Layton Williams
Updated: 12/10/2025, 4:33:22 PM Wikipedia source
Layton Williams (born 13 September 1994) is an English actor. He won the 2025 Laurence Olivier for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for his performance in Titanique. Williams began his career as a child actor on the West End, starring as the titular role of Billy Elliot the Musical and Young Michael Jackson in Thriller – Live. As an adult, he went on tour with Rent and Everybody's Talking About Jamie. On television, Williams is known for his roles in the BBC series Beautiful People (2008–2009) and Bad Education (2012–2014, 2022–2024). He featured in the CBBC documentary series School for Stars, which documented life at the acting school Italia Conti.
Infobox
Born
(1994-09-13) 13 September 1994 (age 31)Bury, Greater Manchester, England
Occupation
Actor
Years active
2007–present
Tables
· Acting credits › Film and television
2010
School For Stars
Role(s)
Himself
2020
The Magic of Movie Musicals
Role(s)
Himself
2021
Role(s)
Dancer
2022
Role(s)
Judge
2023–present
Role(s)
I Kissed a Boy
Notes
Narrator
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2008–2009 | Beautiful People | Kylie Parkinson | |
| 2010 | School For Stars | Himself | |
| 2011 | Postcode | Russell | |
| 2012–2014, 2022–2024 | Bad Education | Stephen Carmichael | Main cast (33 episodes) |
| 2015 | The Bad Education Movie | Stephen Carmichael | Film |
| 2018 | Benidorm | Airport check-in assistant | |
| 2020 | The Magic of Movie Musicals | Himself | |
| 2021 | The Cleaner | Bernard / "Hosea" | Episode: "The Influencer" |
| Everybody's Talking About Jamie | Dancer | ||
| 2022 | Queens for the Night | Judge | |
| I Hate Suzie | Adam Jackson | 3 episodes | |
| 2023–present | I Kissed a Boy | Narrator | |
| 2023 | Strictly Come Dancing | Contestant | Runner-up; Series 21 |
· Acting credits › Theatre
2016
2016–17
Role(s)
Rent
Notes
Angel
2017–18
Role(s)
Hairspray
Notes
Seaweed J. Stubbs
2018–19
Role(s)
Kiss Me Kate
Notes
Paul
2019–20
Role(s)
Everybody's Talking About Jamie
Notes
Jamie New
2021–22
Role(s)
UK National Tour
2024
2024-25
Role(s)
Titanique
Notes
Iceberg
| Year | Title | Role | Theatre | Location |
| 2007–08 | Billy Elliot | Billy Elliot | Victoria Palace Theatre | West End |
| 2015 | The Car Man | Dancer | Royal Albert Hall | London |
| 2016 | Hairspray | Duane/ Understudy Seaweed J. Stubbs | UK National Tour | |
| 2016–17 | Rent | Angel | ||
| 2017–18 | Hairspray | Seaweed J. Stubbs | ||
| 2018–19 | Kiss Me Kate | Paul | Sheffield Crucible | Sheffield |
| 2019–20 | Everybody's Talking About Jamie | Jamie New | Apollo Theatre | West End |
| 2021–22 | UK National Tour | |||
| 2022 | Ahmanson Theatre | Los Angeles | ||
| 2024 | Cabaret | Emcee | Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre | West End |
| 2024-25 | Titanique | Iceberg | Criterion Theatre | West End |
· Acting credits › Workshops
2021
Halls The Musical
Role(s)
Turbine Theatre
Notes
London
| Year | Title | Theatre | Location |
| 2021 | Halls The Musical | Turbine Theatre | London |
· Awards
2019
Role(s)
Best Male Actor in a Musical
Notes
Everybody's Talking About Jamie
2025
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
| 2019 | Black British Theatre Awards | Best Male Actor in a Musical | Everybody's Talking About Jamie | Won | |
| 2020 | Black British Theatre Awards | LGBTQ+ Champion | Won | ||
| 2025 | WhatsOnStage Awards | Best Takeover Performance | Cabaret | Won | |
| Laurence Olivier Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical | Titanique | Won |
References
- "Cast"https://web.archive.org/web/20170310125610/http://www.rentonstage.co.uk/cast
- "Who Do You Think You Are? - Series 22: 4. Layton Williams"https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002c5rw/who-do-you-think-you-are-series-22-4-layton-williams?seriesId=unsliced&page=1
- Bad Educationhttps://www.attitude.co.uk/culture/film-tv/bad-education-star-layton-williams-on-coming-out-and-playing-gay-285358/
- "Photo Flash: Layton Williams Debuts as Billy Elliot"http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Flash_Layton_Williams_Debuts_as_Billy_Elliot_20070226
- "Billy Elliot Description – Roles in Billy Elliot (contracts of the cast)"http://www.londonmusicalsonline.com/proddesc.php?ProdID=BE
- "Press Office – Beautiful People Press Pack"https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/09_september/11/beautiful_people.shtml
- The Timeshttps://web.archive.org/web/20110616070038/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article4869517.ece
- The Independenthttps://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/film-and-tv/tv-radio-reviews/jamies-ministry-of-food-channel-4-br-beautiful-people-bbc2-brbr-ian-hislop-goes-off-the-rails-bbc4br-951381.html
- "Interview with Layton Williams"https://www.londontheatre1.com/news/108047/interview-with-layton-williams/
- "Everybody's Talking About Jamie reveals initial cast for north American premiere"https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/everybodys-talking-about-jamie-reveals-cast-usa_54698.html/
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/live/2023/dec/16/strictly-come-dancing-the-final-live
- "Cabaret to star Layton Williams and Heartstopper's Rhea Norwood in the West End"https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/cabaret-to-star-layton-williams-and-heartstoppers-rhea-norwood-in-the-west-end_1598221/
- westendtheatre.comhttps://www.westendtheatre.com/257173/news/titanique-announces-west-end-cast-including-layton-williams-luke-jordan-gage-charlotte-wakefield/
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/apr/06/olivier-awards-2025-giant-benjamin-button-and-fiddler-on-the-roof-triumph
- "Education for All Conference 2013: Youth Programme"https://web.archive.org/web/20130816080253/http://stonewall.org.uk/at_school/education_events/education_for_all_conference_2013/8571.asp
- Layton Williams gives a keynote address at Stonewall's 2013 Education for All conferencehttps://web.archive.org/web/20140326030751/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU-P94tQO78
- The Independenthttps://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/i-kissed-a-boy-first-gay-dating-bbc-b2336964.html
- London Theatre Directhttps://www.londontheatredirect.com/news/who-won-at-the-2019-black-british-theatre-awards
- Black British Theatre Awardshttps://blackbritishtheatreawards.com/the-black-british-theatre-awards-2020-winners/
- WhatsOnStagehttps://www.whatsonstage.com/news/25th-annual-whatsonstage-awards-winners-in-full-updating-live_1664088/
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/mar/04/olivier-awards-fiddler-on-the-roof-romola-garai-adrien-brody-imelda-staunton