Denée Benton
Denée Benton (born December 31, 1991) is an American actress and singer recognized for her acclaimed performances in musical theater and television.[1] She rose to prominence with her Broadway debut as Natasha Rostova in the 2016 musical Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, earning a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical, along with Drama League, Theatre World, and Lilly Award nominations.[2] Benton has since starred as Eliza Hamilton in the Broadway production of Hamilton (2018) and originated the role of Cinderella in the 2022 revival of Into the Woods at New York City Center Encores!, reprising it on Broadway in late 2022.[3][4] On television, she portrays aspiring journalist Peggy Scott in HBO's period drama The Gilded Age (2022–present), a role that has garnered Emmy and SAG Award nominations for the series.[5] Born in Eustis, Florida,[6] Benton attended Trinity Preparatory School, graduating in 2010, before earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theater from Carnegie Mellon University's School of Drama in 2014.[7][8] Her early career included regional theater work and her first major break as a cast member in the Public Theater's off-Broadway production of Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, which transferred to Broadway.[9] Benton met her husband, actor Carl Lundstedt, during their time at Carnegie Mellon; the couple married on January 2, 2020.[1] Benton continues to balance stage and screen work, with recent film credits including starring roles in Dreams in Nightmares (2023) and Tender Thoughts (2024). In 2024, she starred as Susan in a regional production of Tick, Tick... Boom! at the Kennedy Center.[7] Her versatile performances highlight themes of ambition, identity, and resilience, establishing her as a prominent figure in contemporary American entertainment.[10]Early life and education
Early life
Denée Benton was born on December 31, 1991, in Eustis, Florida. She grew up in a Pentecostal household, where religious influences played a significant role in shaping her early years, including frequent participation in church activities that emphasized spiritual expression through music and performance.[11] Her mother worked as a journalist, therapist, and businesswoman, while her father, John Benton, served as the mayor of Eustis and later became an airport executive, providing a family environment that valued community leadership and professional achievement.[6] From a young age, Benton showed a strong interest in the performing arts, beginning with a church performance of "Amazing Grace" at age four, which sparked her passion for singing and acting.[12] She continued this involvement through gospel singing at home and church, as well as participating in local plays and performances that fostered her creative development within the supportive dynamics of her religious community.[13] These early experiences, combined with her family's encouragement, helped cultivate her talents in music and theatre before she pursued formal education elsewhere.[14] Benton attended Trinity Preparatory School in nearby Winter Park, Florida, where she actively engaged in school productions, including roles like Sarah in the musical Ragtime and leading dance numbers in other shows.[15] She also participated in county chorus and various artistic opportunities offered by the school, immersing herself in theatre, singing, and performance activities that highlighted her emerging skills.[16] Benton graduated from Trinity Preparatory School in 2010.[17] Following high school, she transitioned to higher education at Carnegie Mellon University.[7]Education
Denée Benton attended Carnegie Mellon University's School of Drama, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Drama with a concentration in musical theater in 2014.[8][18] Her curriculum provided rigorous training in core acting techniques, voice and speech, and movement, equipping her with the multifaceted skills required for professional musical theater. Benton particularly honed her vocal abilities through a classical approach, cycling through standard repertoire pieces for Black female characters that challenged and expanded her range.[19] A pivotal moment in her student experience came during her senior year when she auditioned for and secured the role of Nabalungi in the national tour of The Book of Mormon via an open call, requiring special permission from her instructors to balance rehearsals with her academic commitments. This early professional breakthrough demonstrated the program's emphasis on real-world preparation.[20] Benton's Carnegie Mellon education served as a critical bridge from her foundational performance interests to her entry into the industry, instilling the technical proficiency and artistic versatility that propelled her toward roles in major productions immediately after graduation.[19][18]Career
Theatre
