WhatsOnStage Award for Best Performer in a Female Identifying Role in a Musical
Awarded forExcellence in a leading role in a musical
CountryUnited Kingdom
Presented byWhatsOnStage.com
First awarded2001
Currently held byCarrie Hope Fletcher (2022)

The WhatsOnStage Award for Best Performer in a Female Identifying Role in a Musical is an annual award presented by WhatsOnStage.com as part of the annual WhatsOnStage Awards. Founded in 2001 as the Theatregoers' Choice Awards, the WhatsOnStage Awards are based on a popular vote recognising performers and productions in London's West End theatre.

This award is given to a person who has performed a leading female identifying role in a musical during the eligibility year. Introduced in 2001 as the award for Best Actress in a Musical, the category was renamed in 2022 in an effort to be more inclusive. The category was discontinued following the 2022 ceremony and was replaced with the gender-neutral WhatsOnstage Award for Best Performer in a Musical.

First presented to Samantha Spiro at the inaugural ceremony, Carrie Hope Fletcher is the leader in this category after winning three times. Imelda Staunton is the only other performer to win the award multiple times. Fletcher has also received the most nominations in this category, with four.

Winners and nominees

2000s

Year Performer Musical Female Identifying Character
2001[1] Samantha Spiro Merrily We Roll Along Mary Flynn
2002[2] Frances Barber Closer to Heaven Billie Trix
Tracie Bennett Last Song of the Nightingale Martha
Anita Louise Combe Hello Again The Actress
Ruthie Henshall Peggy Sue Got Married Peggy Sue
Marin Mazzie Kiss Me, Kate Lilli Vanessi/Katharine
Golda Rosheuvel Songs for a New World Woman
2003[3]
Hannah Jane Fox We Will Rock You Scaramouche
Kathryn Evans Follies Sally Durant Plummer
Linzi Hateley Love Songs Nellie Forbush
Preeya Kalidas Bombay Dreams Priya
Lauren Kennedy South Pacific Nellie Forbush
Emma Williams Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Truly Scrumptious
2004[4] Sally Ann Triplett Anything Goes Reno Sweeney
Vivienne Carlyle Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Narrator
Anna Francolini The Ballad of Little Jo Josephine Monaghan
Maria Friedman Ragtime Mother
Amanda Holden Thoroughly Modern Millie Millie Dillmount
Alison Jiear Jerry Springer: The Opera Shawntel/Eve
2005[5]
Maria Friedman The Woman in White Marian Halcombe
Joanna Francis Purlie Lutiebelle
Karen Mann Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Mrs. Lovett
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio Grand Hotel Elizaveta Grushinskaya
Rebecca Vere Bat Boy: The Musical Meredith Parker
Leigh Zimmerman The Producers Ulla Bloom
2006[6] Jane Krakowski Guys and Dolls Miss Adelaide
Anna-Jane Casey Sunday in the Park with George Dot/Marie
Haydn Gwynne Billy Elliot the Musical Mrs. Wilkinson
Laura Michelle Kelly Mary Poppins Mary Poppins
Jenna Russell Guys and Dolls Sister Sarah Brown
Julie Walters Acorn Antiques: The Musical! Bo Beaumont
2007[7] Idina Menzel Wicked Elphaba
Connie Fisher The Sound of Music Maria Rainer
Tonya Pinkins Caroline, or Change Caroline Thibodeaux
Elena Roger Evita Eva Perón
Jenna Russell Sunday in the Park with George Dot/Marie
Hannah Waddingham Spamalot Lady of the Lake
2008[8] Leanne Jones Hairspray Tracy Turnblad
Susan McFadden Grease Sandy
Lara Pulver Parade Lucille Frank
Sheridan Smith Little Shop of Horrors Audrey
Summer Strallen The Drowsy Chaperone Janet van de Graaff
Denise van Outen Rent Maureen Johnson
2009[9] Sofia Escobar West Side Story Maria
Connie Fisher They're Playing Our Song Sonia Walsk
Leila Benn Harris Imagine This Rebecca (Tamar)
Ruthie Henshall Marguerite Marguerite
Lisa O'Hare Gigi Gigi
Elena Roger Piaf Edith Piaf

