Layton Williams

Layton Williams (born 13 September 1994) is an English actor, dancer and singer. He won the 2025 Laurence Olivier for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for his performance in Titanique. Williams began his career as a child actor on the West End, starring as the titular role of Billy Elliot the Musical and Young Michael Jackson in Thriller – Live. As an adult, he went on tour with Rent and Everybody's Talking About Jamie.

On television, Williams is known for his roles in the BBC series Beautiful People (2008–2009) and Bad Education (2012–2014, 2022–2024). He featured in the CBBC documentary series School for Stars, which documented life at the acting school Italia Conti.

Early life, acting background and education Williams was born in Bury, Greater Manchester, to a white mother and a father of Jamaican descent. He grew up on the Dicky Bird Estate. His paternal grandparents are from Jamaica and his father was born in the UK. He has several siblings and half-siblings.

Williams went to London at age 11 to pursue an acting career. His training was documented on The Paul O'Grady Show in which he appeared in on 25 May 2007 and then in several morning TV shows, TV interviews, and short clips related to the musical. He is the second person of colour, the other being Matthew Koon, and the first mixed heritage performer to star in the show. He gave his final performance in the musical on 29 November 2008 while still being the second-longest running performer as 'Billy' in the show's history. On 31 January 2009, two months after his final performance, Layton appeared on the programme Feelgood Factor on ITV, where he and two other 'Billy' actors, Tanner Pflueger and Tom Holland, performed a specially choreographed version of Angry Dance from Billy Elliot the Musical.

Williams took street dance and drama lessons at Carol Godby's Theatre workshop in Bury and ballet lessons at Centre Pointe, Manchester. Williams was awarded a scholarship to Sylvia Young Theatre School in Marylebone, London and stayed there until 2008. He attended Broad Oak High School in his home town Bury and then the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in London. During his time at Italia Conti, Williams featured in a children's documentary School for Stars which was broadcast on the children's television channel CBBC.

Career

He was offered the part as Young Michael Jackson in the West End musical Thriller – Live where he did a few performances before he outgrew the role. Williams became well known to a TV audience as the character Kylie – acting, dancing and singing in the 2008 to 2009 BBC Two comedy Beautiful People, series 1 and 2. From 2012 to 2014, he played Stephen Carmichael in the BBC comedy Bad Education and also appeared in the 2015 spinoff film. Williams returned to the show for the 2022 reunion special and became the co-lead of the show's fourth series alongside Charlie Wernham.

Williams went on tour with Matthew Bourne's show The Car Man. Following that he performed the part of Duane in Hairspray the Musical 2015–2016 tour. He announced that he would also be in the new 20th anniversary cast of Rent which toured the UK from October 2016.

In August 2023, Williams was announced as a contestant on the twenty-first series of Strictly Come Dancing. He was partnered with professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin. They achieved not only their first perfect 40 score, but the first of the whole series in Musicals week, which they followed up with another one in the semi-finals, as well as two in the final. They finished as joint runners-up, alongside Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell, losing to winners Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola.

From 3 June to 21 September 2024, Williams played the Emcee in Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre opposite Rhea Norwood as Sally Bowles.

Williams then originated the role of Iceberg in the West End premiere of Titanique at the Criterion Theatre in December 2024, which earned him a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical for his performance. He reprised the role for the Broadway transfer for the show at the St. James Theatre in March 2026, which earned him a nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Musical at the 79th Tony Awards.

Other ventures Williams is a strong supporter of the charities Stonewall and Ditch the Label.

Personal life Williams is gay and has spoken about coming to terms with his sexuality while working on Billy Elliot in London.

While on Who Do You Think You Are? in May 2025, he found that his great-great-grandfather, Lance Corporal William Downing, served in the Army Remount Service in WW1 and WW2 and was part of the BEF during the Dunkirk evacuation.

People We Meet On Vacation Wedding officiant The Great Celebrity Pottery Throw Down Contestant Five-part series

Theatre

Workshops Year Title Theatre Location 2021 Halls The Musical Turbine Theatre London

Music videos YearTtileArtist2020"Pretty Girl Lie" Baby Queen"Santa Baby"

Awards + Year Award Category Nominated work Result 2019 Black British Theatre Awards Best Male Actor in a Musical Everybody's Talking About Jamie 2020 Black British Theatre Awards LGBTQ+ Champion 2024 Gaydio Awards Outstanding Entertainment Contribution Himself 2025 WhatsOnStage Awards Best Takeover Performance Cabaret Laurence Olivier Awards Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a MusicalTitanique 2026 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Featured Performer in a Musical Tony AwardsBest Featured Actor in a Musical Dorian AwardOutstanding Featured Performance in a Broadway Musical Broadway Showstopper Award