Laura Benanti

Photo of Laura Benanti

Biography

She started making waves on Broadway, earning a slew of accolades for her electric performance as an awkward young woman-turned-sexy siren in the 2007 Broadway revival of "Gypsy." While Benanti's passion for the stage was at her core, she also carved inroads on television and in film. She had a lead part on the short-lived comedy series "Starved" (FX, 2005) and played Antonio Banderas' lovelorn assistant in the musical feature "Take the Lead" …
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Job Title

Actor

Born

July 15, 1979

Career Milestones

2011

Cast in her first major television role on the NBC drama series "The Playboy Club"; appeared on the cover of the Oct. issue of Playboy magazine

2010

Received critical praise and another Tony nomination for her role in the musical "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown," based on Pedro Almodovar's 1988 film of the same name

2008

Guest-starred on several episodes of the ABC legal comedy "Eli Stone"

2007

Starred in a revival of "Gypsy," a role that won her a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical

2006

Reunited with Banderas to play his lovelorn assistant in the musical feature "Take the Lead"

2005

Landed a lead part on FX's short-lived comedy series "Starved"

2003

Played a sultry movie star who inspires Antonio Banderas' womanizing character in Broadway revival of "Nine"

2002

Starred in Broadway revival of "Into the Woods"; once again received a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical

2000

Starred in Broadway production of "Swing;" earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical

1998

Auditioned for the part of Liesl in the Broadway revival of the classic 1959 musical "The Sound of Music," but was cast instead as a nun; a year later, Benanti took over the lead role of Maria in the production, acting opposite Richard Chamberlain

1997

Graduated from high school

Awards

2008

Tony Award for Actress (Featured Role--Musical)