Denée Benton

Denée Benton
Benton in 2017
Born (1991-12-31) December 31, 1991 (age 32)
Winter Park, Florida, U.S.
EducationCarnegie Mellon University (BFA)
Occupation(s)Actor, singer
Years active2013–present

Denée Ayana Benton (born December 31, 1991[1]) is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her performance as Natasha Rostova in the 2016 musical Natasha, Pierre, & The Great Comet of 1812 on Broadway, for which she was nominated for a Tony Award.[2][3] Benton’s other Broadway credits include the role of Eliza Hamilton in Hamilton (2018) and the role of Cinderella in Into the Woods (2022).[4][5] Her television acting credits include UnREAL and The Gilded Age.

Early life and education

Benton was born[6] and raised in Eustis, Florida.[7] Her mother was a journalist, therapist, and businesswoman; her father was a mayor of Eustis and an airport executive.[6] Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella was an early inspiration for her desire to act.[8]

She attended Trinity Preparatory School in Winter Park, Florida, before graduating from Carnegie Mellon University in 2014.[3]

Career

Benton's first prominent professional role was her role as Nabulungi in the West End and U.S. national tour of The Book of Mormon.

Benton was cast in the titular role of Natasha Rostova in Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 with the American Repertory Theatre; she later made her Broadway debut opposite Josh Groban as Pierre when the show opened at the Imperial Theatre on November 14, 2016.[3] Benton received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical for her role in the show.[8] Later in the run, she starred opposite Okieriete Onaodowan and the show’s creator Dave Malloy as Pierre. She appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on December 12, 2016, to discuss the role.

Benton gained wider prominence in her recurring role on the second season of the Lifetime series, UnREAL, as Ruby Carter in 2016.[9][10]

On October 17, 2018, it was announced that Benton would assume the role of Eliza Hamilton in the Broadway production of Hamilton, beginning performances on October 30.[4] She left the show on December 8, 2019 and starred opposite Michael Luwoye, Daniel Breaker, Mandy Gonzalez and James Monroe Iglehart.[11]

On 2022, Benton started acting as Peggy Scott in the main cast of the HBO historical drama series The Gilded Age, alongside Louisa Jacobson, Cynthia Nixon and Christine Baranski.[7] In 2023 she was nominated alongside the cast for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.

In May 2022, Benton played the role of Cinderella in Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods at New York City Center opposite Heather Headley, Neil Patrick Harris, Sara Bareilles, and Gavin Creel.[12] In November, she reprised her role replacing Krysta Rodriguez in the Broadway revival of the show. She left the production on December 24. She would star opposite Creel, Brian d’Arcy James, Patina Miller, Stephanie J. Block, Montego Glover, Andy Karl, Joshua Henry, and Joaquina Kalukango.[5]

In December 2023, it was announced that Denee will star as Susan in the production of tick, tick...BOOM! at The Kennedy Center.[13]

Personal life

Benton began dating Carl Lundstedt in 2014, whom she met in her acting program at Carnegie Mellon University. They married in 2020.[14]

Theatre credits

Year(s) Production Role Location Category
2012 Annie Star-To-Be Benedum Center Regional
Fiddler on the Roof Ensemble
Sunset Boulevard
2013 The Crucible Rebecca Nurse Carnegie Mellon University
2014–2015 The Book of Mormon Nabulungi - U.S. National Tour
2015 Prince of Wales Theatre West End
2015–2016 Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Natasha Rostova American Repertory Theater Regional, Pre-Broadway
2016–2017 Imperial Theatre Broadway
2017 Of Thee I Sing Mary Turner Carnegie Hall MasterVoices Concert
2018–2019 Hamilton Eliza Hamilton Richard Rodgers Theatre Broadway
2022 Into the Woods Cinderella New York City Center Off-Broadway, Encores!
St. James Theatre Broadway
2024 Tick, Tick... Boom! Susan Kennedy Center Regional

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2013 The Narrative of Dalvin Reynolds Felicia Short film
2018 Mother's Milk Lark
2019 Our Friend Charlotte
2023 Genie Julie
2024 Dreams in Nightmares Z

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2016 UnREAL Ruby Carter 10 episodes
2018 25 Morgan Television film
2022–present The Gilded Age Peggy Scott Main cast[15]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2016 Elliot Norton Award Outstanding Performance by an Actress Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Nominated [16][17]
IRNE Awards Best Actress in a Musical Nominated [18]
2017 Tony Awards Best Leading Actress in a Musical Nominated
Drama League Awards Distinguished Performance Nominated
Theatre World Awards Honoree
2023 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series The Gilded Age Nominated [19]

References

  1. ^ "Denée Benton | Actress, Soundtrack". IMDb. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  2. ^ "Denee Benton Theatre Credits". www.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c Gioia, Michael (July 29, 2016). "Get to Know Broadway's Natasha, Newcomer Denée Benton". Playbill. Retrieved August 22, 2016. The actress, who played Natasha...at Boston's American Repertory Theater this past winter, has been chosen to reprise her performance for Broadway...
  4. ^ a b "Denée Benton & Carvens Lissaint to Join the Cast of Broadway's Hamilton". Broadway.com. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  5. ^ a b "Denee Benton Will Reprise Role of Cinderella in INTO THE WOODS on Broadway".
  6. ^ a b Austin, Ellie (August 4, 2022). "Denée Benton on her role in The Gilded Age, the Royal Family and not feeling like 'the right type of black girl'". Tatler.
  7. ^ a b Radloff, Jessica (January 24, 2022). "How The Gilded Age's Denée Benton Made Sure Peggy Scott's Story Was Told Right". Glamour. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  8. ^ a b Soloski, Alexis (May 11, 2017). "Denée Benton, Tony Nominee, Embraces Her Inner Natasha". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  9. ^ Bastién, Angelica Jade (August 10, 2016). "UnREAL's Denée Benton on Why a Character Like Ruby Is Important and Representation in Hollywood". Vulture. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
  10. ^ Petski, Denise (January 29, 2016). "'UnReal': Monica Barbaro, Denée Benton & More Join Season 2 Cast On Lifetime". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
  11. ^ "Denée Benton (Performer)". Playbill. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  12. ^ "Into the Woods | New York City Center".
  13. ^ "Brandon Uranowitz, Denée Benton, Grey Henson to Star in Kennedy Center Tick, Tick...BOOM!".
  14. ^ "This Actor Couple's Florida Wedding Was Filled With Sunset-Color Flowers and the Sounds of a Junkanoo Band". Vogue. June 10, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  15. ^ Petski, Denise (November 19, 2019). "'The Gilded Age': Denée Benton, Louisa Jacobson, Taissa Farmiga, Blake Ritson & Simon Jones Join HBO Period Drama". deadline.com/. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  16. ^ "THEATER: 2016 ELLIOT NORTON AWARD NOMINATIONS!". Joyce's Choices. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
  17. ^ "Elliot Norton Awards". Elliot Norton Awards. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
  18. ^ 2016 IRNE Awards Winners Announced - THE GREAT COMET OF 1812, Jessie Mueller in WAITRESS, Abby Mueller in BEAUTIFUL and More!
  19. ^ "Nominations Announced for the 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®" (Press release). Screen Actors Guild. January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.