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Oliver Thornton was born on the 10th September 1979 and grew up in Abergavenny, Wales. Like many performers, Thornton was at school when he decided he wanted to perform, training in classical ballet from an early age. Involved in local amateur dramatics, Thornton went on to graduate in 2001 from Mountview Academy of Performing Arts, where he obtained a BA Honours degree in musical theatre.

In 2004 Thornton had a role in the film De-Lovely and then went on, in 2006, to star in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express on its UK Tour, where he played the role of Rusty. In 2007 Thornton played Mark in Rent at the Duke Of York’s Theatre.

Thornton soon got chosen to star in two of the biggest musicals in the West End and world, Les Misérables as Enjolras and The Phantom Of The Opera as Raoul. Both productions are still at large today with Les Misérables celebrating its 25th Anniversary and the Phantom launching the follow on, Love Never Dies. If that was not already enough Thornton landed the role of Harrison in Chicago, playing then at the Adelphi Theatre before transferring to its current home, the Cambridge Theatre. 

Thornton’s current role is playing Adam/Felicia in the Australian transfer of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, at the Palace Theatre. The West End had never seen so much glitter, wigs, high heels and lipstick until Priscilla arrived in the Spring 2009.

The show is based on the Oscar winning film of the same name. Thornton stars along side pop star and Neighbours legend Jason Donovan as drag queen Mitzi and Australian stage actor Tony Sheldon as Bernadette, who featured in the original Sydney

The show tells the heart-warming and uplifting story of Mitzi, Bernadette and Felicia, a glamorous Sydney based performing trio who agree to take their show to the middle of the Australian outback. The three friends set off in a battered old bus, Priscilla, in search of love and adventure but end up finding more than they could ever have dreamed.

Full of outrageous comedy, outfits and fun, this is one show that will have you dancing in the aisles. Notably this is the first time Thornton has taken on a more comical role and a larger than life character.

Thornton won Best Supporting Actor in a Musical (To make up a total of 4 wins for Priscilla) at The What’s On Stage Awards, hailed as the “theatregoers' choice”, the awards are a true reflection of the public opinion. 2010 saw 46,000 people voting across 26 different award categories, an increase of 11,000 on the previous year. Thornton won with 28.7% of the vote.