Just interested to see who you all would agree on! Mine is definately Kerry Ellis.
What do you think??

Georgina Rich is my favourite actress

It depends on the material,
In a musical it would be Elena Roger, in Drama it would be Maggie Smith or Richard Griffiths (can't make my mind up!) and in a Comedy there is no contest at all, Julie Walters.

My favourite is Shona Lindsay.
She has such a wondeful voice too, she was my favourite Christine in Phantom.

My favourites tend more towards people who I find give the most surprising performances, or who have come the furthest since I first saw them, than those who are the best. I have quite a few favourites, actually, and I won't list them all because in many cases they're not the best although they do have a huge amount of potential. (Annoyingly, many of those I like somewhat self-centredly believe that they're my one and only favourite.)

But I will name one person who has delivered outstanding performances time and time again, and that's Julie Atherton. At Avenue Q a few weeks ago I was sitting in front of an actor who, at the start of the interval, turned to a companion and said "She is —ing amazing. I wish I could do that." Sums it up perfectly.

ANN REINKING!! Without a doubt!! She ticks all the boxes in my view!!

I like Laura Bell Bundy, Kerry Butler and Kerry Ellis (Got to be one of the best Fantine's ever). But there are so many great performers out there who I haven't had a chance to see yet.

Couldnt agree more. Julie is absolutely amazing, constantly consistent and always gives a fantastic, flawless performance. She wows me everytime I go to Avenue Q and the workshop of Apocalypse WOW she starred in last week was equally as brilliant. Thrilled that shes staying on at Avenue Q til December.

Another performer that always gives 110% and an outstanding performance everytime is Scarlett Strallen, who is also the loveliest person ever!! Roll on May when she's back in Mary Poppins!!!

Simon Lipkin

If we're talking about musicals, then my favourite actor is Jeff Nicholson. One of those occasions when you think, "This is a star."

For the ladies- Julia Möller, Rebecca Caine and Jo Riding

Joanna Riding. I've never seen her give anything less than a faultless performance. Wonderful actress.

I have to say... Aeva May and Jo Gibb!!
Hopefully I´ll see Aeva May in her Cabaret Show this year if she tours it...!!
Does anyone know when this is going to be?? And where she is going to perform??

MfG Tasha

Sutton foster is so good at what she does i think shes one of the best, and Earl Carpenter is really good as well,

I think Jenna Russel is a fantastic performer, as is Martyn Ellis, Lisa O'Hare (just one of those people you can't take your eyes off) Julie Atherton, and Kerry Ellis who I think has the most fantastic voice. I'm sure there are more but just can't think right now

Kerry Ellis! I also love Ruthie Henshall, Maria Friedman and Idina Menzel among ithers, oh and helen Dallimore!

Shoshana Bean
Mazz Murray
Jenna Lee James
and Kerry Ellis.

I have three:
Ruthie Henshall
John Owen-Jones
Philip Quast

jo riding
sally ann triplett
sutton foster
kerry ellis
anna francolini
julie walters
rebecca thornhill
barbara cook

john barrowman
mark umbers
con o'neill
jon robyns
simon lipkin

Philip Quast. The consummate professional, superb actor and a voice to die. I've never seen him give a bad performance.

Sebastian

Let's hope he gives us his Sweeney soon...

Julian Ovenden
Daniel Evans
Kim Criswell
Julie Walters
Judi Dench
Sally Ann Triplett
Tim Flavin

Philip Quast
John Owen Jones
Michael Ball
Nigel Harmon
Darren Carnall
Martin Crewes

Emma Williams
Maria Friedman
Jenna Russell
Julie Atherton
Claire Moore
Jill Paice

Scarlett Strallen
Elena Roger
Kerry Ellis

John-Owen Jones
Gavin Creel
Matt Rawle

Idina Menzel
Kerry Ellis
Hannah J fox
Elena Rogers

Julia Murney (wicked and she was aaaammmazing in the wild party!)
Shoshana Bean
Megan Hilty

Ps I have actually seen other shows apart from Wicked (although this list reads like a whos who of Elphaba's and Glinda's!)

I really really like Julie Alanah Brighten. It's so strange that apart from Beauty & the Beast and La Cava (sensational performance!!) she's disappeared from the West End somewhat - a real shame. She is/was one of the most under rated performers ever - an amazingly pure voice with great interpretation of songs, very emotive. I'd love to see her doing something in town again. Musical of Musicals is just not enough for her in my opinion.

Any news on her future plans? People said she and Matt Rawle had split - is that true?

She's going to be in Merrily We Roll Along at the Derby Playhouse next month.

my number one top performer is the very very talented and absoutly gorgeous Jon Robyns from Avenue Q, I saw him perform last night (plus was lucky enough to meet him) and he amazed me.

Other faves ive seen: Idina Menzel
Kevin Spacey
Colm Meaney
Eve Best
Simon Lipkin
Mark Adams
Stephen Triffitt
Giles Terera
Corey English
Sir Ian Mckellen
Hannah Waddingham
Tom Goodman Hill

My absolute favourite performer is the wonderful and very talented ELAINE PAIGE. For me she is deservedly called "The First Lady Of British Musical Theatre".

