Sutton Foster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sutton Foster
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Foster in 2022
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Sutton Lenore Foster
March 18, 1975 Statesboro, Georgia, U.S.
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| Education | Carnegie Mellon University (attended) |
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| Years active | 1989–present |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 1 |
| Relatives | Hunter Foster (brother) |
Sutton Lenore Foster (born March 18, 1975) is a famous American actress. She is best known for her amazing work on Broadway stages. She has won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical twice!
Her first Tony Award was in 2002 for playing Millie Dillmount in Thoroughly Modern Millie. Her second win was in 2011 for her role as Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes. She even played Reno Sweeney again in London in 2021.
Sutton has starred in many other popular Broadway shows. These include Grease, Little Women, Shrek the Musical, and The Music Man. On TV, she played the main character in Bunheads (2012–2013). From 2015 to 2021, she also starred in the TV show Younger.
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Growing Up and Early Life
Sutton Foster was born in Statesboro, Georgia, on March 18, 1975. She grew up in Troy, Michigan. When she was 15, Sutton was a contestant on a TV talent show called Star Search. She also tried out for The Mickey Mouse Club.
Sutton left Troy High School early to join a national tour of The Will Rogers Follies. She later earned her high school diploma through special courses. She then went to Carnegie Mellon University for a year. But she left to focus on her acting career full-time.
Sutton has received special honorary degrees from two universities. These degrees recognized her great career in theater, TV, and music. Her older brother, Hunter Foster, is also an actor.
Sutton's Amazing Career
Starting Out on Stage (1995–2001)
Sutton began her career touring with the musical Grease in 1995. She then joined the Broadway show of Grease in 1996. After that, she was part of the cast for The Scarlet Pimpernel on Broadway. She also appeared in a revival of Annie.
In 1998, Sutton performed in What the World Needs Now. She then toured with Les Misérables as Eponine. She later became the understudy for the same role on Broadway in 2000.
Sutton then joined the cast of Thoroughly Modern Millie. This was before it opened on Broadway. The original lead actress left the show. So, Sutton stepped in to play the main role of Millie Dilmount with only nine days to prepare!
Becoming a Broadway Star (2002–2010)
Thoroughly Modern Millie opened on Broadway in 2002. Critics loved Sutton's performance. One reviewer said she had "the pert look, the silver voice and the dazzling legwork." Another called her "perfectly charming."
For this role, Sutton won her first Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical in 2002. She also won other major awards like the Drama Desk Award. During her time in Millie, she also performed in concert versions of Chess and Funny Girl.
In 2005, Sutton starred as Jo March in the musical Little Women. This role earned her a second Tony Award nomination. In 2006, she returned to Broadway in The Drowsy Chaperone. This funny musical made fun of 1920s shows. Sutton played Janet van de Graaff, a Broadway star who wants to get married instead of acting. She received her third Tony nomination for this role.
From 2007 to 2008, Sutton played Inga in Mel Brooks' musical Young Frankenstein. In 2008, she took on the role of Princess Fiona in Shrek the Musical on Broadway. This performance earned her a fourth Tony nomination.
Sutton released her first solo music album, Wish, in 2009. She performed songs from the album in concerts across the country. In 2010, she made her Off-Broadway debut in the play Trust. She also started teaching master classes at New York University for theater students.
New Roles and TV Success (2011–Present)
In 2011, Sutton starred as Reno Sweeney in the Broadway revival of Anything Goes. Her performance was a huge hit! She won her second Tony Award for this role. She also won another Drama Desk Award.
After Anything Goes, Sutton moved to TV. She played the main character, Michelle Simms, in the comedy-drama Bunheads. This show was about a former Las Vegas showgirl who starts teaching ballet. Sutton won a Gracie Award for her work on Bunheads.
In 2014, Sutton starred in the musical Violet on Broadway. This earned her a sixth Tony Award nomination. She also appeared in the movie The Angriest Man in Brooklyn with Robin Williams.
From 2015 to 2021, Sutton starred in the popular TV show Younger. She played Liza Miller, a woman who pretends to be younger to get a job in publishing. The show was very successful and ran for seven seasons.
In 2021, Sutton made her London theatre debut. She reprised her role as Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes at the Barbican Theatre. Critics in London loved her performance. She was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for it.
In October 2021, Sutton published a book called Hooked. In her memoir, she shared how crafting like cross-stitching and crocheting helped her through tough times.
From 2021 to 2023, Sutton starred as Marian Paroo in a Broadway revival of The Music Man. She performed alongside Hugh Jackman. This role earned her a seventh Tony Award nomination. In 2024, she joined the Broadway revival of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street as Mrs. Lovett. She also starred as Princess Winnifred in a concert production of Once Upon a Mattress, which is now moving to Broadway!
