Tracie Bennett (born 17 June 1961) is an English singer and stage and television actress. She trained at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in Clapham, London. She played the role of Sharon Gaskell in Coronation Street from 1982 to 1984, returning to the role in 1999 and again in 2021.
Best known for her roles in theatre, both dramatic and musical, Bennett has received two Olivier Awards for Best Supporting Role in a Musical for her performances in the musicals She Loves Me and Hairspray with additional nominations for her work in High Society and Follies. Bennett was also nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for Mrs Henderson Presents while her performance as Judy Garland in End of the Rainbow earned her an Olivier nomination for Best Actress in a Play and a Tony Award nomination in the same category when the production transferred to Broadway.
Career Bennett's first major television role was in Coronation Street between 1982 and 1984 as Sharon Gaskell, the Faircloughs' foster daughter. She returned to the role in 1999. She played dim-witted blonde Tracy Glazebrook in the pilot of Steven Moffat's sitcom Joking Apart (1991),"'Joking Apart' Pilot Listing", jokingapart.co.uk, accessed 4 April 2012 a role which she reprised for the subsequent two full-length series in 1993 and 1995."'Joking Apart' Episode Six Listing, 11th February 1993" jokingapart.co.uk, accessed 4 April 2012 She played Shirley's rebellious daughter Millandra in the film version of Shirley Valentine (1989).James, Caryn. "Review. 'Shirley Valentine'" The New York Times, 30 August 1989 She appeared in She Loves Me at the Savoy Theatre in 1994,"Programme for 'She Loves Me', Savoy Theatre", kent.ac.uk; accessed 4 April 2012. for which she won the Laurence Olivier Award as Best Supporting Performance in a Musical."Olivier Winners 1995" olivierawards.com, accessed 4 April 2012 She played Ida in Honk!, which won the 2000 Olivier Award for Best Musical.Profile , aord.co.uk; accessed 2 May 2015.
In 2003, she was praised" 'High Society' Archives" albemarle-london.com, accessed 3 April 2012 for her role in the London production of High Society, for which she was nominated for an Olivier Award in 2004. She appeared in Sex, Chips and Rock 'n' Roll at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester in 2005,Meads, Glenn. "Review. 'Sex, Chips & Rock 'n' Roll'" whatsonstage.com, 6 July 2005 for which she won a TMA Award for Best Supporting Performance in a Musical. In January 2006, Bennett joined the West End production of Les Misérables in the role of Madame Thénardier at the Queen's Theatre, which she continued to play to July 2007. In October 2007, she began her run in the role of Velma Von Tussle in the London premiere of the musical Hairspray at the Shaftesbury Theatre."Reviews. 'Hairspray' " albemarle-london.com, accessed 3 April 2012 She mentioned on a televised interview Alan Titchmarsh that it was a "great show" and that she enjoyed doing it, but also said it was exhausting, pointing out that to begin with, the wiring under her wig weighs 10 lbs, making some of the dancing difficult. In spite of this, her efforts were rewarded in March 2008, when she received her second Olivier Award for Best Supporting Performance in a Musical for her performance.
In February 2010, Bennett took on the role of Judy Garland in the first London production of Peter Quilter's play End of the Rainbow. The production premiered with at Northampton's Royal Theatre, and subsequently transferred to London's West End. Bennett received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress for her performance. The production transferred to Broadway in March 2012, with Bennett reprising her role.Hetrick, Adam. "Stormy Weather": 'End of the Rainbow' Begins Broadway Run 19 March at the Belasco Theatre" , playbill.com, 19 March 2012 For her performance in the Broadway production, Bennett received a Tony Award nomination for Best Leading Actress in a Play,Gans, Andrew. Broadway's Big Night! Neil Patrick Harris Hosts 66th Annual Tony Awards June 10" , playbill.com, 10 June 2012 and won the Outer Critics Circle AwardGans, Andrew. "Outer Critics Circle Winners Announced; Once and One Man, Two Guvnors Are Top Winners" , Playbill.com, 14 May 2012. and Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play.Gans, Andrew. "'Once', 'Tribes', 'Follies', 'Salesman', Audra McDonald, Danny Burstein and More Are Drama Desk Winners" , playbill.com, 3 June 2012. In 2013, she joined the cast of detective series Scott & Bailey as Sharon, the estranged mother of DC Bailey. In 2015 and 2016, she played Laura Henderson in the musical Mrs Henderson Presents and received a nomination for the Olivier Awards 2016 in the category Best Actress in a Musical.Nominations by category 2016 , olivierawards.com, Retrieved 28 April 2016.
