Hart to Hart: a lineup of Roxies in the musical Chicago

The West End revival of Chicago is currently celebrating its 12th year Photograph: Uli Weber

Former Destiny's Child star Michelle Williams, who was recently seen on Broadway in The Color Purple, plays the scheming, murderous chorus girl Roxie Hart in the current West End revival of Chicago Photograph: Uli Weber

Gwen Verdon, seen here in 1999, played Roxie in the original 1975 production on Broadway Photograph: Sean Smith

Ruthie Henshall, seen here in Marguerite at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in 2008, was the first star to play Roxie Hart in the West End revival of Chicago in 1997 Photograph: Tristram Kenton

Maria Friedman had two stints as Roxie in the West End in the late 1990s Photograph: Frank Baron

After leaving The Big Breakfast, Denise Van Outen was one of the highest-profile Roxies at the Adelphi theatre on the Strand. She first appeared in the role in 2001 Photograph: Peter Jordan/PA

Van Outen made her Broadway debut in the same role Photograph: PA/Empics

Claire Sweeney does Roxie at the Adelphi in 2001 Photograph: Richard Young/Rex Features

Another soap star, Jill Halfpenny from EastEnders, took the role of Roxie in the West End in 2005 Photograph: Uli Weber

Chicago moved from the Adelphi to the Cambridge theatre in 2006. Recent Roxies have included pop star Ashlee Simpson Photograph: Dave M Benett/Getty Images

Aoife Mulholland, a finalist from the BBC reality TV show How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?, also landed the role of Roxie in 2006 Photograph: Hugo Glendinning/PA

Brooke Shields is among the stars who have played the role both on Broadway and in the West End Photograph: Len Prince/PA

Bebe Neuwirth, best known as Lillith in Cheers, was awarded a Tony for her performance as Velma Kelly in the 1997 production of Chicago. She then played the role of Roxie on Broadway in 2006 Photograph: Kathy Willens/AP

Melanie Griffith as Roxie Hart in a 10th anniversary Broadway performance of Chicago at the Ambassador theatre, New York Photograph: Sara Jaye/Rex Features

Renee Zellweger won an Oscar for her breathy portrayal of Roxie in the 2002 movie of Chicago Photograph: Michael Crabtree/PA

Michelle Williams plays Roxie Hart in Chicago at the Cambridge theatre until 22 August Photograph: Sylvia Linares/FilmMagic.com