Laura Linney, Ben Daniels to Headline Broadway Revival of Les Liaisons Dangereuses

Laura Linney will play the Marquise de Merteuil and British actor Ben Daniels will make his Broadway debut as Vicomte de Valmont in Roundabout Theater Company's forthcoming revival of Christopher Hampton's Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Directed by Rufus Norris, the production will begin performances at the American Airlines Theatre on April 11, 2008, and open on May 1.

Les Liaisons Dangereuses centers on the amoral rivals and occasional lovers Marquise de Merteuil and Vicomte de Valmont, who wreak havoc among the aristocracy with their casual seductions just before the French revolution. Hampton's dark comedy was based on the novel by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, first published in 1782. Lindsay Duncan and Alan Rickman earned Tony nominations for the play's 1987 Broadway premiere. Glenn Close and John Malkovich played the roles in the 1988 movie version, renamed Dangerous Liaisons.

Linney received a 2005 Tony nomination for her performance in Sight Unseen, a play she first performed in a smaller role in its 1992 off-Broadway premiere. Other Broadway credits include The Crucible, Uncle Vanya, Honour, Hedda Gabler and The Seagull. Linney's extensive film credits include the soon-to-be-released The Savages, Oscar-nominated performances in Kinsey and You Can Count on Me, plus The Nanny Diaries, The Squid and the Whale, Mystic River, Love Actually and The Truman Show, among many others.

Daniels' extensive London theater credits include the National Theatre productions of Therese Raquin, Iphigenia at Aulis, Three Sisters and All My Sons Olivier Award. At the Donmar Warehouse, he appeared in The Wild Duck, The God of Hell and Tales From Hollywood. Other notable London stage credits include As You Like It, Martin Yesterday, Naked, 900 Oneonta and Waiting for Godot.

The design team for Les Liaisons Dangereuses includes Scott Pask sets, Katrina Lindsay costumes and Donald Holder lights.