When I recall the first night I saw her live on stage back in 2001 in "The King and I" it still gives me goose bumps. It gives me even more goose bumps when I think of my meeting with her at the stage door after the show.

Some other performers I like are Anglika Milster (German actress and singer who became famous as Grizabella in the Vienna production of Cats), Simon Bowman, Colm Wilkinson, John Barrowman and Carolin Fortenbacher (German actress and singer who currently plays Donna in the Hamburg production of Mamma Mia!).

My favourite parformer is Rachel Stanley! Followed closely by Claire Taylor, then Jacqui Rae!

Matt Rawle
Emma Williams
Elaine Paige (although I have yet to see her live - roll on Drowsy-I do love her voice and performances ive seen on tv etc)
Judi Dench
Jon robyns
Julie Atherton
Sophia Ragavlelas
Kieran Jae
Darren Carnall
Martin Crewes
Julian Ovenden
Hadley Fraser

OK. So far we have 79 names, of which the leaders are:

Kerry Ellis (8 votes), Julie Atherton (5 votes), Elena Roger, Idina Menzel, Jo Riding, John Owen Jones, Jon Robyns, Julie Walters, Philip Quast, and Simon Lipkin (all 3 votes).

Have to agree with Tugger - my ultimate performer has to be Elaine Paige! Not only is she incredible on stage but really lovely when you meet her as I've been lucky enough to do several times now. Every time she has been friendly, cheerful and with plenty of time for her fans, even when on her way to a reception elsewhere.
I also like Felicity Kendal, Jenna Russell, John Barrowman and , a new one, Emma Kate Nelson - she played 'Judy Haynes' in 'White Christmas' at the Mayflower and I thought she was brilliant, hope to see her in something else soon

Favourite performers don't always equal favourite performances, but those who have wowed me the most are:

Elaine Paige
Jenna Russell
Sally Ann Triplett
Paul Keating
Kerry Ellis
Debbie Kurup

Julie Atherton (Musicals) and Anna Madeley (Drama): two very different young performers of exceptional talent.

Simon Russell Beale is always extraordinary, even in Spamalot; I much prefer his version to the clips I have seen of Tim Curry.

Christopher Sieber, arguably the funniest performer in Spamalot. Parents of teenage daughters will also remember him as the Olsen twins' Dad in the only thing they ever made that was actually watchable. An American with a sense of irony plus a great Broadway voice - a rare combination.

I have to say that my favourite performer is Philip Quast.

I've seen him in loads and he never ceases to amaze me. A brilliant actor with a wonderful voice.


I've also been impressed with John Owen Jones whenever I've seen him in Les Miz. Consistently good.

Oh Matt Rawle, what a voice, looks great, holds the stage brillantly looks so comfortable in what he's doing!

Joanna Ampil, Bernadette Peters, Jenna Lee James, Kerry Ellis, Daniel Boys (not just cos of the joseph thing, have always liked him), Ramin Karimloo.

Kerry Ellis, Julie Atherton and Katie Rowley Jones are favourites of mine. I also saw Siobhan Redmond play Queen Elizabeth in Mary Stuart at the Citzs in Glasgow and she was brilliant.

Julie Atherton and Shoshana Bean.

Ditto what was said about Julie earlier (-ing amazing).
Saw her in Fame a few years ago, made it worth the while. And could she possibly get any better in Avenue Q?

Philip Quast.....Brilliant actor with a fantastic voice.
Robert Lindsay
Judi Dench
Anthony Hopkins
Michael Ball
Matt Rawle
Julie Walters
Michael Kitchen

ROBERT LINDSAY
PAM FERRIS

Michael Ball
Tim Curry
John Owen Jones
Julie Walters

PHILIP QUAST is sooooooooooo deffo brill

His acting & his singing

There's been many performers that have impressed me but if I had to narrow it down to performers I've seen live:

- Julie Atherton
- Kerry Ellis
- Sophia Ragavelas
- Naoko Mori

- Simon Lipkin
- John Barrowman (saw him in Panto but he was still wonderful!)
- Gavin Creel
- Tom Goodman-Hill
- Jon Robyns

Ok... that wasn't very good narrowing down but there's less than 10!

Ruthie Henshall
Linzi Hateley (can't believe no one mentioned her!)
Sutton Foster
Julie Atherton
Amy Field

Gavin Creel
Matthew Morrison
Tim Howar
Zak Nemorin

Judi Dench, Ian McKellen, Julie Walters, Maggie Smith

Right now Kerry Ellis and Julie Atherton are the front runners, with 12 and 10 votes respectively. Some way behind in third place are Philip Quast and Julie Walters with 6 votes each. 103 people have been named.

I can't believe I'm still tracking this.

PHILIP QUAST
Anthony Hopkins
Robert Lindsey

Tim Flavin
John Barrowman

Rebecca Thornhill
Annette McLaughlin
Bonnie Langford

For pretty obvious reasons:

PHILIP QUAST

mine is deffinately kerry ellis aswell, saw her in les mis and in we will rock you, and she was fantastic in both, and i am loving seeing her elphie, for me, she is my favourite elphie, and is giving idina a run for her money.
she is also the nicest person you will ever meet.