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 Samantha Spiro Merrily We Roll Along Mary Flynn 2002 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Patina Miller Sister Act Doloris Van Cartier Kathryn Evans Sunset Boulevard Norma Desmond Jane Horrocks Annie Get Your Gun Annie Oakley 2011 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Carrie Hope Fletcher
2 wins Imelda Staunton
Nominations 4 nominations Carrie Hope Fletcher
3 nominations Beverley Knight Elena Roger Jenna Russell Sheridan Smith Hannah Waddingham
2 nominations
References
External links Official website