We awarded 14 monstas for the best pop, theatre, TV and film of 2019 in December – and here we look at the cream of 2020 so far and what’s to come. Sheridan Smith, Jade Anouka, Imelda Staunton, Sharon D. Clarke and Monica Dolan are previous winners in this category.

• Read on for our top 5 best theatre actresses of 2020 so far and our hopes for the next three months

1. Jane Horrocks in Endgame at the Old Vic Review

2. Renee Lamb in Be More Chill at the Other Palace Review

3. Maxine Peake in The Welkin at the National Review

4. Aimee Lou Wood in Uncle Vanya at the Harold Pinter Theatre Review

5. Ria Zmitrowicz (pictured centre above) in The Welkin at the National Review

On our radar for the next three months are Jessica Chastain in A Doll’s House at the Playhouse Theatre (Tickets), Marisha Wallace in Hairspray at the Coliseum (Tickets), Whoopi Goldberg and Jennifer Saunders in Sister Act at the Eventim Apollo (Tickets), Carrie Hope Fletcher in Cinderella at the Gillian Lyne Theatre (Tickets) and Jade Anouka in Heart at the Kiln Theatre (Tickets).

• Picture via Facebook courtesy National Theatre
• Have you seen these shows? Let us know what you thought in the comments below. Enjoyed this shortlist? Follow its author on Twitter @NeilDurham, email neildurham3@gmail.com and check us out on Instagram and Facebook