Vanessa Williams on surviving ‘traumatic’ loss thanks to her horse-sized Great Dane dog – exclusive

It’s a windy afternoon in London’s West End and Vanessa Williams is walking Roscoe, her great Dane. 

The American actress and singer, known for her role in Ugly Betty, is starring as the fierce magazine editor Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada at the Dominion Theatre, and is currently enjoying a break between her matinee and evening performances. Every day, her six-year-old dog accompanies her to the theatre.

When HELLO! meets the duo, we’re instantly won over by Roscoe, who greets us affectionately as he walks through the door with Vanessa. The star looks glamorous in an olive-green suit by Donna Ida and a scarf from N. Peal; her canine companion, meanwhile, is sporting a blue tag on his collar.

“It’s his emotional support tag,” says Vanessa, 63, who reveals that Roscoe is her emotional support animal (ESA) – a title not legally recognised in the UK but approved by a medical professional, allowing pets to enter premises where they would not normally be permitted.

Emotional support

In 2024, Vanessa’s mother, Helen, a music teacher, died of complications from acute liver failure while visiting her daughter in London. Roscoe has been helping the star to navigate the aftermath of that loss ever since.

“My mother passed away here after coming to opening night [of The Devil Wears Prada], so that was traumatic,” Vanessa says. “I didn’t miss a show because [performing] kept me focused and distracted.”

After her other great Dane, Roscoe’s sister, passed away six weeks later, she knew that she needed to move Roscoe to London from their home base in New York. “I needed him for my own headspace,” she says.

Roscoe needed Vanessa, too. “He’s not used to being solo,” she adds. “He needs a lot of attention.”

As we walk the dog behind the theatre, he’s remarkably obedient, drawing plenty of glances from passers-by who are clearly fascinated by his size.

“I hear: ‘That’s a horse!’ almost every day,” Vanessa says. “People either love him or are terrified because they’ve never seen a dog this big. The only time I got enraged was when someone said: ‘That’s a donkey!'”

Roscoe is used to the theatre. “He comes to my dressing room every day,” Vanessa says. “He knows how to swipe in.” He sleeps on a big bed in her dressing room when she’s on stage, and listens to the show through the tannoy. “When it’s done, he’s at the door ready to go.”

Adjusting to London life

Leaving behind the greenery of Westchester County, where Vanessa has four and a half acres of land, has been an adjustment for Roscoe, whom she describes as a “country dog”. 

She adds: “He’s used to having all kinds of grass and lawn, so the urban streets are definitely a change.” One of Roscoe’s favourite walks in London is through the area of St Giles, near the Dominion Theatre.

Although Vanessa has many friends in the city, her dog has helped her to make new connections, including an American couple who are moving to London with their own great Dane puppy. “I said: ‘Call me when you’re ready to go and we can have a play date,’” she says. 

The actress is now single, following her divorce from her third husband, Jim Skrip, in 2021. Has Roscoe ever helped to suss out a potential date for her? “No,” she laughs. “I wish he had that Spidey-sense, but he doesn’t.” 

Vanessa has four children, and her family visit her regularly; her four-year-old grandson, Sunny, whom Roscoe adores, is due to make the trip to London soon.

Showbiz connections

The story of how Vanessa met her beloved dog is wonderfully showbiz, involving her Ugly Betty co-star America Ferrera and the actor Burt Ward. “America got a great Dane called Lucy from a rescue and brought her to set,” she recalls. “I fell in love.”

America told her about Burt, who played Robin in the original Batman and Robin TV series and now runs Gentle Giants Rescue and Adoptions in California. “Burt does all big breeds: Salukis, Irish wolfhounds and great Danes. My first one was Willa; she was fawn-coloured and a superstar.”

Vanessa, who was crowned the first black Miss America aged 20 in 1984 and had a hit in 1991 with Save the Best for Last, is having a ball on the West End stage. “It’s been a wonderful role,” she says. “Having Elton John [who wrote the music for the show] involved in the creation, and shaping my own role, was what interested me.”

Has Roscoe met Sir Elton’s dogs? “No; I didn’t take him to Windsor,” she tells us, referring to the musician’s home in Berkshire. “But he’s up for some more play dates – we’ll see.”

Following Vanessa’s stint in London, which will conclude with her final bow as Miranda Priestly in October, she is hoping to take the show to Broadway. The film The Devil Wears Prada 2 is coming out in May, and the actress is “curious to see where [the sequel] goes”. She says: “It’s been 20 years, so what’s next?”

As we walk back to the stage door, Vanessa strokes Roscoe. “I feel completely safe with him because of his size. They’re a nice breed to walk in the middle of the night; no one bothers you,” she says. “If anyone attacked me, I’m sure he would show another side, but I’ve never seen it.

“He’s a smush. If he could sit on your lap all the time, he would, and be carried like a little puppy baby. He doesn’t realise how big he actually is.”

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