Following her graduation from Carnegie Mellon University's School of Drama in 2014 with a BFA in musical theater, Denée Benton launched her professional stage career with the role of Nabulungi in the U.S. national tour of The Book of Mormon, a production that highlighted her comedic timing and vocal range in the demanding ensemble demands of the satirical musical. This early touring work allowed her to hone her performance skills across diverse audiences, building on her rigorous vocal training that emphasized classical technique and character-driven singing. Benton's post-graduation experiences in regional and off-Broadway settings further solidified her foundation in musical theater, where she applied her education to roles requiring both emotional vulnerability and technical precision. Benton's Broadway debut came in 2016 as Natasha Rostova in Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 at the Imperial Theatre, an immersive electro-pop opera adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace that ran from November 14, 2016, to September 3, 2017. In the titular role, Benton delivered a captivating performance noted for its youthful exuberance and poignant emotional layers, navigating the production's elaborate staging—including elevated walkways and audience interaction—with grace and stamina. Critics praised her vocal command in numbers like "Charming" and "The Opera," which showcased her ability to blend operatic flair with contemporary pop sensibilities, contributing to the show's Tony Award for Best Scenic Design and its overall acclaim as a bold theatrical innovation. In 2018, Benton took on the role of Eliza Hamilton in the Broadway production of Hamilton at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, joining the cast in October alongside Carvens Lissaint as George Washington. Her portrayal emphasized Eliza's quiet strength and evolving agency, infusing songs like "Burn" and "Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story" with a warm, resonant soprano that underscored the character's historical and personal resilience. Within the ensemble's tight-knit dynamics, Benton's chemistry with co-stars amplified the musical's themes of legacy and community, marking a pivotal career milestone that elevated her profile in American theater. This lead role demonstrated her evolution from ingénue leads to more mature, narrative-driving characters, leveraging her vocal training to convey subtle emotional shifts amid the show's rapid-fire delivery. Benton continued her stage work with the role of Cinderella in the 2022 New York City Center Encores! revival of Into the Woods, which transferred to Broadway where she performed from November 21 to December 24, 2022, at the St. James Theatre. Her interpretation brought a grounded optimism to the fairy-tale figure, highlighted by her clear, emotive delivery in "On the Steps of the Palace." In 2024, she starred as Susan in a Kennedy Center production of tick, tick...BOOM!, directed by Neil Patrick Harris, where her performance in "Come to Your Senses" earned acclaim for its raw vulnerability and soaring vocals. Most recently, in August 2025, Benton appeared as Thaisa in the Public Theater's Public Works concert adaptation of Shakespeare's Pericles at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, a gospel-infused production that ran through September 2 and featured her in powerful duets emphasizing themes of loss and reunion. Throughout these projects, Benton's trajectory reflects a shift toward versatile roles in revivals and experimental works, consistently applying her Carnegie Mellon-honed vocal techniques to enhance musical storytelling and character depth.Television
Denée Benton's television career began with her breakout role as Ruby Carter in the second season of the Lifetime series UnREAL in 2016. Portrayed as an outspoken and resilient Black contestant on the fictional reality dating show Everlasting, Ruby navigated racial tensions, personal ambitions, and manipulative producers, appearing in all 10 episodes of the season and earning praise for bringing authenticity to the character's defiance against industry exploitation.[21][22] She next appeared as Morgan in the unaired CBS pilot 25 in 2018, a legal drama centered on young associates at a Chicago law firm, though the project did not proceed to series. Benton's most prominent television role came in 2022 as Peggy Scott in HBO's period drama The Gilded Age, created by Julian Fellowes. As a recurring lead character, Peggy is an ambitious young Black journalist from Brooklyn who befriends Marian Brook and serves as secretary to socialite Bertha Russell, using her position to pursue writing opportunities amid the racial and class barriers of 1880s New York. Her backstory includes a strained relationship with her parents, Arthur and Dorothy Scott, and the revelation of a secret son from a past assault, adding layers to her quest for independence.