'Chicago' role an eye-opener for Henshall

LONDON, May 10 (UPI) -- British actress Ruthie Henshall says playing in two productions of the musical "Chicago" 10 years apart gave her a unique insight into her life.

The 41-year-old star, who first performed as Roxie Hart in the musical a decade ago, said spending 10 minutes on stage during last December's 10th anniversary "Chicago" performance gave her some clarity about the path her life has taken, The Times of London said Saturday.

"If you get the privilege of doing something again 10 years on," Henshall said, "the most telling thing is to realize where your life has gone and how much we change as people. Because my choices as an actress for Roxie were totally different. Ten years ago, it was much more about trying to find the laugh and have a bit of fun with it."

Henshall said her new take on Hart, a showgirl accused of killing her husband, was based on acquired wisdom.

"I desperately needed to play the truth of it and to play the part of her that I don't believe you can inhabit until you have lived a bit," she told the Times. "I actually think Roxies need to be over 40."