Between 2014 and 2017 she played patient Molly Drover in the BBC medical drama, Casualty. bbc.co.uk In 2017, she played the role of Carlotta in the National Theatre production of Follies by Stephen Sondheim, singing the song "I'm Still Here".Gans, Andrew. "National Theatre's 'Follies' Casts Its Carlotta" Playbill, 23 December 2016 In March 2021, it was announced that Bennett would be returning to Coronation Street reprising her role as Sharon Bentley after 22 years away.
Filmography Film YearTitleRoleNotes 1986 Knights & Emeralds Tina 1989 Shirley Valentine Millandra 2002 f2point8 Kika Short film 2004 French Fries on the Golden Front Princess Short film2017 Gholam Mrs. X National Theatre Live: Follies Carlotta Campion 2019 Ruthless! The Musical Lita Encore 2021 The Extinction of Fireflies Charlotte2025From the World of John Wick: BallerinaMuriel
Television YearTitleRoleNotes 1981 Going Out Quacky Episode: "Sixth Week" 1982–1984,1999, 2021 Coronation Street Sharon Bentley (née Gaskell) Series regular, 145 episodes 1984 Danger: Marmalade at Work Kid from Shame Episode: "Shame"1985 Relative Strangers Lorraine Episode: "Series 1, Episode 6" Black Silk Trish Episode: "Open and Shut"1986 Boon Patsy Episode: "Glasshouse People" Unnatural Causes Cheryl Episode: "Partners"1987 The Ritz Angie Recurring role, 3 episodes Brush Strokes Miss Wilson Episode: "Series 2, Episode 6" The Bretts Connie Episode: "Forbidden Fruit" 1989–1991 Making Out Norma Series regular, 24 episodes 1990 The Ruth Rendell Mysteries Marilyn Thompson Episode: "The Best Man to Die" 1991 Rich Tea and Sympathy Nikki Series regular, 6 episodes 1991–1995 Joking Apart Tracy Glazebrook Series regular, 13 episodes1992 The Upper Hand Michelle Episode: "To Let or Not to Let" Casualty Sally Episode: "Rates of Exchange"1993 The Gingerbread Girl Stella Recurring role, 5 episodes The Bill Lisa Brooks Episode: "Bare Faced Lies" 1995–1996 Next of Kin Liz Recurring role, 13 episodes 1997 Heartbeat Lieutenant Episode: "Substitute"1998 Heartburn Hotel Rita Episodes: "Toenails" & "Frustration" Verdict Sally Taylor Episode: "Be My Valentine" 1999 The Ambassador Annette Episode: "A Matter of Life and Death"2002 Where the Heart Is Julie Sparke Episode: "No Turning Back" Merseybeat Jacqui McHale Episode: "Endgame"2003 The Afternoon Play Yvonne Episode: "Heroes and Villains" Burn It Bev Recurring role, 5 episodes The Bill Shirley Fielding Episode: "Rose-Coloured Glasses" Murder Investigation Team Celia Seagrove Episode: "Daddy's Little Girl" Keen Eddie Charlotte Episode: "Horse Heir"2004 The Courtroom Diane Eaton Episode: "Beloved Daughter" The Long Firm Judy Garland Episode: "Ruby's Story" Casualty Gina Driscoll Episodes: "I Love You, I Hate You" & "Forget Me Not"2005 The Royal Sylvia Episode: "Sins of the Father" Vincent Deborah Finnigan Episode: "Series 1, Episode 3" Doctors Julie Bolton Episode: "Little Lies" 2006 Northern Lights Maureen Episode: "Series 1, Episode 2"2007 Doctors Jean Hobbs Episode: "Off the Edge" Dalziel and Pascoe Grace Beck Episode: "Project Aphrodite" Casualty Linda Riley Episode: "The Fires Within" 2010 Doctors Laura Wakefield Episode: "Hanging On"2011 Candy Cabs Barb Episode: "Series 1, Episode 2" Casualty Seonaidh Lucas Episode: "Mea Culpa"2013 New Tricks Angela Gold Episode: "Cry Me a River" Doctors Claire Cheeseman Episode: "Mom" 2013–2014 Scott & Bailey Sharon Bailey Recurring role, 5 episodes 2014–2017 Casualty Molly Drover Recurring role, 4 episodes 2019 The Bay Margaret Foley Series regular, 6 episodes
