- In |
- On April 18, 2025
Londons theatres are the home of many talented actors whether known by a few or millions. In fact, there are currently many celebrities in the West End you can see on stage right now. Going to watch a West End show is thrilling and adding a celebrity into the mix can be an exciting addition. Watching well known stars on stage display their craft in the flesh is an unforgettable experience. It is an opportunity to say you have watched one of the greatest actors of a generation in real life… or at least the one you follow on every social media platform!
IMELDA STAUNTON – BESSIE CARTER
Mrs. Warren’s Profession
The first name you may be more familiar with than the latter. Imelda Staunton is one of the most regular of celebrities in the West End. This is owing to her theatrical roots as she began her career as an actress in repertory theatre in the 70s. It wasn’t until the early 2000s however that we saw Imelda Staunton catapulted onto our screens. Particularly, in 2007 she terrified us all as she entered the Harry Potter Universe in her role as Professor Umbridge. This is arguably her most famous role, or at least the one that made her a household name. You may also recognise her voice from the Chicken Run films (low brow) or her talented portrayal of The Queen in Netflix’s The Crown (High Bow). Maybe you were even lucky enough to catch her on the west end recently in Hello Dolly! The show in which she won this year’s Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical.
Bessie Carter is perhaps a less well known name but a famous face nonetheless. Bessie Carter is best known for her role in Bridgerton as one of the Featherington Sisters.
By booking this show, not only will you see two stars on stage but you will also see real life mother and daughter on stage playing the roles of mother and daughter. That’s Right! Bessie Carter is Imelda Staunton’s daughter in reality.The play is about Mrs. Warren, a self made woman and her terse relationship with her modern daughter. For more information on this show and to book your tickets to this unique star studded play, click here.
VANESSA WILLIAMS
The Devil Wears Prada
Vanessa Williams crossed the Atlantic to join us here as one of the celebrities in the West End and recently announced she’s extending her run in The Devil Wears Prada! This celebrity started her career in music which really catapulted her career. People loved her music so much, she was nominated for Grammy awards not once, but 3 times over! Vanessa Williams journeyed into acting and her most iconic role in my humble opinion was in the hit TV Series Ugly Betty. Williams portrays cut throat Creative Director in MODE Magazine which is not too dissimilar to her role in The Devil Wears Prada.
You can catch this diva live until 18th October 2025. She plays the role of Miranda Priestly, Editor in Chief at a cut-throat magazine in which is movie musical is set.
EWAN MCGREGOR
My Master Builder
Does this name need any introduction? One of the biggest stars on stage at the moment, Scottish born Ewan McGregor truly is a household name, beloved by many different types of people and generations. My first experience of the talented performer was watching Moulin Rouge where he played a young writer in love with a damned actress he could never be with. This film is what he earned his first Golden Globe for! The musical film and has since been turned into a live musical on the West End. You may also recognise him from the action packed Star Wars prequel trilogies as Obi-Wan Kenobi. McGregors credits are extensive, so much so that he received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2024.
In My Master Builder, McGregor will play the lead role of an architect unveiling his newest design. Inspired by Ibsen, the new play by Lila Raicek lays bare the vulnerabilities we expose, when we leave ourselves open to love.
RACHEL ZEGLER
Evita
Rachel Zegler is one of the newer celebrities in the West End that you can catch. Zegler was catapulted into stardom back in 2021 for her role as Maria in the film remake of West Side Story. At just 20 years old her vocal skills and beautiful story telling of this lead role blew us all away. She won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical for this role. This made her the youngest person to win in this category and she was the first person of Colombian descent to do so also.
As one of the youngest stars on stage, Zegler has a whopping 2.5 million follows on instagram. Her upcoming role as Evita will open at Londons Palladium in June. Such a young starlet in a traditional Andrew Lloyd Webber Musical could be a great way to experience theatre across the generations.
