love Soup, and Belgravia. She also appeared in films like the BBC 2009 version of Emma as Miss Bates and as Beth Hardiment in Tamara Drewe in 2010. On the stage she has played in Much Ado About Nothing, The Little Dog Laughed, and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.

Imelda Staunton stars in Mrs. Warren’s Profession starting May 10, 2025.

Why You Know Imelda:  Imelda Staunton is known for her performance as Vera Drake in the film Vera Drake, Delores Umbridge in the Harry Potter films, and her roles in Nanny McPhee, Pride, Downton Abbey, Shakespeare in Love, Sense and Sensibility, and Much Ado About Nothing. She has previously been seen on stage in Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd, Gypsy, A Chorus of Disapproval, The Corn is Green, The Wizard of Oz, Uncle Vanya, Guys and Dolls, and Good People.

Martin Freeman and Jack Lowden star in The Fifth Step at @sohoplace starting May 12, 2025.

Why You Know Martin: Martin Freeman is known for such roles as Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit trilogy, Tim Canterbury in The Office British mockumentary series, Dr. John Watson in the British drama series Sherlock, and Everett K. Ross in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He has performed at theatres in London several times in productions such as Labour of Love, Richard III, Clybourne Park, and Mother Courage and her Children.

Why You Know Jack: Jack Lowden is a Scottish actor known for his roles in Dunkirk, England Is Mine, Fighting With My Family, the Apple TV series Slow Horses, and the BBC miniseries War & Peace. His past work on the stage includes playing Cammy in Black Watch, Oswald in an adaptation of Ghosts, Orestes in Electra, and Isabella in a genderswapped Measure for Measure opposite Hayley Atwell.

Kevin McHale stars in Frogs at Southwark Playhouse Borough starting May 23, 2025.

Why You Know Kevin: Kevin McHale is most well-known for playing Artie Abrams in the hit musical dramedy series Glee. After the show, he went on to host Virtually Famous, a British panel show, for a few years before starting a podcast with a former Glee co-star Jenna Ushkowitz called Showmance – later rebranded as And That’s What You Really Missed. He also appears in an episode of the anthology series American Horror Stories entitled, “Naughty List.” His stage credits include an off-Broadway workshop for Radiant Baby.

Rachel Zegler stars in Evita at the London Palladium starting June 14, 2025.

Why You Know Rachel: Rachel Zegler’s rise to fame came after she starred as Maria in the 2021 remake of Stephen Sondheim’s West Side Story. Since then she has played roles such as Anthea in Shazam! Fury of the Gods, Lucy Gray Baird in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, and most recently as Snow White in the new live action version of Disney’s Snow White. Last year she made her Broadway debut in a Romeo and Juliet adaptation directed by Sam Gold.

Ruth Wilson and Michael Shannon star in A Moon for the Misbegotten at Almeida Theatre starting June 17, 2025.

Why You Know Ruth: Ruth Wilson is an English actress known for her work in television, film, and theatre. Some of her tv credits include The Woman in the Wall, His Dark Materials, Mrs. Wilson, The Affair, Luther, and the Jane Eyre miniseries. Wilson’s film credits include such films as Saving Mr. Banks, The Lone Ranger, and I Am the Pretty Thing that Lives in the House. Her stage career has led to several nominations and wins of awards for her roles in Constellations, King Lear, A Streetcar Named Desire, and Anna Christie.

Why You Know Michael: Michael Shannon is known as an American actor with roles in films such as Nocturnal Animals, The Shape of Water, Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead, Knives Out, Shotgun Stories, and Midnight Special. He has also starred in series like Hulu’s Nine Perfect Strangers, Showtime’s George & Tammy, and HBO’s Boardwalk Empire. His previous work on Broadway includes playing James Tyrone Jr. in a revival of Long Day’s Journey Into Night by Eugene O’Neill and the 2012 play Grace.

Samira Wiley stars in Intimate Apparel at Donmar Warehouse starting June 20, 2025.

Why You Know Samira: Samira Wiley is known for her roles as Poussey Washington in the Netflix series Orange is the New Black and Moira in the Hulu series The Handmaid's Tale. She has also starred in films like The Sitter, Nerve, Detroit, and Social Animals. Her previous work in the theatre includes playing Maria in a production of Love’s Labour Lost by the Public Theater in New York City.

Michael Sheen stars in Nye at the National Theatre starting July 3, 2025.

Why You Know Michael: MichaelSheen is known for his roles in the tv shows Good Omens, Prodigal Son, Staged, and Masters of Sex as well as for the films Midnight in Paris, The Damned United, Frost/Nixon, and The Queen. He has previously been seen on stage inFrost/Nixon, Caligula, Look Back in Anger, Hamlet, andAmadeus.

Sean Hayes stars in Good Night, Oscar at the Barbican starting July 31, 2025.

Why You Know Sean: Sean Hayes is known as an American actor, comedian, and producer. Some of his most popular film and tv credits include Will & Grace, Martin and Lewis, The Cat in the Hat, Cats & Dogs, The Three Stooges, and The Bucket List. He runs Hazy Mills Productions which has produced tv series such as Grimm, Hot in Cleveland, The Soul Man, and Hollywood Game Night. Additionally, he co-hosts the podcast SmartLess with Jason Bateman and Will Arnett. His Broadway career has included him playing Chuck Baxter in the Promises revival, God in An Act of God, and of course Oscar Levant in Good Night, Oscar.

Nicola Coughlan stars in The Playboy of the Western World at the National Theatre starting December 4, 2025.

Why You Know Nicola: Nicola Coughlan is known for her performance as Clare Devlin in Derry Girls, Maggie in Big Mood, and Penelope Featherington in Bridgerton. She has previously been seen on stage in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Jess and Joe Forever, and Nadya.

Letitia Wright stars in The Story at the National Theatre in 2026.

Why You Know Letitia: Letitia Wright is known for her portrayal of Shuri in the films Black Panther and Avengers as well as for her roles in the tv series Small Axe, Humans, Cucumber, and Banana.

Paul Mescal stars in A Whistle in the Dark and Death of a Salesman at the National Theatre in 2026.

Why You Know Paul: Paul Mescal is known for his roles in the tv series Normal People and in the films The Lost Daughter, God’s Creatures, Aftersun, and All of Us Strangers. He has previously been seen on stage in The Lieutenant of Inishmore, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and The Plough and the Stars.