Personal Life
Sutton Foster met actor Christian Borle in college. They married in 2006 but divorced in 2009. However, they remained good friends and supported each other's careers.
In 2014, Sutton married screenwriter Ted Griffin. In April 2017, they announced they had adopted a baby girl named Emily. Sutton and Ted separated in 2024.
Sutton loves dogs and has had three special dogs named Linus, Mabel, and Brody. She also creates her own artwork, which she sometimes sells online. She has worked with a visual artist named Julien Havard, who used to be her dresser for Thoroughly Modern Millie.
Film and TV Shows
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Mr. Terbillion's Ambition | Sarah | Short film |
| 2013 | Shrek the Musical | Princess Fiona | Filmed stage production |
| 2014 | The Angriest Man in Brooklyn | Adela | |
| The Nobodies | Amy | Short film | |
| 2015 | Gravy | Kerry | |
| 2021 | Anything Goes | Reno Sweeney | Filmed stage production |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Star Search | Herself/contestant | Runner-up |
| 2007 | Johnny and the Sprites | Tina | Episode: "Johnny's Sister Tina/Spritesgiving!" |
| Flight of the Conchords | Coco | 3 episodes | |
| 2010 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Rosemary | Episode: "P.C." |
| 2012–13 | Bunheads | Michelle Simms | Lead role; 18 episodes |
| 2013–20 | Doc McStuffins | Frida Fairy Flyer (voice) | 4 episodes |
| 2015–21 | Younger | Liza Miller | Lead role; 84 episodes |
| 2016 | Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life | Violet | Episode: "Summer" |
| 2021–2023 | Ridley Jones | Sarah Jones / Mrs. Sanchez (voice) | 16 episodes |
| 2023 | The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel | Carole | Episode: "A House Full of Extremely Lame Horses" |
Theatre Performances
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | The Will Rogers Follies | Ensemble | National Tour |
| 1996 | Grease | Sandy Dumbrowski (replacement) | Eugene O'Neill Theatre, Broadway |
| 1997 | Annie | Star To Be | Martin Beck Theatre, Broadway |
| 1997 | The Scarlet Pimpernel | Ensemble | Minskoff Theatre, Broadway |
| 1999 | Les Misérables | Eponine (replacement) | National Tour |
| 2000 | Thoroughly Modern Millie | Millie Dilmount | La Jolla Playhouse |
| 2002–2004 | Thoroughly Modern Millie | Millie Dilmount | Marquis Theatre, Broadway |
| 2005 | Little Women | Jo March | Virginia Theatre, Broadway |
| 2006–07 | The Drowsy Chaperone | Janet Van de Graaf | Marquis Theatre, Broadway |
| 2007–2008 | Young Frankenstein | Inga | Hilton Theatre, Broadway |
| 2008–2010 | Shrek the Musical | Princess Fiona | Broadway Theatre, Broadway |
| 2010 | Trust | Prudence | Second Stage Theatre, off-Broadway |
| 2011–2012 | Anything Goes | Reno Sweeney | Stephen Sondheim Theatre, Broadway |
| 2014 | Violet | Violet Karl | American Airlines Theatre, Broadway |
| 2016–2017 | Sweet Charity | Charity Hope Valentine | Pershing Square Signature Center, Off-Broadway |
| 2021 | Anything Goes | Reno Sweeney | Barbican Theatre, London |
| 2021–2023 | The Music Man | Marian Paroo | Winter Garden Theatre, Broadway |
| 2024 | Once Upon a Mattress | Princess Winnifred | New York City Center, Encores! |
| Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street | Mrs. Lovett (replacement) | Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, Broadway | |
| Once Upon a Mattress | Princess Winnifred | Hudson Theatre, Broadway | |
| 2024–2025 | Ahmanson Theatre |
Music Albums
- Wish (2009)
- An Evening with Sutton Foster: Live at the Café Carlyle (2011)
- Take Me to the World (2018)
Awards and Nominations
Sutton Foster has won many awards for her acting. Here are some of her biggest achievements:
- 56th Tony Awards: Won Best Actress in a Musical for Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002)
- 59th Tony Awards: Nominated for Best Actress in a Musical for Little Women (2005)
- 60th Tony Awards: Nominated for Best Actress in a Musical for The Drowsy Chaperone (2006)
- 63rd Tony Awards: Nominated for Best Actress in a Musical for Shrek the Musical (2009)
- 65th Tony Awards: Won Best Actress in a Musical for Anything Goes (2011)
- 68th Tony Awards: Nominated for Best Actress in a Musical for Violet (2014)
- 75th Tony Awards: Nominated for Best Actress in a Musical for The Music Man (2022)
- 2022 Laurence Olivier Awards: Nominated for Best Actress in a Musical for Anything Goes (2022)
