Donna Sheridan

Who is Donna Sheridan?

Donna runs a small hotel on a Greek island, having built a life for herself and her daughter Sophie after a free-spirited youth touring as part of a girl group. When Sophie secretly invites three men from Donna's past to the wedding, hoping to find her real father, Donna is forced to revisit choices and relationships she thought she had left behind.

She is fiercely independent and protective, but the show also lets her be vulnerable, funny, and nostalgic as old feelings resurface alongside old friends.

Donna's role in Mamma Mia!

Donna is a lead role built around some of the biggest and most emotionally direct numbers in the show, drawn from the catalog of ABBA songs that form the musical's score. The part demands a strong, expressive belt voice along with real comic chemistry alongside her two best friends, and the range to shift from playful bravado to raw emotional honesty.

Because Donna anchors both the comedy and the heart of the story, the role rewards a performer who can be commanding one moment and disarmingly open the next.

Why Donna resonates

Audiences respond to Donna because she represents a woman owning her past instead of being defined by it, a theme that resonates across generations of theatregoers. For performers, the role offers a rare combination of comedy, big-voiced pop numbers, and genuine emotional depth in a single part.

Frequently asked