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" …
Laura Benanti SlideShow
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Career Milestones
1997 | Graduated from high school |
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 |
2000 | Starred in Broadway production of "Swing;" earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical |
2002 | Starred in Broadway revival of "Into the Woods"; once again received a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical |
2003 | Played a sultry movie star who inspires Antonio Banderas' womanizing character in Broadway revival of "Nine" |
2005 | Landed a lead part on FX's short-lived comedy series "Starved" |
2006 | Reunited with Banderas to play his lovelorn assistant in the musical feature "Take the Lead" |
2007 | Starred in a revival of "Gypsy," a role that won her a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical |
2008 | Guest-starred on several episodes of the ABC legal comedy "Eli Stone" |
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 |
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 |
Awards
2008 | Tony Award for Actress (Featured Role--Musical) |