Laura Benanti | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Benanti in 2025 | |
| Born | Laura Ilene Vidnovic (1979-07-15)July 15, 1979 (age 46) New York City,New York, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, singer |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Notable credits | |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 2 |
| Website | www |
Laura Ilene Benanti (néeVidnovic; born July 15, 1979)[1] is an American actress and singer.
Benanti made herBroadway debut as an ensemble member and later asMaria von Trapp in the 1998 revival ofThe Sound of Music. Benanti went on to win theTony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical playingLouise in the revival ofGypsy (2008). She was Tony-nominated for her roles inSwing! (2000),Into the Woods (2002),Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (2010), andShe Loves Me (2016). Her other notable Broadway roles includeNine (2003),In the Next Room (2009),Meteor Shower (2017), andMy Fair Lady (2018).
On television she has had roles as Lauren Bennett on theNBC sitcomGo On (2012–2013), Sadie Stone in theABC musical drama seriesNashville (2014–2015),Alura and Astra in theCBS seriesSupergirl (2015–2016), Edie Randall in theTBS comedyThe Detour (2017–2019), Kiki Hope in theHBO Max revivalGossip Girl (2021–2023), and as Susan Blane in the HBO drama seriesThe Gilded Age (2023).
Since 2016, she has had a recurring role asFirst LadyMelania Trump onThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
Benanti was born in New York City to Linda Wonneberger, a vocal coach and former actress, andMartin Vidnovic, aBroadway actor and singer.[2] She is of Serbian,[3] German, and Irish heritage.[4] Her parents divorced when she was young. She soon moved toKinnelon, New Jersey, with her mother and stepfather Salvatore Benanti, apsychotherapist, whose name she took and whom she refers to as her father.[2][5]
Benanti remembers being "very serious" and "a bit of anugly duckling" as a child; she was intensely interested inmusical theatre, saying she "came out of the womb as a 40-year-old". She was particularly interested in the music ofStephen Sondheim at an early age and distanced herself from other children.[5][6] In 2008, Benanti toldThe New York Times that she drew on this loneliness in her portrayal of the neglected Louise inGypsy.[6] Though her parents refused to let Laura audition for professional theatre, Laura appeared in several high school and community productions, includingEvita (asPerón's mistress),Follies (as Young Heidi), andInto the Woods (asCinderella).[4] At 16, Benanti played the title role in her high school production ofHello, Dolly! and won aPaper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award for Outstanding Actress in a high school production.[7] She graduated fromKinnelon High School in 1997.[7]
In 1998,Paper Mill's then-artistic director Robert Johanson recommended Benanti for the role of Liesl in a Broadway revival ofThe Sound of Music. She auditioned for the show's producers and was considered too mature-looking to play Liesl, but, after several call-backs, was signed at the age of 18 to play one of the nuns and to understudyRebecca Luker as Maria. Benanti played the role for two weeks while Luker was on vacation, and, at 19, took over the role when Luker left the production.[2] Michael Buckley ofPlaybill later wrote that Benanti "was an absolutely wonderful Maria ... As do others, I believe that had she opened in the show, Benanti would have been an overnight sensation."[4] When she was cast inThe Sound of Music, Benanti had attendedNew York University for two weeks; the dean recommended she go on leave to take the job.[8]
