Denée Benton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Denée Benton
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Benton in 2017
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| Born | December 31, 1991 Eustis, Florida, U.S.
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| Education | Carnegie Mellon University (BFA) |
| Occupation | Actor, singer |
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Carl Lundstedt
(m. 2020) |
Denée Benton, born on December 31, 1991, is an American actress and singer. She is famous for her roles in Broadway musicals. Broadway is a special theater district in New York City where many big shows are performed. Denée was nominated for a Tony Award for her role as Natasha Rostova in the musical Natasha, Pierre, & The Great Comet of 1812 in 2016.
She also played Eliza Hamilton in the popular musical Hamilton starting in 2018. In 2022, she took on the role of Cinderella in Into the Woods. On television, Denée Benton has appeared in shows like UnREAL and The Gilded Age.
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Early Life and Education
Denée Benton grew up in Eustis, Florida. Her mother worked as a journalist, therapist, and businesswoman. Her father was the mayor of Eustis and an airport executive. Denée was inspired to become an actress after watching Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella.
She went to Trinity Preparatory School in Winter Park, Florida. After that, she studied at Carnegie Mellon University, graduating in 2014.
Acting Career Highlights
Denée Benton's first major acting job was playing Nabulungi in The Book of Mormon. She performed this role in London's West End and on a tour across the U.S. The West End is like Broadway, but in London, England.
Broadway Debut and Tony Nomination
In 2015, Denée was chosen to play Natasha Rostova in Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812. This musical first played at the American Repertory Theater. She then made her Broadway debut in the same role in November 2016. She starred alongside actor Josh Groban in the show. For her amazing performance, Denée received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical. She also appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to talk about her role.
Television Roles
Denée Benton became more widely known for her TV work in 2016. She had a recurring role as Ruby Carter in the second season of the Lifetime series UnREAL.
More recently, in 2022, Denée joined the main cast of the HBO historical drama series The Gilded Age. She plays Peggy Scott in the show. In 2023, she and the other cast members were nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. This award recognizes the best acting by a group of actors in a TV show.
More Broadway Success
On October 30, 2018, Denée Benton took over the role of Eliza Hamilton in the Broadway production of Hamilton. She performed in this very popular musical until December 8, 2019.
In May 2022, Denée played Cinderella in Stephen Sondheim's musical Into the Woods at New York City Center. She performed with other famous actors like Neil Patrick Harris and Sara Bareilles. Later that year, she returned to the Broadway revival of Into the Woods in the same role. She left the show on December 24, 2022.
In December 2023, it was announced that Denée would star as Susan in the musical Tick, Tick... Boom! at The Kennedy Center.
Personal Life
Denée Benton met Carl Lundstedt in 2014 while they were both studying acting at Carnegie Mellon University. They started dating and later got married in 2020.
Theatre Performances
Denée Benton has performed in many theatre productions. Here are some of her notable roles:
- 2012: Annie as Star-To-Be at Benedum Center
- 2014–2015: The Book of Mormon as Nabulungi on U.S. National Tour and in the West End
- 2015–2016: Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 as Natasha Rostova at American Repertory Theater and on Broadway
- 2018–2019: Hamilton as Eliza Hamilton on Broadway
- 2022: Into the Woods as Cinderella Off-Broadway and on Broadway
- 2024: Tick, Tick... Boom! as Susan at Kennedy Center
- 2025: Pericles as Thaisa Off-Broadway
Film and Television Appearances
Denée Benton has also acted in films and television shows.
Film Roles
- 2013: The Narrative of Dalvin Reynolds as Felicia (a short film)
- 2018: Mother's Milk as Lark
- 2019: Our Friend as Charlotte
- 2023: Genie as Julie
- 2024: Dreams in Nightmares as Z
Television Roles
- 2016: UnREAL as Ruby Carter (10 episodes)
- 2018: 25 as Morgan (a television film)
- 2022–present: The Gilded Age as Peggy Scott (main cast)
Awards and Nominations
Denée Benton has been recognized for her acting talent with several awards and nominations:
- 2016: Nominated for an Elliot Norton Award and IRNE Awards for her performance in Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812.
- 2017: Nominated for a Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812. She also won a Theatre World Award for this role.
- 2023: Nominated with the cast of The Gilded Age for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.
See also
In Spanish: Denée Benton para niños
