Kim Cattrall has been forced to leave the Royal Court’s upcoming production Linda following advice from her doctor.
The Sex And The City star will be replaced in the lead role of Penelope Skinner’s new play by Olivier Award winner Noma Dumezweni, who joins rehearsals for the show today. The production will play its first performance on 26 November.
Speaking about her decision, Cattrall said: “With great sadness and at the advice of my doctors, I will not be able to continue with the Royal Court’s production of Linda. I appreciate all the support I have received from the theatre and cannot thank them enough for allowing me to put my health first.”
The Royal Court’s Artistic Director Vicky Featherstone added: “We are all deeply sorry that Kim is unable to continue with the production and she has our warmest wishes. We are extremely grateful and also thrilled that Noma Dumezweni, one of our most brilliant actors, has agreed to take on this challenge at such short notice. We are delighted that in spite of these difficulties Penelope Skinner’s important play can open to our audiences with minimal disruption.”
Dumezweni won her Olivier Award for her performance in the Young Vic’s A Raisin In The Sun, and has more recently appeared in Carmen Disruption at the Almeida Theatre and ‘Tis Pity She’s A Whore at Shakespeare’s Globe.
Linda tells the story of an award-winning businesswoman, inspiring mother and loving wife who seems to have it all, but isn’t satisfied. She’s embarking on her most ambitious plan to date, but beneath the surface the cracks are starting to show.