In 1999, Benanti appeared in the Broadway revueSwing!, for which she received aTony nomination forBest Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical. In 2000, she co-starred withDonna Murphy in the critically acclaimedNew York City CenterEncores! concert production of theLeonard Bernstein-Betty Comden-Adolph Green musicalWonderful Town. Benanti can be heard on the original cast albums of each of her Broadway roles, as well as compilation albums ofStephen Schwartz andMaury Yeston. She participated in astudio cast recording ofRodgers and Hammerstein'sAllegro, which was released bySony Classics in February 2009. She also appears as a guest artist on theGay Men's Chorus of Washington, D.C.'s live album,You've Got to Be Carefully Taught: The Songs of Hammerstein & Sondheim, taken from a 2002 performance at theKennedy Center. A songwriter and guitarist, Benanti has written songs privately since at least the early 2000s;[5] in 2005, she said that she was working on a folk-rock solo CD, though "Musical theatre is my first love[...]I want to take my music and orchestrate it in a kind of old fashioned style, and take some standards and 'popularize' them—do a true crossover. I'm working on it."[4]
In 2002, Benanti playedCinderella (a role she had played as a teenager) in the Broadway revival ofInto the Woods and received both a Tony nomination for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical and aDrama Desk nomination forOutstanding Featured Actress in a Musical. During a mid-performancepratfall inInto the Woods, Benanti fractured her neck, herniating two discs directly onto herspinal cord and cutting offspinal fluid, a condition that sometimes leads toparalysis.[4][6] The injury was misdiagnosed, andInto the Woods producers asked Benanti not to mention her injury; when she began missing performances due to neck problems, rumors spread that Benanti was behaving unprofessionally, something that she called "really hurtful". She said, "I had a serious injury and there was absolutely no way I could have done the show. I tried to. I tried to go back and do it but I physically couldn't."[9] Benanti was eventually replaced in the show byErin Dilly. Eight months after her initial injury, Benanti was rediagnosed and received surgery that could have damaged her voice but was successful, though as of 2005 she still experienced neck pain andmyelopathy.[4][6]
Three weeks after undergoing spinal surgery, Benanti started previews in March 2003 for the Broadway revival ofNine, in which she played Claudia, a movie star who inspires Guido, a director played byAntonio Banderas.[6] She left the show in September 2003. Benanti appeared in theWorld AIDS Day concerts ofPippin,Children of Eden, andThe Secret Garden.[10][11][12] From April to December 2006, she played Julia Sullivan in the Broadway musicalThe Wedding Singer.[13] In addition to stage roles, Benanti was a regular on the short-livedFX sitcomStarved (2005), which received mixed reviews,[14][15] but Benanti described it as "a good experience. I got a lot of camera experience, which was something I just hadn't had."[9] In 2006, she appeared in two films:Take the Lead, in which she reunited with herNine co-star Antonio Banderas,[16] andFalling for Grace as Princess Alexandra.[17][18] In 2008, Benanti had a recurring role on theABC television seriesEli Stone. She appeared in the pilot for the TV show as well.[19][20]
In July 2007, Benanti played in a three-week limited run of the musicalGypsy in the Encores! staged concert production at theNew York City Center as Louise, alongsidePatti LuPone as Rose andBoyd Gaines as Herbie. In March 2008, the production transferred to Broadway, where it ran until January 2009 and received widespread critical acclaim. Benanti's performance as Louise was praised, withThe New York Times'sBen Brantley declaring it "the performance of her career".[21] She won several awards, including a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, and anOuter Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical.
