Denée Benton Explained

Denée Benton
Birth Date:1991 12, mf=yes
Birth Place:Winter Park, Florida, U.S.
Education:Carnegie Mellon University (BFA)
Occupation:Actor, singer
Years Active:2013–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] Her television acting credits include UnREAL and The Gilded Age.

Early life and education

Benton was born[5] and raised in Eustis, Florida.[6] Her mother was a journalist, therapist, and businesswoman; her father was a mayor of Eustis and an airport executive.[5] Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella was an early inspiration for her desire to act.[7]

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

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. Benton received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical for her role in the show.[7] 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.[8] [9]

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. She left the show on December 8, 2019 and starred opposite Michael Luwoye, Daniel Breaker, Mandy Gonzalez and James Monroe Iglehart.[10]

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. 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.[11] 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.[12]

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)ProductionRoleLocationCategory
2012AnnieStar-To-Be Benedum CenterRegional
Fiddler on the RoofEnsemble
Sunset Boulevard
2013The CrucibleRebecca NurseCarnegie Mellon University
2014–2015The Book of MormonNabulungi-U.S. National Tour
2015Prince of Wales TheatreWest End
2015–2016Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812Natasha RostovaAmerican Repertory TheaterRegional, Pre-Broadway
2016–2017Imperial TheatreBroadway
2017Of Thee I SingMary TurnerCarnegie HallMasterVoices Concert
2018–2019HamiltonEliza HamiltonRichard Rodgers TheatreBroadway
2022Into the WoodsCinderellaNew York City CenterOff-Broadway, Encores!
St. James TheatreBroadway
2024Tick, Tick... Boom!SusanKennedy CenterRegional

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2013The Narrative of Dalvin ReynoldsFelicia Short film
2018Mother's MilkLark
2019Our FriendCharlotte
2023GenieJulie
2024Dreams in NightmaresZ

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2016UnREALRuby Carter10 episodes
201825MorganTelevision film
2022–presentThe Gilded AgePeggy ScottMain cast[15]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResult
2016Elliot Norton AwardOutstanding Performance by an ActressNatasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812align=center [16] [17]
IRNE AwardsBest Actress in a Musicalalign=center [18]
2017Tony Awards
Drama League AwardsDistinguished Performance
Theatre World Awards
2023Screen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesThe Gilded Age[19]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Denée Benton Actress, Soundtrack . 2024-04-24 . IMDb . en-US.
  2. Web site: Denee Benton Theatre Credits. www.broadwayworld.com. July 18, 2016.
  3. Web site: Get to Know Broadway's Natasha, Newcomer Denée Benton . Gioia . Michael . July 29, 2016 . Playbill . 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. News: Denée Benton & Carvens Lissaint to Join the Cast of Broadway's Hamilton. Broadway.com. October 17, 2018. en.
  5. Web site: Austin . Ellie . Denée Benton on her role in The Gilded Age, the Royal Family and not feeling like 'the right type of black girl' . Tatler. August 4, 2022 .
  6. Web site: Radloff . Jessica . How The Gilded Age's Denée Benton Made Sure Peggy Scott's Story Was Told Right . Glamour . January 24, 2022 . 15 February 2022.
  7. News: Soloski. Alexis. 2017-05-11. Denée Benton, Tony Nominee, Embraces Her Inner Natasha. en-US. The New York Times. 2022-02-15. 0362-4331.
  8. Web site: UnREAL's Denée Benton on Why a Character Like Ruby Is Important and Representation in Hollywood . Bastién . Angelica Jade . August 10, 2016 . Vulture . August 22, 2016.
  9. Web site: 'UnReal': Monica Barbaro, Denée Benton & More Join Season 2 Cast On Lifetime . Petski . Denise . January 29, 2016 . Deadline Hollywood . August 22, 2016.
  10. Web site: Denée Benton (Performer) . 2022-03-05 . Playbill . en.
  11. Web site: Into the Woods | New York City Center.
  12. Web site: Denee Benton Will Reprise Role of Cinderella in INTO THE WOODS on Broadway.
  13. Web site: Brandon Uranowitz, Denée Benton, Grey Henson to Star in Kennedy Center Tick, Tick...BOOM! .
  14. Web site: 2020-06-10. This Actor Couple's Florida Wedding Was Filled With Sunset-Color Flowers and the Sounds of a Junkanoo Band. 2022-02-15. Vogue. en-US.
  15. Web site: Petski . Denise . 'The Gilded Age': Denée Benton, Louisa Jacobson, Taissa Farmiga, Blake Ritson & Simon Jones Join HBO Period Drama . deadline.com/ . November 19, 2019 . December 18, 2020.
  16. News: THEATER: 2016 ELLIOT NORTON AWARD NOMINATIONS!. Joyce's Choices. 2017-05-06. en-US.
  17. Web site: Elliot Norton Awards. Elliot Norton Awards. 2017-05-06.
  18. https://www.broadwayworld.com/boston/article/2016-IRNE-Awards-Winners-Announced-THE-GREAT-COMET-OF-1812-Jessie-Mueller-in-WAITRESS-Abby-Mueller-in-BEAUTIFUL-and-More-20160413 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®. . January 10, 2024. January 10, 2024.