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Lisa O'Hare

Lisa O'Hare is an English actress and singer best known for her acclaimed performances in , including originating the role of in a major revival of and portraying the title character in during its West End and UK/Australian tours. Born on 12 November 1983 in , , O'Hare moved to at age 11 to train at School, initially as a dancer, before shifting her focus to acting and . Her early career featured roles in productions such as (as , for which she won a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award) and . O'Hare made her Broadway debut in 2013 as Sibella Hallward in the Tony Award-winning musical A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, earning an Outer Critics Circle Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical. She later appeared on Broadway in The Height of the Storm (2019) opposite Jonathan Pryce and Eileen Atkins. In television, she has gained recognition for recurring roles such as Georgia Goodwin in New Amsterdam (NBC, 2018–2019) and Clarice in The Sandman (Netflix, 2022), alongside guest appearances in series like Castle and The Good Fight. More recently, she portrayed Arlene in Netflix's Wednesday (2022–2025).

Early life and education

Early life

Lisa Jane O'Hare was born on 12 November 1983 in , , . She grew up in , a small seaside town in the northwest of , alongside her parents and two sisters. Her father worked as an electrician, and her mother served as a while also engaging in local performances. O'Hare developed an early for the , recognizing from childhood that she wanted to make it her . This was nurtured through influences, including attending her first West End production of in with her aunt. At age 11, she began formal training at the School in .

Education and training

O'Hare developed an interest in during her childhood in , . At the age of 11, she left home to attend School in , where she trained intensively as a for five years until age 16. This rigorous program provided a strong foundation in technique, discipline, and physical conditioning essential for stage performance. During her mid-teens at the Royal Ballet School, around ages 13 or 14, O'Hare began transitioning from ballet to acting after developing a passion for musical theatre through exposure to West End productions. This shift led her to emphasize musical theatre elements, including voice training and character development, within her studies. Following her departure from the Royal Ballet School, she enrolled at Millennium Performing Arts College in London, a specialized drama school focused on musical theatre training in acting, singing, and dance. There, she honed her skills in performance arts tailored to professional stage work.

Career

Theatre career

O'Hare began her professional career with dance-oriented performances in , including appearances in Alice and the Others at and Défilé at the Royal Opera House, drawing on her early training that informed her subsequent roles in physically demanding musicals. She made her professional stage debut in 2005 as Eliza Doolittle in a of , alternating in the during the UK national that commenced on September 28, 2005, directed by . O'Hare continued as Eliza in the subsequent North American , which began on September 12, 2007, at the in and ran through 2008. In November 2006, O'Hare assumed the title role of in the West End production at the Prince Edward Theatre, performing until May 2007 alongside as Bert. She reprised the role for the UK national tour from October 2008 to April 2009, succeeding Caroline Sheen and appearing in key venues including , , and . O'Hare starred as in a of the musical at from August 6 to September 13, 2008, opposite and Millicent Martin, in a production directed by Ian Judge. Her Broadway debut came in 2013, originating the role of Sibella Hallward in A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder , where the production opened on November 17 and ran through January 2016. O'Hare returned to the role of in a 2017 revival of at the , performing from April 28 to May 21 opposite as Henry Higgins, in a production directed by Robert Carsen.

Screen career

O'Hare made her television debut in 2010, appearing in guest roles across several American series. She portrayed Jenny in an episode of the crime drama The Closer on TNT, Kitty Canary in the procedural Castle on ABC, and Marie Murphy in the spy thriller Undercovers on NBC. These early appearances marked her entry into U.S. screen work, preceding her Broadway debut in 2013. In 2018, O'Hare secured a recurring role as Georgia Goodwin, the ex-wife of Dr. Max Goodwin, in the first season of the NBC medical drama New Amsterdam, appearing in multiple episodes that explored personal and professional dynamics within the hospital setting. She also guest-starred in three episodes of The Good Fight (CBS All Access, 2019–2020). Her screen profile expanded in the fantasy genre with a recurring role as Clarice in the Netflix series The Sandman (2022), where she appeared in two episodes adapting Neil Gaiman's comic. O'Hare also guest-starred as Mistress Arlene, a Pilgrim World employee, in Wednesday on Netflix, featuring in Season 1, Episode 3 ("Friend or Woe") and returning in Season 2, Episode 5. As of 2025, O'Hare has no credits.

Personal life

Family

Lisa O'Hare married theatre sound engineer Brian Shoemaker on 26 2009. The has two daughters, the second, Cielle Rose Shoemaker, on 12 2015. O'Hare has described balancing her international career demands with family responsibilities, frequently crediting her husband for his essential support amid transatlantic commitments.

Residence and affiliations

Lisa O'Hare resides in Hest Bank, a village near in , , maintaining strong roots in her birthplace region. Her decision to settle there reflects a for the area's healthier of compared to urban centers like . She continues to maintain ties to the region, having served as ambassador for the International Film Festival in 2024. Her work in U.S. theater and screen productions is supported by her professional affiliations in both countries, with occasional bases in New York or Los Angeles for specific projects. Family life has influenced her choice to prioritize a UK base while pursuing opportunities in the US.

Awards and nominations

Theatre awards

O'Hare received the 26th Annual Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Musical Performance in 2008 for her portrayal of in the national of . She also earned the Ovation for in a Touring Musical that same year for the same . She was nominated for the for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Non-Resident Production in 2008 for this performance. In 2009, her performance as further garnered a Garland for Performance in a Musical Production. She received a 2012 IRNE nomination for in a Musical for the . For her leading role as Sally Bowles in Cabaret at the Reprise Theatre Company, O'Hare won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle for Lead in 2011. Additionally, she received a Back Stage Garland for in a Musical in 2012 for this . In 2014, O'Hare was nominated for the Outer Critics Circle for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical for her as Sibella Hallward in A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder on Broadway. She also received a 2013 Craig Noel nomination for Featured in a Musical, a 2012 Connecticut Critics Circle nomination for Featured Actress in a Musical, and a 2012 Connecticut Magazine Readers’ Choice for the in earlier productions. The itself won the Tony for Best Musical that year, in which she was part of the cast. For her performance as in the 2009 production of Gigi, O'Hare was nominated for in a Musical at the .

Other recognition

In 2022, Lisa O'Hare was recognized in publications for her versatility across screen roles, particularly following her appearances as Clarice in The Sandman and Arlene in . Her theatre has been noted as enhancing her screen presence. As of 2025, O'Hare has not received major Emmy or nominations, though her performance as Georgia Goodwin in New Amsterdam drew critical in 2019 for its emotional .

References

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