Benanti appeared inThe Public Theater's world-premiere production ofChristopher Durang's playWhy Torture Is Wrong, And the People Who Love Them from April 6 to 26, 2009.[22] She next appeared in theLincoln Center Theater's production ofSarah Ruhl'sIn the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play) beginning previews on October 22, 2009, and opening on November 19, 2009, at theLyceum Theatre.[23] Benanti appeared in the new musicalWomen on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown on Broadway from October 8, 2010, until January 2, 2011. She received a Tony nomination and won the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance.[24] In 2011, she was cast in the NBC seriesThe Playboy Club, which was canceled after three episodes.[25] Benanti played the wife of Dr. Atticus Sherman on Episode 11 of Season Two ofThe Big C, entitled "Fight Or Flight".[26] In 2011 and 2012, Benanti had a recurring role onLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit asDetective Nick Amaro's wife.[27] Benanti played the role of Lauren Bennett, a leader of a support group, on theNBC series,Go On.[28]Go On was canceled in May 2013 after one season.[29]
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In June 2013, Benanti performed as the soprano soloist in the San Francisco premiere ofAndrew Lippa's oratorio,I Am Harvey Milk.[30] She played Goddess inThe Public Theater's musical adaptation ofThe Tempest, which was presented at theDelacorte Theatre from September 6 through 8, 2013.[31] She had a recurring role on theUSA seriesRoyal Pains.[32] On October 17, 2013, Benanti appeared in an episode ofElementary onCBS.[33] She also appeared inNurse Jackie andThe Good Wife.[34][35] On December 5, 2013, Benanti played Elsa Schräder in the NBC production ofThe Sound of Music Live![36][37]In Constant Search of the Right Kind of Attention, a live recording of Benanti's concert engagement at54 Below, was released by Broadway Records in September 2013.[38] In 2014, she was cast as country singer Sadie Stone in the ABC musical drama seriesNashville for itsthird season, recording and performing several songs during her arc.[39] From April 2 through 6, 2014, Benanti starred as Rosabella in the New York City Center Encores! staged concert production ofFrank Loesser'sThe Most Happy Fella alongsideShuler Hensley,Cheyenne Jackson,Jay Armstrong Johnson, andHeidi Blickenstaff.[40]
In 2015, she joined the cast ofSupergirl, where she has a recurring role asAlura In-Ze,Zor-El's wife and mother ofKara[41] and Alura's twin sisterGeneral Astra, who wants to take over Earth as its new ruler and destroy her niece Kara.[42] In July 2017, it was announced that Benanti would not return to the series for its third season due to her work schedule and thatErica Durance would assume the role of Alura.[43] Benanti guest-starred as Edie, aUnited States Postal Service inspector, in the second season ofThe Detour and was later promoted to a series regular for season three.[44] On February 16, 2015, Benanti played Lucille Frank in the Manhattan Concert Productions presentation ofParade atAvery Fisher Hall, alongsideJeremy Jordan asLeo Frank.[45] She appeared inNew York Spring Spectacular atRadio City Music Hall from March 12 through May 7, 2015.[46]
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Benanti starred in the lead role of Amalia Balash in the 2016Roundabout Theatre Company Broadway revival ofShe Loves Me oppositeZachary Levi. The production began previews atStudio 54 on February 19, 2016, and opened on March 17 for a limited engagement through July 10.[47][48][49] She received a nomination forTony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for this role. On July 19, 2016, Benanti first impersonatedMelania Trump onThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert during the run-up to that year'sU.S. presidential election,[50] a role she reprised in subsequent appearances on that show.[51] In 2017, Benanti once again acted on Broadway inSteve Martin's comedic playMeteor Shower, along withKeegan-Michael Key as Gerald,Amy Schumer as Corky, andJeremy Shamos as Norm. The play premiered on Broadway on November 1, 2017, in previews, officially on November 29, 2017, at theBooth Theatre. The play closed on January 21, 2018.[52]
