Celebrity Women Who Have Played Roxie Hart in ‘Chicago’ on Broadway

When you think of Broadway, you can’t help but picture the flashing lights and out-of-this-world experience that comes with watching the actors perform theatrical classics. We’re theater bugs at heart, losing it when new cast members are added to favorites like Book of Mormon, Clueless, and Kinky Boots. But no matter what, for decades, one of our favorites has been Chicago.

Originally debuted in 1975, Chicago is a musical that follows the satirical concept of “celebrity criminals.” The play follows Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, both convicted of murder, as the media goes crazy over “killer women.” Since its debut, it’s become a quick classic, earning countless records and acclaim. In 2002, a movie adaptation was created starring Bridget Jones star Renée Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones, winning the Academy Award for Best Picture.

But everyone is going bananas over it again because news broke that Pamela Anderson will star as the ever-so-loved Roxie Hart in an upcoming tour starting in April. Since then, everyone has been brushing up on their Chicago history, and of course, our brains were wondering — who’s all played Roxie on Broadway?

From Ashlee Simpson to Michelle Williams, there are a lot more celebrities who played Roxie on Broadway than we remembered. Check out who’s played Roxie on Broadway below!

A version of this article was originally published in March 2022.

Angelica Ross

Image Credit: Gilbert Flores for Variety.

Pose alum Angelica Ross is heading to Broadway! The actress will join the cast of Chicago and play Roxie Hart starting in September 2022, per the show’s official Twitter account.
Pamela Anderson

Image Credit: Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP, File.

It was recently announced that Pamela Anderson will play Roxie Hart on Broadway for eight weeks, starting April 12, 2022.
Ashlee Simpson

Image Credit: AP Photo/Marion Curtis, StarPix.

Ashlee Simpson has actually played Roxie twice, the first time being in 2005 at the London West End production and again in 2009 with her Broadway debut.
Brooke Shields

Image Credit: AP Photo/Seth Wenig.

Brooke Shields played Roxie Hart originally back in 2005 but reprised the role again in 2010.
Ruthie Henshall

Image Credit: AP Photo/Seth Wenig.

Ruthie Henshall has played in Chicago multiple times: in 1997 in London, and in 2010 in New York.
Rumer Willis

Image Credit: RW/MediaPunch/IPX.

Demi Moore and Bruce Willis’ daughter Rumer Willis made her Broadway debut as Roxie in 2015, performing the character for six weeks straight.
Gwen Verdon

Image Credit: AP Photo.

Gwen Verdon played the original Roxie Hart in the 1975 production of Chicago on Broadway, which got her nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.
Paige Davis

Image Credit: PNP / WENN.

Television personality Paige Davis played Roxie Hart on Broadway through August 28th, 2013 and even kicked off the 2013-14 national tour.
Denise Van Outen

Image Credit: AP Photo/Alastair Grant.

English actress Denise Van Outen originally played Roxie in England back in 2001 before performing on Broadway. Per Daily Star, Van Outen said, “If you Googled me at that time, even though I had previously done a lot of theatres when I was a kid so I was fully qualified to play the role, if you looked online all you would see was lads’ mags shoots, pictures of me presenting, so the whole cast was a bit frosty with me.” Pictured with her are Bonnie Langford, Claire Sweeney, Ruthie Henshall — all of whom played Roxie Hart on Broadway at one point too.
Michelle Williams

Image Credit: Joseph Marzullo/WENN.com.

Michelle Williams played Roxie Hart back at the Cambridge Theater before taking over Roxie Hart on Broadway in 2010 after Ashlee Simpson left.
Melanie Griffith

Image Credit: AP Photo/Seth Wenig.

Melanie Griffith played Roxie Hart at the 10th Anniversary show back in 2006.
Christie Brinkley

Image Credit: JA/Everett Collection.

Christie Brinkley made her Broadway debut as Roxie back in 2010 but has reprised the role many times around the United States, most recently in 2019.
Erika Jayne

Image Credit: Jason Smith/Everett Collection.

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Erika Jayne starred as Roxie Hart for three months on Broadway in 2020.
Lisa Rinna

Image Credit: AP Photo/Mary Altaffer.

Days of Our Lives alum Lisa Rinna is another Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star that played the infamous Roxie Hart on Broadway. Back in 2007, she performed as Roxie on Broadway alongside her husband Harry Hamlin who played Billy Flynn.
Ann Reinking

Image Credit: AP Photo/Seth Wenig, file.

Ann Reinking played Roxie multiple times throughout her life, with the first time being in 1977 when she replaced Gwen Verdon. Her most successful run was in 1996, which won her a Tony Award for Best Choreography. She then helped out with the Chicago performance for years to come. Next to her in this photo is Cheers alum Bebe Neuwirth, who also played Roxie Hart in her Broadway career.