[23][24] Across three seasons through 2025, Peggy's arc evolves from personal vulnerability to professional empowerment. In Season 1, she secures a column at the New York Globe under editor T. Thomas Fortune, highlighting her journalistic drive and ensemble interactions with the Russell and van Rhijn families. Season 2 deepens her romance with Fortune while exploring her family dynamics and editorial challenges, culminating in a breakup that underscores her growth. By Season 3, Peggy's journey shifts to a budding relationship with Dr. William Kirkland, a progressive physician from Newport, marked by societal pushback—including a physical altercation between Kirkland and Fortune—and ending in their engagement at the season finale, symbolizing her embrace of personal fulfillment alongside career success.[25][26][27] The Gilded Age has garnered critical acclaim for its portrayal of Gilded Age inequities, with Benton's performance as Peggy noted for its emotional depth and evolution from supporting figure to narrative centerpiece. The series received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2024, recognizing the collective impact of its cast, including Benton's contributions to Peggy's arcs.[28][29] Benton's theatre-honed vocal precision enhances Peggy's poised delivery in high-stakes dialogues.[30]Film
Denée Benton's entry into film began with small roles in independent and short-form projects prior to 2020. Her screen debut came in the 2013 short film The Narrative of Dalvin Reynolds, directed by Erron Jay Crawford, where she portrayed Felicia, a supporting character in a story exploring personal and social narratives among young adults.[31] This early work marked her initial foray into cinema while she was still building her theatre profile, though it remained a modest production without wide distribution. By 2019, she appeared in the independent drama Our Friend, directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite, playing Charlotte, a colleague of the protagonist in this poignant tale based on real events about friendship and loss during a family's battle with cancer; the film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival that year and received praise for its emotional depth.[32][33] Benton's film career gained momentum in the 2020s with more prominent supporting roles in feature-length productions. In the 2023 holiday comedy Genie, directed by Sam Boyd and scripted by Richard Curtis, she played Julie Bottle, the supportive wife of the lead character (Paapa Essiedu), who navigates family reconciliation with the aid of a magical genie portrayed by Melissa McCarthy; the Peacock release highlighted her ability to blend warmth and subtle humor in ensemble dynamics.)[34] Filming for Genie involved collaborative scenes emphasizing familial bonds, with Benton sharing screen time alongside Marc Maron and Alan Cumming, contributing to the film's lighthearted yet heartfelt tone. Following this, she took on lead roles in 2024 releases, including the short film Tender Thoughts, directed by Anndi Jinelle Liggett, where she starred as Dawn, a Black woman rediscovering her identity after years in a stifling corporate environment; the whimsical fable premiered at festivals like Tribeca and Urbanworld, earning recognition for its fantastical exploration of self-empowerment.[35][7] In the feature Dreams in Nightmares, directed by Shatara Michelle Ford, Benton led as Z, a laid-off professor embarking on a Midwest road trip with friends to find a missing companion, delving into themes of queer Black femme identity and chosen family; the film debuted at Berlinale and was lauded for its intimate portrayal of resilience amid societal challenges.[36][37] Production on Dreams in Nightmares involved on-location shooting across rural America, allowing Benton to interact closely with co-stars Sasha Lane and Gabrielle Graham in improvisational sequences that amplified the film's raw emotional layers.[38] Transitioning from her extensive theatre background—where she earned a Tony nomination for Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812—to film required Benton to adapt her expansive stage presence to the camera's intimacy, a shift she has described as both challenging and liberating. In screen roles, she applies theatrical techniques like nuanced vocal modulation and physical expressiveness to convey complex inner lives with minimal dialogue, as seen in Our Friend's subtle grief-stricken interactions and Genie's understated familial support.[39] This evolution mirrors her ensemble work in television, such as The Gilded Age, but film allows for a more contained narrative focus that hones her ability to build character through close-up subtlety rather than broad projection.[10] By November 2025, no new film projects for Benton had been publicly announced, though her recent leads signal a deepening commitment to diverse, character-driven cinema.[1]Personal life
Upbringing and family