In March 2017,Tangled: Before Ever After, she voiced the characterLady Caine, serving as the film's main antagonist, leading apirate gang. She reprised the role inRapunzel's Tangled Adventure, from 2017 to 2019, where Lady Caine was arecurring character.[53][54][55] Caine's character was praised for her appearance, with the character also described as "fierce", "devious", and a "total badass."[56][57]
Benanti replacedLauren Ambrose asEliza Doolittle in the Broadway Lincoln Center Theater revival ofMy Fair Lady, beginning October 23, 2018, for a limited run through February 17, 2019, except for Tuesday nights withKerstin Anderson in the role.[58] Benanti extended her appearance in the musical to July 7, 2019.[59] In 2019, she joined the cast ofYounger, playing the role of businesswoman and author Quinn Tyler. Benanti released her self-titled first solo album in 2020.[60] In 2021, Benanti played the role of Francine in the filmHere Today, co-written and directed byBilly Crystal, starring Crystal andTiffany Haddish.[citation needed] In 2023, she played the role of Allison Becker inNo Hard Feelings, which starredJennifer Lawrence.[citation needed]
Benanti metChris Barron, lead singer of theSpin Doctors, in the early 2000s. They married on July 25, 2005, but by the end of that year were in the process of a divorce,[61] which was finalized in 2006.[4] At the 2005World AIDS Day "dream cast" concert ofThe Secret Garden, she met actorSteven Pasquale. They married in September 2007 and mutually filed for divorce in July 2013.[62][63]
On June 12, 2015, she became engaged to Patrick Brown.[64] They married on November 15, 2015.[65] In 2017, they had a daughter, Ella.[66] A second daughter, Louisa, was born via surrogate in 2022.[67] On April 7, 2023, Benanti announced that she had suffered amiscarriage while on stage at a Broadway themed cruise. Knowing she was having the miscarriage, she continued to perform saying that "if it had been our first loss, or even our second, I likely wouldn't have been able to go on […] but unfortunately I am not a stranger to the pain and emptiness of losing a pregnancy".[68]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Take the Lead | Tina | |
| Falling for Grace | Alexandra | ||
| 2010 | Meskada | Allison Connor | |
| 2016 | She Loves Me | Amalia Balash | Recorded live on Broadway, airing in cinemas[69] |
| 2020 | Worth | Karen Abate | |
| 2021 | Here Today | Francine Burnz | [70] |
| Tick, Tick... Boom! | Judy Wright | ||
| 2023 | No Hard Feelings | Allison Becker | |
| The Shade | Renee Beckman | ||
| 2024 | Goodrich | Naomi Goodrich | |
| 2025 | Kinda Pregnant | Daisy's Mom | |
| Everything's Going to Be Great | Tallulah Bankhead |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Starved | Billie Frasier | 7 episodes |
| 2008 | Eli Stone | Beth Keller | 5 episodes |
| 2009 | Life on Mars | Denise Carling | Episode: "Home Is Where You Hang Your Holster" |
| 2010 | Open Books | June | Television film |
| 2011 | The Big C | Gia Sherman | Episode: "Fight or Flight" |
| The Playboy Club | Carol-Lynne Cunningham | 6 episodes | |
| 2011–2014 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Maria Grazie | 9 episodes |
| 2012–2013 | Go On | Lauren Bennett | 22 episodes |
| 2013 | It Could Be Worse | Kendra | Episode: "What's Your Secret?" |
| Royal Pains | Shelby Shackleford | 8 episodes | |
| Elementary | Anne Barker / Abigail Spencer | Episode: "Poison Pen" | |
| The Sound of Music Live! | Elsa Schrader | Television special | |
| 2014 | Nurse Jackie | Mia Peyton | 7 episodes |
| 2014–2015 | The Good Wife | Renata Ellard | 2 episodes |
| Nashville | Sadie Stone | 15 episodes | |
| 2015–2016 | Supergirl | Alura Zor-El / Astra In-Ze | 10 episodes |
| 2016–present | The Late Show with Stephen Colbert | Melania Trump | Recurring[71][72][73][74][75] |
| 2017 | Tangled: Before Ever After | Lady Caine (voice) | Television film |
| 2017–2019 | The Detour | Edie Randall | 21 episodes |
| Tangled: The Series | Lady Caine (voice) | 2 episodes | |
| 2018 | Beat Bobby Flay | Herself | Guest host; Episode: "Stealing the Spotlight" |
| 2018–2021 | Younger | Quinn Tyler | 18 episodes |
| 2020 | At Home with Amy Sedaris | Pipper | Episode: "Babies" |