STEPHEN MANGAN – ERIN DOHERTY – NICOLA WALKER
Unicorn
In Mike Bartlett’s new play Unicorn you can see not one but three big names. The comedy which is currently playing at London’s Garrick Theatre stars the following celebrities in the West End: Stephen Mangan, Erin Doherty and Nicola Walker.
Stephen Mangan is a British actor, comedian, writer, presenter – he does it all! He however did start his career on the stage and has performed in a huge amount of plays since the late 90s. Since then he has starred in a wide range of TV and film. He is probably best known for his roles in Alan Partridge, Green Wing and the award winning series Episodes.
Erin Doherty rose to fame for her role as Princess Anne in the third series of The Crown. She most recently appeared in Stephen Graham’s new Netflix TV show Adolescence. The show received a lot of media attention as each episode was filmed entirely in one uncut take.
Nicola Walker is best known for the many British TV shows that she has appeared in – most notably Spooks and Unforgotten. She often stars in many BBC and ITV dramas and was actually nominated for a BAFTA for her role in Last Tango in Halifax.
BILLY PORTER – MARISHA WALLACE
Cabaret
Billy Porter is an American actor, singer and all round icon. Porter is no stranger to the stage and started his career in a variety of Broadway shows. He is probably best known for his role as Lola in Kinky Boots for which he took home the Tony.
The star then went on to star in all three seasons of the TV show Pose. His performance gained him three Golden Glove nominations and in 2019 he won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. He is now one award away from EGOT recognition as he has won an Emmy, a Grammy and a Tony Award and is now just missing an Oscar. In 2020 he even made it on to the Time’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world. You won’t want to miss this global star who is currently playing the Emcee in Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club.
Starring alongside Porter is another stage superstar from across the pond. Marisha Wallace is another Broadway veteran who starred in the original Broadway productions of both Aladdin and Something Rotten! She then continued her career over here as an alternate Effie White in the West End production of Dreamgirls. Since then she has starred in a multitude of West End shows including Oklahoma!, Hairspray and Guys & Dolls. She also took part in the 2024 series of Celebrity Big Brother and was the fifth housemate to be evicted.
You can catch these two celebrities in the West End until 24th May.
CORBIN BLEU – AMBER DAVIES
The Great Gatsby
Two stars on stage here from different sides of the Atlantic! Corbin Bleu was a star in the one of the highest anticipated new Disney musicals of the 21st century. That’s right, you guessed it: High School Musical. Bleu played Zac Efrons best friend Chad in the hit Disney musical. The musical went on to have 2 more movies and a disney original tv series made as a rsult of the success of the first movie. Although he is most recognisable for his work when he was younger with Disney and Nickelodeon. Bleu’s CV is extensive! From a thriving music career, to films and even made his broadway debut as Usvani in In The Heights.
Amber Davies reached fame on the hit reality TV show Love Island. Not only was she on the show but she won the third series of it. The love she found may not have lasted long but her love for theatre is much longer lasting. She has been in many daytime television shows including This Morning and Lorraine. Although Amber Davies gained her fame from reality TV she has worked extensively in Musical Theatre including the hugely popular Back To The Future.
MARTIN FREEMAN
The Fifth Step
Martin Freeman is an English actor with Emmy and BAFTA Awards under his belt. The first film that made him a household name was Love Actually. The hit ensemble christmas film many of us watch religiously each year stars Freeman in his awkward meet of his true love. Another christmas film Freeman “sparkle and shines” in is Nativity. He went on to play Watson alongside Benedict Cumberbatch in the hit BBC show Sherlock. He was the lead role in The Hobbit Trilogy before landing a role in the Marvel Universe. Martin Freeman is truly one of the most versatile celebrities on stage you can catch at the moment. We’re excited to see him in The Fifth Step when it opens at The Soho Place in May.
Tips for seeing Stars on Stage
When wanting to see celebrities in the West End, it can be good fun but is also not always guaranteed that you will see your favourite star. The magic of live theatre is that it is live and illness and injury means anything could happen. Often, these shows will include on their website any pre agreed holiday their Stars on Stage will have pre arranged so be sure to check them before making your booking.