Denée Benton was raised by her parents, Derryl Benton and Jackie Benton, in a Pentecostal household that emphasized spiritual discipline and community involvement.[40][41] Her upbringing in this faith tradition profoundly shaped her early values, fostering a sense of resilience and moral grounding that she has credited with influencing her personal growth and approach to challenges.[42] Benton has described her family's unwavering support as pivotal during her educational pursuits and initial steps into the performing arts, including her relocation for college and early professional opportunities in New York.[43] This encouragement from her parents helped cultivate her strong work ethic, which she often links to the structured environment and emphasis on perseverance instilled at home.[43] Through public interviews, she has highlighted how these familial dynamics provided a stable foundation, allowing her to pursue artistic endeavors with confidence up to her established career in the mid-2020s.[44]Identity and beliefs
In 2025, Denée Benton publicly came out as queer, describing the experience as a profound spiritual journey tied to personal liberation. Raised in a Pentecostal household, she has reflected on how this background initially shaped her understanding of faith and identity, yet ultimately informed her path toward self-acceptance. In an interview, Benton explained that embracing her queer identity felt like "breaking molds" in a deeply spiritual way, stating, “There is something also that feels spiritual about that to me because there’s a liberation exchange. You’re putting that kind of energy into the world.”[42] This revelation marked a pivotal moment of reconciliation, where she integrated her religious roots with her evolving sense of self, viewing authenticity as an act of spiritual alignment rather than conflict. Benton has spoken about the ongoing process of reconciling her Pentecostal upbringing with her queer identity, emphasizing personal growth through vulnerability and empathy. She advocates for ethical representation in the arts, drawing from influences like Raquel Willis of the Gender Liberation Movement and Prentis Hemphill's work in healing and somatic practices to promote inclusivity and accountability in creative spaces. Her beliefs extend to a broader spirituality that prioritizes interior freedom and communal support, as seen in her involvement with organizations like Make the Road NY, which focus on immigrant and worker rights. As a multi-hyphenate artist—balancing roles as an actress and singer—Benton sees her career as an extension of this spiritual pursuit, challenging industry norms while fostering spaces for diverse narratives.[42] In 2025, Benton engaged in LGBTQ+ discussions through her work, notably in the film Dreams in Nightmares, where she portrayed Z, a character she described as reflective of her "actual modern queer story," allowing for raw exploration of Black queer femme experiences. This role underscored her commitment to authentic storytelling that bridges personal faith and queer advocacy, without delving into professional implications for her television characters.[10]Awards and nominations
Theatre awards
Denée Benton's breakthrough in theatre came with her portrayal of Natasha Rostova in the musical Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, which earned her multiple high-profile accolades during its pre-Broadway run at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 2016 and its subsequent Broadway transfer in late 2016 (with awards in 2017).[45] In 2016, she received nominations for the IRNE Award for Best Actress in a Musical and the Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Musical, recognizing her electrifying debut in the immersive production.[46][47] The following year, Benton's performance garnered a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical, alongside a Drama League Award nomination for Distinguished Performance.[48] She also won the Theatre World Award for Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut Performance, honoring her as one of the season's most promising new talents.[49] Additionally, Benton was honored with the Lilly Award in 2017, celebrating women in American theatre for her innovative and culturally resonant interpretation of the role.[50]| Year | Award | Category | Result | For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | IRNE Award | Best Actress in a Musical | Nominated | Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 |
| 2016 | Elliot Norton Award | Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Musical | Nominated | Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 |
| 2017 | Tony Award | Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical | Nominated | Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 |
| 2017 | Drama League Award | Distinguished Performance | Nominated | Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 |
| 2017 | Theatre World Award | Outstanding Debut Performance | Won | Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 |
| 2017 | Lilly Award | Honoree | Won | Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 |