Layton Williams Wins Olivier Award for Iceberg Role in Titanique
When you mention an actor winning a top theater prize for playing an iceberg, most people would assume you’re joking. But this year, Layton Williams shattered expectations—and turned heads—by claiming the 2025 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical, thanks to his delightfully offbeat turn as the infamous iceberg in the Céline Dion-fueled comedy Titanique. Surreal? Definitely. But for Williams, who's spent two decades dazzling British audiences, it’s just the latest in a long list of bold choices.
Fans and critics both seemed to love his performance. Williams’ take on the iceberg brought laughs and a surprising amount of heart to a show that was never afraid to poke fun at itself—or the blockbuster movie it parodies. "It’s amazing," Williams shared, hardly hiding his joy. "You never expect you’ll be recognized for playing something so, well, unlikely!" Some audience members did complain about the musical’s taste for cheeky humor and camp, but those who loved it, really loved it. The show even secured another trophy for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play, a pretty clear sign that London’s theater crowds are ready for something different.
It’s not just this one oddball role that put Williams in the spotlight. Ever since he hit the stage years ago as the young star of Billy Elliot, Williams has refused to follow anyone else’s script. He quickly became a face to watch in the West End, grabbing attention not just with his skill but for his willingness to bring his true self to every part he’s taken on. His more recent leading role as the sleazy Emcee in Cabaret showed off another side—glitzy, raw, and totally fearless.
Strictly Come Dancing Dreams and Life Beyond the Stage
Stage isn’t the only place Williams is looking to leave his mark. Remember his nearly-perfect run on Strictly Come Dancing in 2023? Dancing alongside Nikita Kuzmin, Williams wowed the judges and the public week after week, snagging a spot in the final as joint runner-up and picking up several perfect scores along the journey. Now, he isn’t done with the show just yet. After the Oliviers, he made it clear he’d like to swap sparkly dance shoes for a judge’s chair: "I want to sit and judge you now." With two decades of industry experience and heaps of personality, his push for a spot on the panel sounds less like a dream and more like an inevitable next step.
Williams has stayed firmly on the radar for other reasons too. He’s been open about the challenges of growing up in the spotlight, especially as a young, out performer—something he first faced while starring in Billy Elliot. His activism isn’t just talk. He’s an active supporter of LGBTQ+ organizations like Stonewall and uses his platform to push for acceptance, representation, and real change in a business that still tends to play it safe.
From a kid in ballet shoes to an Olivier-winning iceberg, Williams is showing that being yourself—with all your quirks—is no hindrance to hitting career highs. His latest triumph is just one more milestone as he keeps knocking down barriers, making people laugh, and showing that in British theater, there’s plenty of room for the bold and the unexpected.
