Zoe Wanamaker to Star in The Rose Tattoo at London's National Theatre

Zoe Wanamaker will return to London's National Theatre to star in a new production of Tennessee Williams' The Rose Tattoo, directed by Steven Pimlott. The revival will begin performances at the Olivier Theatre March 19 and officially opening on March 29.

Wanamaker earned a 2006 Tony nomination for her performance in the revival of Clifford Odets' Awake and Sing! She previously appeared on Broadway in the title role of Electra, a revival of Loot and the title role in Piaf, receiving Tony nominations for each performance. Her most recent appearance at the National was as Hildy Johnson in His Girl Friday. She previously appeared on the South Bank in Battle Royal, The Crucible, Mrs. Klein, The Bay atNice, Wrecked Eggs and The Importance of Being Earnest. Other London stage roles include David Mamet's Boston Marriage and The Old Neighborhood, the most recent revival of Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie and Terry Johnson's Dead Funny.

The Rose Tattoo is set in the vibrant Sicilian community of New Orleans. All through the night Serafina craves her husband's return; at dawn, she learns he's been shot dead. For the next three years, she channels her fiercely passionate love into mourning, living on past glories while straitjacking her vivacious daughter, Rosa. But an ugly rumour gathers force to contaminate her memories, just as Rosa turns rebel and an eye-catching truck driver comes knocking at the door.

The cast also includes Sheila Ballantine, Darrell D'Silva, Susannah Fielding, Stephanie Jacob, Rosalind Knight, Andrew Langtree, Maggie McCarthy and Jules Melvin.

The Rose Tattoo was last seen in the West End when Peter Hall directed Julie Walters in a production at the Playhouse Theatre in 1991.