2010s

Year Performer Musical Female Identifying Character
2010[10] Patina Miller Sister Act Doloris Van Cartier
Kathryn Evans Sunset Boulevard Norma Desmond
Jane Horrocks Annie Get Your Gun Annie Oakley
2011[11] Sheridan Smith Legally Blonde Elle Woods
Sierra Boggess Love Never Dies Christine Daaé
Anna-Jane Casey Bells Are Ringing Ella Peterson
Victoria Hamilton-Barritt Flashdance Alex Owens
Tamzin Outhwaite Sweet Charity Charity Hope Valentine
Elena Roger Passion Fosca
2012[12][13] Amanda Holden Shrek The Musical Princess Fiona
Cleo Demetriou
Eleanor Worthington Cox
Sophia Kiely
Kerry Ingram 		Matilda the Musical Matilda Wormwood
Clare Foster Crazy for You Polly Baker
Sarah Lancashire Betty Blue Eyes Joyce Chilvers
Caissie Levy Ghost Molly Jensen
Emma Williams Love Story Jenny
2013[14] Imelda Staunton Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Mrs. Lovett
Heather Headley The Bodyguard Rachel Marron
Megan McGinnis Daddy Long Legs Jerusha Abbott
Scarlett Strallen Singin' in the Rain Kathy Selden
Hannah Waddingham Kiss Me, Kate Lilli Vanessi/Katharine
Emi Wokoma Soul Sister Tina Turner
2014[15] Scarlett Strallen A Chorus Line Cassie Ferguson
Rosalie Craig The Light Princess Althea
Zrinka Cvitešić Once Girl
Cynthia Erivo The Color Purple Celie
Charlotte Wakefield The Sound of Music Maria Rainer
2015[16] Eva Noblezada Miss Saigon Kim
Madalena Alberto Evita Eva Perón
Gemma Arterton Made in Dagenham Rita O'Grady
Beverley Knight Memphis Felicia Farrell
Jenna Russell Urinetown Penelope Pennywise
2016[17] Imelda Staunton Gypsy Rose Thompson Hovick
Katie Brayben Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Carole King
Lily Frazer In the Heights Nina Rosario
Beverley Knight Cats Grizabella
Kimberley Walsh Elf Jovie
2017[18] Amber Riley Dreamgirls Effie White
Glenn Close Sunset Boulevard Norma Desmond
Carrie Hope Fletcher Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Truly Scrumptious
Devon-Elise Johnson Half a Sixpence Ann Pornick
Sheridan Smith Funny Girl Fanny Brice
2018[19] Carrie Hope Fletcher The Addams Family Wednesday Addams
Christina Bennington Bat Out of Hell: The Musical Raven
Janie Dee Follies Phyllis Rogers Stone
Ria Jones Sunset Boulevard Norma Desmond
Josie Walker Everybody's Talking About Jamie Margaret New
2019[20] Carrie Hope Fletcher Heathers: The Musical Veronica Sawyer
Laura Baldwin Eugenius! Janey
Rosalie Craig Company Bobbie
Rachelle Ann Go Hamilton Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton
Adrienne Warren Tina Tina Turner

2020s

Year Performer Musical Female Identifying Character
2020[21] Miriam-Teak Lee & Juliet Juliet Capulet
Tracie Bennett Mame Mame Dennis
Lucie Jones Waitress Jenna Hunterson
Katharine McPhee
Zizi Strallen Mary Poppins Mary Poppins
2021 Not presented due to impact on theatres of COVID-19 pandemic
2022[22]
Carrie Hope Fletcher Cinderella Cinderella
Aimie Atkinson Pretty Woman: The Musical Vivian Ward
Samantha Barks Frozen Elsa
Jessie Buckley Cabaret Sally Bowles
Beverley Knight The Drifters Girl Faye Treadwell
Steph McKeon Frozen Anna

Multiple wins and nominations

Wins

3 wins
2 wins

Nominations

4 nominations
3 nominations
2 nominations

References

  1. ^ "Whatsonstage Awards 2001". Westendtheatre.com. 1 January 2009. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  2. ^ "Whatsonstage Awards 2002". Westendtheatre.com. 1 January 2009. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  3. ^ "Whatsonstage.com Awards - Theatregoers' Choice Awards". Archive.ph. 12 April 2013. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Whatsonstage Awards 2004". Westendtheatre.com. 1 January 2009. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Whatsonstage.com Awards - Theatregoers' Choice Awards". Archive.ph. 19 November 2013. Archived from the original on 19 November 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  6. ^ "Whatsonstage.com Awards - Theatregoers' Choice Awards". Archive.ph. 19 November 2013. Archived from the original on 19 November 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  7. ^ "Whatsonstage.com Awards - Theatregoers' Choice Awards". Archive.ph. 19 November 2013. Archived from the original on 19 November 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  8. ^ "Full List: Your Theatregoers' Choice Award Winners". Whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  9. ^ Varley, Eddie. "Tennant, Branagh, Hartnett & 'JERSEY BOYS' Win Big at the WHATSONSTAGE Awards". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  10. ^ "Full List: 2010 Whatsonstage.com Award Winners". Whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  11. ^ "Full List: 2011 Whatsonstage.com Award Winners". Whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  12. ^ "Full List: 2012 Whatsonstage.com Awards Nominees". Whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  13. ^ "Full List: 2012 Whatsonstage.com Award winners". Whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  14. ^ "Full list: Winners announced of the 2013 Whatsonstage.com Awards". Whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  15. ^ "Full List: Winners of the 2014 WhatsOnStage Awards". Whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  16. ^ "Full list: Winners of the 15th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards". Whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  17. ^ "Whatsonstage Awards – Winners 2016". Westendtheatre.com. 22 February 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  18. ^ "Whatsonstage Awards – Winners 2017". Westendtheatre.com. 20 February 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  19. ^ "Winners of the 18th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards announced: David Tennant and Olivia Colman win". Whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  20. ^ "Hamilton and Aidan Turner among winners at 19th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards". Whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  21. ^ "20th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards winners include Andrew Scott, Claire Foy, Come From Away and Six". Whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  22. ^ "Nominees for 22nd Annual WhatsOnStage Awards announced". Whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 28 January 2022.

External links

WhatsOnStage Awards
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