| Homeschool Musical: Class of 2020 | Herself | Documentary special; also executive producer | |
| 2021 | Ziwe | Jane / Fake Ziwe | 2 episodes |
| 2021–2023 | Gossip Girl | Kiki Hope | 11 episodes[76] |
| 2022 | Inside Amy Schumer | Laura | 2 episodes |
| Would I Lie to You? | Herself | Episode: "Show Goat" | |
| 2022–2024 | Life & Beth | Jane | 12 episodes |
| 2023 | The Gilded Age | Susan Blane | 3 episodes |
| 2024 | Elsbeth | Nadine Clay | 2 episodes |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | The Sound of Music | A Postulant | Broadway |
| 1998-1999 | Maria Von Trapp | Broadway replacement | |
| 1999 | Swing! | Performer | Broadway |
| 2000 | Wonderful Town | Eileen Sherwood | Encores! |
| 2002 | Into the Woods | Cinderella / Cinderella’s Mother | Ahmanson Theatre |
| Broadway | |||
| 2003 | Nine | Claudia Nardi | Broadway |
| The Violet Hour | Rosamund Plinth | Broadway (Withdrawn during rehearsals) | |
| 2004 | A Little Night Music | Anne Egerman | Los Angeles Opera |
| Pippin | Catherine | World AIDS Day Benefit | |
| 2005 | The Secret Garden | Lily Craven | |
| 2006 | The Wedding Singer | Julia Sullivan | Broadway |
| 2007 | Gypsy | Louise Hovick | Encores! |
| 2008–2009 | Broadway | ||
| 2009 | Why Torture Is Wrong, And The People Who Love Them | Felicity | Off-Broadway |
| 2009–2010 | In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play) | Catherine Givings | Broadway |
| 2010–2011 | Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown | Candela | |
| 2013 | I Am Harvey Milk | The Soprano | San Francisco |
| The Tempest | Goddess | Off-Broadway | |
| 2014 | The Most Happy Fella | Rosabella | Encores! |
| 2015 | Parade | Lucille Frank | Avery Fisher Hall |
| New York Spring Spectacular | Jenna | Radio City Music Hall | |
| 2016 | She Loves Me | Amalia Balash | Broadway |
| 2017–2018 | Meteor Shower | Laura | |
| 2018–2019 | My Fair Lady | Eliza Doolittle | Broadway replacement |
| 2021 | Freestyle Love Supreme | Guest Performer(one night only) | Broadway |
| 2023 | Love Letters | Melissa Gardner | Irish Repertory Theatre |
| Gutenberg! The Musical! | Guest Producer(one night only) | Broadway |
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Tony Award | Best Featured Actress in a Musical | Swing! | Nominated |
| 2002 | Tony Award | Best Featured Actress in a Musical | Into the Woods | Nominated |
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Nominated | ||
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Nominated | ||
| 2003 | Drama League Award | Distinguished Performance | Nine | Nominated |
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Nominated | ||
| 2008 | Tony Award | Best Featured Actress in a Musical | Gypsy | Won |
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Won | ||
| Drama League Award | Distinguished Performance | Nominated | ||
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Won | ||
| 2010 | Drama League Award | Distinguished Performance | In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play) | Nominated |
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Actress in a Play | Nominated | ||
| 2011 | Tony Award | Best Featured Actress in a Musical | Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown | Nominated |
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Won | ||
| Drama League Award | Distinguished Performance | Nominated | ||
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Won | ||
| 2016 | Tony Award | Best Actress in a Musical | She Loves Me | Nominated |
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Nominated | ||
| Drama League Award | Distinguished Performance | Nominated | ||
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Nominated | ||
| Saturn Awards | Best Guest Starring Role on Television | Supergirl | Nominated | |
| 2018 | Drama League Award | Distinguished Performance | Meteor Shower | Nominated |
| Year | Title | Record label |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | In Constant Search of the Right Kind of Attention | Broadway Records[77][78] |
| 2020 | Laura Benanti | Masterworks Broadway |
Singles
Broadway recordings
Studio and concert recordings
Soundtracks
| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
| Other | |