Gracie McGonigal

Last updated
Gracie McGonigal
Born
Grace Lesley McGonigal

March 2002 (age 23)
Ealing, London, England
Years active2021–present

Grace Lesley McGonigal (born March 2002) is a British stage and screen actress. She is best known for her musical theatre work, and is recognised for bringing disability representation to the London stage.

Contents

Early life

McGonigal is from Ealing, West London. [1] McGonigal attended the BRIT School and began her studies at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. [2]

Career

Theatre

McGonigal made her professional stage debut in the 2021 pantomime Aladdin at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith. [3] [4] The following year, she played Susanna Walcott and served as cover Abigail Williams in The Crucible at the National Theatre. The production then transferred to the Gielgud Theatre in 2023, marking McGonigal's West End debut. [5] [6] Also in 2022, McGonigal starred in the titular role of the pantomime Cinderella at the Theatre Royal Stratford East. [7]

In 2023, McGonigal originated the role of Katie in the world premiere West End production of The Little Big Things at @sohoplace. [8] She contributed to the original cast recording. [9] McGonigal also played Ava in Zoe Morris and Meg McGrady's The Phase at the VAULT Festival.[ citation needed ]

McGonigal returned to the Lyric Hammersmith in 2024 to play Lily in the London production of Fangirls . [10] [11] Later that year, McGonigal appeared as a stand-in for Alexandra Giddens in The Little Foxes at the Young Vic. [12]

In 2025, McGonigal starred as Little Red Ridinghood in the London revival of Into the Woods at the Bridge Theatre. [13]

Screen

McGonigal made her television debut in the Amazon Prime series The Power. [14]

It was announced in April 2025 McGonigal had joined the cast of the Netflix period drama Bridgerton for its fourth season. [15]

Public image

McGonigal has spoken about the importance of accessible and inclusive casting. In an interview discussing The Little Big Things, she said it was "my dream to do a show with the disabled experience at its heart." [16]

Personal life

McGonigal was born with congenital limb deficiency, meaning her arm did not properly develop below the elbow. In 2020, she received a Hero bionic arm from Open Bionics. [1]

Accolades

In 2024, she won the Watch This Face award at the BOLT Awards. [17]

She performed with the cast of The Little Big Things at the Olivier Awards [18] and at the Royal Variety Performance. [19]

References

  1. 1 2 Abernethy, Laura (24 December 2020). "Aspiring actress, 18, gets £10,000 bionic arm just in time for Christmas". Metro. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  2. Ell, Jenny (6 October 2021). "Bionic musical theatre actress stars in five-part YouTube series". West End Best Friend. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  3. Tsogbadrakh, Burte (2021-09-13). "Full cast and creative team announced and first images revealed of Aladdin, the Lyric's 2021 panto". Lyric Hammersmith. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  4. Logan, Brian (28 November 2021). "Aladdin review – emperor Boris on a magic carpet ride with a splash of TikTok". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  5. "Gracie McGonigal". National Theatre. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  6. Bosanquet, Theo (18 April 2023). "National Theatre confirms full casting for West End transfer of The Crucible". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  7. Stewart, Greg (28 November 2022). "Interview: Gracie McGonigal on Cinderella at Theatre Royal Stratford East". Theatre Weekly. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  8. "The Little Big Things – @sohoplace". Musical Theatre Review. 16 September 2023. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  9. Potts, Jordan (5 January 2024). "Review: THE LITTLE BIG THINGS Original London Cast Recording". West End Best Friend. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  10. Akbar, Arifa (24 July 2024). "Fangirls review – Lyric Hammersmith". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  11. Pulit, Magdalena (2024-07-23). "Review: Fangirls at the Lyric Hammersmith". Theatre Weekly. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  12. "The Little Foxes". Young Vic. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  13. Swain, Marianka (4 December 2025). "Get to know the magical cast of Into the Woods". London Theatre. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  14. "Bionic musical theatre actress stars in five-part series". West End Best Friend. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  15. Cremona, Patrick (25 April 2025). "Bridgerton season 4: West End newcomer joins cast". Radio Times. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  16. Trumata, Mae (16 October 2023). "It has been my dream to do a show with the disabled experience at its heart". The Upcoming. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  17. "Les Misérables named Best Musical at the 2024 BOLT Awards". Forge Press. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  18. "Prestigious award for The Little Big Things cast". Matt Hampson Foundation. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  19. "The Little Big Things to appear at the Royal Variety Performance". Michael Harrison Entertainment. Retrieved 8 December 2025.