Kim Cattrall to play faded Hollywood star in Tennessee Williams play at Old Vic

The Sex and the City actress will appear in Sweet Bird of Youth

Sex And The City's Kim Cattrall who will take to the Old Vic stage next year playing a fading Hollywood star in a revival of Tennessee Williams' Sweet Bird Of Youth. (PA)

Sex And The City's Kim Cattrall will take to the Old Vic stage next year playing a fading Hollywood star in a revival of Tennessee Williams' Sweet Bird Of Youth.

Cattrall will take centre stage in the story of a failing film star who quits Hollywood when her big comeback is a flop.

Last summer the actress appeared as Cleopatra in the Chichester revival of Janet Suzman's production of Antony and Cleopatra which began life two years ago at the Liverpool Playhouse.

The Liverpool-born star told The Independent in June that the end of the Sex and the City television show, and its two subsequent spin-off Hollywood movies, coincided with a desire to return to England.

She said: "After Sex and the City ended I was exhausted and needed time out. My marriage was coming to an end and my job was finished and my father had just been diagnosed with dementia. I thought I just needed to stop."

"I needed to go home. For me that was England and Canada, and England was where I started working again and I'm so glad I did, I feel replenished and strong. Sometimes you really do need to go home again."

The Old Vic's spring programme also includes a version of Terence Rattigan's The Winslow Boy. It will also see James Earl Jones and Vanessa Redgrave reunite in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing.

Its artistic director Kevin Spacey said: "The Old Vic has always been first and foremost an actors' theatre, a home for great talent and memorable performances.

"We're so proud of where we have gotten to in nine seasons, and for me this new season of work shows just how far the Old Vic has come.

"What an exciting prospect to see the wonderful Mark Rylance direct supreme actors Vanessa Redgrave and James Earl Jones in Much Ado About Nothing.

"We are honoured that Mark is bringing his unique talent to the Old Vic.

"I am delighted to welcome Lindsay Posner back to our theatre with The Winslow Boy and I know that audiences will be thrilled at the prospect of Kim Cattrall taking on Sweet Bird Of Youth directed by Marianne Elliott, whom we are so excited to welcome for the first time.

"I couldn't be more proud that these greats of the theatre have chosen the Old Vic as their home in 2013 and delighted to bring more great productions to our audiences."

PA