Before they were running through the hills of a Greek island singing ABBA hits, the stars of the Mamma Mia! were taking center stage at some of the world’s most prestigious theatres. From Tony-nominated performances to Shakespearean tragedies, the cast boasts a rich (and often surprising) history on stage. Here’s a closer look at their most notable theatrical credits.
Meryl Streep – Donna
Meryl Streep’s stage roots are as impressive as her film legacy. She made her Broadway debut in 1976 and quickly earned a Tony nomination for A Memory of Two Mondays/27 Wagons Full of Cotton. A series of Drama Desk nods followed for her performances in Trelawny of the “Wells,” Secret Service, and The Cherry Orchard, capped by a rare musical turn in Happy End. Decades later, she returned to the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park in The Seagull and Mother Courage and Her Children. We all know the best actors start in theater … and this just solidifies that even further.
Amanda Seyfried – Sophie
Amanda Seyfried made her professional stage debut in 2015 at Second Stage Theatre, starring opposite Thomas Sadoski in Neil LaBute’s intimate The Way We Get By. The emotionally charged performance marked a confident step into live theater for the film star. She’s been rumored to have participated in early workshops of Thelma & Louise: The Musical, signaling a possible return to the stage in the future.
Pierce Brosnan – Sam
Like many British actors of his generation, Pierce Brosnan began his career on the stage, building a wide-ranging theatrical résumé across the U.K. Most notably, he starred in Whose Life Is It Anyway in the West End and took part in Franco Zeffirelli’s award-winning production of Filumena at London’s Lyric Theatre. He was also personally cast by Tennessee Williams for the London premiere of The Red Devil Battery Sign — a rare and flattering distinction. While he’s now best known for his screen work, Brosnan’s early stage training laid a strong foundation for the depth he brings to his film roles.
Colin Firth – Harry
Colin Firth’s stage career began with a breakout performance in Another Country at the Queen’s Theatre, where he played Guy Bennett, a character inspired by real-life spy Guy Burgess. He followed it with a series of serious dramatic roles, including in Harold Pinter’s The Caretaker and Eugene O’Neill’s Desire Under the Elms. His most recent theatrical credit was in 1999 when he returned to the London stage in Three Days of Rain at the Donmar Warehouse.
Christine Baranski – Tanya
Christine Baranski’s Broadway résumé reads like a master class in versatility. She originated roles in The Real Thing and Nick & Nora, held her own in HurlyBurly and The House of Blue Leaves, and delivered her infamous comedic bite in Rumors. Her most recent Broadway credit is Boeing-Boeing, which played at the Longacre Theatre in 2008.
Julie Walters – Rosie
Julie Walters made her name on the British stage with her career-defining role as Rita in Educating Rita, originating the part with the Royal Shakespeare Company before earning an Oscar for the film adaptation. She followed it with emotionally rich work in Frankie & Johnny in the Claire de Lune and The Rose Tattoo, and later embraced her comedic side in the wildly popular Acorn Antiques: The Musical. Her most recent stage performance was in The Last of the Haussmann in 2012 at the Royal National Theatre London.
Stellan Skarsgård – Bill
Though best known internationally for his film work, Stellan Skarsgård has deep theatrical roots in his native home of Sweden. A longtime member of Stockholm’s Royal Dramatic Theatre, he performed in a wide range of classical repertory, including in works by Ibsen, Strindberg, and Shakespeare.
Dominic Cooper – Sky
Dominic Cooper’s stage breakout came with The History Boys, in which he originated the role of Dakin for the National Theatre before reprising it on Broadway and in the film adaptation. He followed it with Shakespearean flair as Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and later played opposite Helen Mirren in Phèdre. In 2016, he returned to the West End in The Libertine, taking on the hedonistic John Wilmot with boldness and wit.