Theatre Year Title Role Venue Notes 1984Merrily We Roll AlongMary FlynnRoyal Exchange, ManchesterCarouselCarrie Pipperidge1994She Loves MeIlona RitterSavoy Theatre, London1996 Dead Funny Lisa Theatre Royal, Windsor Also UK tour Cash on Delivery Linda Swan Whitehall Theatre, London 1997 Bedevilled Florence Bravo Crucible Theatre, Sheffield Saturday Night Celeste Bridewell Theatre, London Lucky Stiff Rita LaPorta Jones, Kenneth. "Lucky Stiff Concert Has Testa, Metz, Gets, Zagnit, Skinner at York Theatre, Oct. 24-26" .playbill.com, 16 October 2003 1999 Honk! Ida Royal National Theatre, London 2000 Guys and Dolls Miss Adelaide Crucible Theatre, Sheffield 2001 Last Song of the Nightingale Martha New End Theatre, London 2003 High Society Liz Imbrie Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, London 2004 Billy Liar Mother Churchill Theatre, Bromley Also England tour 2005 Sex, Chips & Rock n' Roll Irma Brookes Royal Exchange, Manchester 2006 Les Misérables Madame Thénardier Queen's Theatre, London 2007 Hairspray Velma Von Tussle Shaftesbury Theatre, London 2008 La Cage aux Folles Jacqueline Playhouse Theatre, London 2010End of the RainbowJudy Garland Royal & Derngate, Northampton & Trafalgar Theatre, London 2012 Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis & Belasco Theatre, New York City 2014 The Hypochondriac Toinette Theatre Royal, Bath Also UK tour 2015 Mrs Henderson Presents Laura Henderson Theatre Royal, Bath & Noël Coward Theatre, London & Royal Alexandra Theatre, Toronto 2017;2019 Follies Carlotta Campion Royal National Theatre, London 2018 Ruthless! Lita Encore Arts Theatre, London 2019 Mame Mame Dennis Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester 2020;2022 Hangmen Alice John Golden Theatre, New York City 2022GypsyRose HovickAlexandra Palace Theatre, LondonWood, Alex Gypsy to be presented in concert at Alexandra Palace with seven performers as Rose WhatsOnStage, September 29, 20212023How to Succeed in Business Without Really TryingJ. B. BiggleySouthwark Playhouse, LondonHere We AreWoman The Shed, New York City2025Lyttelton Theatre, London2025The CodeTallulah BankheadSouthwark Playhouse
Awards and nominations
Stage YearAwardCategoryWorkResult1984Manchester Evening News Theatre AwardBest ActressCarousel and Merrily We Roll Along 1995Laurence Olivier AwardBest Performance in a Supporting Role in a MusicalShe Loves Me 2004Laurence Olivier AwardBest Performance in a Supporting Role in a MusicalHigh Society 2005TMA AwardBest Supporting Performance in a MusicalSex, Chips and Rock 'n' Roll 2008Laurence Olivier AwardBest Performance in a Supporting Role in a MusicalHairspray WhatsOnStage AwardBest Supporting Actress in a Musical 2009WhatsOnStage AwardBest Supporting Actress in a MusicalLa Cage aux Folles 2011Laurence Olivier AwardBest ActressEnd of the Rainbow WhatsOnStage Award Best Actress in a Play 2012Tony AwardBest Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play Drama Desk AwardOutstanding Actress in a Play Drama League Award Distinguished Performance Outer Critics Circle AwardOutstanding Actress in a Play 2016Laurence Olivier AwardBest Actress in a MusicalMrs Henderson Presents 2018Laurence Olivier AwardBest Actress in a Supporting Role in a MusicalFollies WhatsOnStage AwardBest Supporting Actress in a Musical 2020WhatsOnStage AwardBest Actress in a MusicalMame 2025Laurence Olivier AwardBest Performance in a Supporting Role in a MusicalHere We Are
References
External links
Les Misérables Extensive list of credits
Interview with Tracie Bennett, westendtheatre.com; accessed 2 May 2015.